Qatar

Internet country code

.qa

Internet hosts

221 (2004)

Internet users

126,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system centered in Doha domestic: NA international: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

184,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

376,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Budget

revenues: $8.202 billion expenditures: $6.981 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2003 est.)

Currency

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code

QAR

Current account balance

$4.149 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$17.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

NA

Economy - overview

Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves to offset the ultimate decline in oil production. Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.

Electricity - consumption

8.616 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

9.264 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999)

Exports

$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 46%, South Korea 18.5%, Singapore 9.5% (2003)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.54 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.4% industry: 70.8% services: 28.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $21,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$5.711 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 12.2%, Japan 10.5%, Germany 9.6%, UK 8%, Italy 7.4%, UAE 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, South Korea 5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2003 est.)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

140,000 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

17.93 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

14.51 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

72.7% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$2.952 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

2.7% (2001)

Area

total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Coastline

563 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land

130 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Land use

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2001)

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Natural hazards

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Administrative divisions

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Capital

Doha

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution; on 8 June 2004 the new constitution came into force

Country name

conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101 FAX: [974] 488 4298

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general: Houston

Executive branch

chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996) Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin JASIM bin JABIR Al Thani (since 16 September 2003; also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Flag description

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Government type

traditional monarchy

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal note: under the new judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, have been merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, to be established for appeals

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters

Legislative branch

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed) note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since; the new constitution, which came into force on 8 June 2004, provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining members

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Military branches

Land Force, Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Amiri Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

10% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 324,001 note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 170,266 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 7,496 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.2% (male 103,660; female 99,597) 15-64 years: 72.7% (male 426,559; female 184,067) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 19,306; female 7,101) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

15.6 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

4.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.4 years male: 70.9 years female: 76.04 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.5% male: 81.4% female: 85% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 31.4 years male: 36.7 years female: 22 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate

16.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

840,290 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.74% (2004 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.32 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 8, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Kuwait 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)