Qatar

Qatar 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline

563 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain

Climate

Desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain

Mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

Note: Strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

PEOPLE

Population

547,761 (July 1996 est.)
533,916 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

30% (male 82,147; female 83,552) (July 1996 est.)
30% (male 80,591; female 81,443) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

68% (male 263,107; female 109,177) (July 1996 est.)
68% (male 258,135; female 104,921) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

2% (male 6,609; female 3,169) (July 1996 est.)
2% (male 5,885; female 2,941) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.39% (1996 est.)
2.74% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

21.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
22.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

3.6 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
3.59 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
8.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.09 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.8 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

4.28 children born/woman (1996 est.)
4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1986)

Labor Force

233,000 (1993 est.)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

QA

Type

Traditional monarchy

Capital

Doha

Administrative Divisions

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

Independence

3 September 1971 (from U.K.)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution

Provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Legal System

Discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Suffrage

None

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Advisory Council (Majlis Al-Shura)

The constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no 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; seats - (30 total)

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal

Political Parties and Leaders

None

Member of

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

ECONOMY

Overview

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

-1% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$20,820 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

3% (1993 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$3.13 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
$1.75 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Accounts for 50% of GDP, including oil

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Farming and grazing on small scale, 1% of GDP; agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Economic Aid

Currency

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Exchange Rates

Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Pipelines

Crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Merchant Marine

Airports

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

160,717 telephones (1992 est.); modern system centered in Doha

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 220,635; males fit for military service 115,403; males reach military age (18) annually 4,115 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

NA

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 17 december 1997