Country Guide

Qatar Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia


Geographic coordinates:
25 30 N, 51 15 E


Map references:
Middle East


Area:
total:11,586 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 166
land:11,586 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut


Land boundaries:
total:60 km
border countries:Saudi Arabia 60 km


Coastline:
563 km


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


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


Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point:Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m


Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish


Land use:
arable land:1.21%
permanent crops:0.17%
other:98.62% (2011)


Irrigated land:
129.4 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
0.06 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
0.06 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common


Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective:Qatari


Ethnic groups:
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%


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


Religions:
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other (includes mainly Hindu and other Indian religions) 14% (2004 est.)


Population:
2,123,160 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 146


Age structure:
0-14 years:12.5% (male 134,477/female 130,640)
15-24 years:13.4% (male 208,278/female 75,889)
25-54 years:69.9% (male 1,228,151/female 256,099)
55-64 years:3.4% (male 55,386/female 16,156)
65 years and over:0.8% (male 11,226/female 6,858) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:17.1 %
youth dependency ratio:16 %
elderly dependency ratio:1.1 %
potential support ratio:87.4 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:32.6 years
male:33.6 years
female:28 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
3.58% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 5


Birth rate:
9.95 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 194


Death rate:
1.53 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 225


Net migration rate:
27.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 2


Urbanization:
urban population:98.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
DOHA (capital) 567,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years:2.75 male(s)/female
25-54 years:4.8 male(s)/female
55-64 years:3.37 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.5 male(s)/female
total population:3.29 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:6.42 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 165
male:6.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:78.38 yearscountry comparison to the world: 53
male:76.4 years
female:80.4 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 136


Health expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
2.76 physicians/1,000 population (2006)


Hospital bed density:
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 121


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 162


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 122


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
33.2% (2008)country comparison to the world: 16


Education expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2008)country comparison to the world: 154

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:96.3%
male:96.5%
female:95.4% (2010 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:14 years
male:14 years
female:14 years (2005)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:1.3%country comparison to the world: 146
male:0.4%
female:8.9% (2011)

Government

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 is cutter


Government type:
emirate


Capital:
name:Doha
geographic coordinates:25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal


Independence:
3 September 1971 (from the UK)


National holiday:
National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)


Constitution:
previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic law (in family and personal matters)


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)
head of government:Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Nasir bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 26 June 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdallah al-MAHMUD (since 20 September 2011)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections:the position of amir is hereditary


Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 15 members appointed; 30 members to be elected by popular vote beginning mid- or late 2013, per the 2003 constitutional referendum)
note:the Advisory Council has limited legislative authority to draft and approve laws, but the Amir has final say on all matters; Qatar's first legislative elections were expected to be held in 2013, but HAMAD postponed them in a final legislative act prior to handing over power to TAMIN; there is currently no date set for Advisory Council elections; in principle the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; the Advisory Council would have authority to approve the national budget, hold ministers accountable through no-confidence votes, and propose legislation; Qatar in May 2011 held nationwide elections for the 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC) - first elected in 1999 - which has limited consultative authority aimed at improving municipal services


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members)
note - the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Judicial Supreme Council were established in 1999
judge selection and term of office:Cassation Court judges nominated by the Judicial Supreme Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Judicial Supreme Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Sharia Courts; Courts of Justice


    Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none


International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Jaham A.A. KUWARI (since 10 March 2014)
chancery:2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:[1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX:[1] (202) 237-0061
consulates:Houston, Los Angeles, New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Susan L. ZIADEH (since 11 September 2011)
embassy:Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address:P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:[974] 4496-6000
FAX:[974] 4488 4298


Flag description:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the 'reconciled emirates' in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916


National anthem:
name:'Al-Salam Al-Amiri' (The Peace for the Anthem)

lyrics/music:Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
note:adopted 1996; the anthem was first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar

Economy

Economy - overview:
Qatar has prospered in the last several years with continued high real GDP growth. Throughout the financial crisis Qatari authorities sought to protect the local banking sector, with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP is driven largely by changes in oil prices and by investment in the energy sector. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 50% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world's highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for about 57 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 13% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid is accelerating large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar's metro system, light rail system, the construction of a new port, roads, stadiums and related sporting infrastructure. The new Hamad International Airport is expected to open in mid-2014 with an annual passenger capacity of 24 million on initial opening and 50 million when complete.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$198.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$185.3 billion (2012 est.)
$171.4 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$213.1 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
8.1% (2012 est.)
13% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$102,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$100,900 (2012 est.)
$100,400 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
54.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
62.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
59.8% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:13.5%
government consumption:13.8%
investment in fixed capital:29.3%
investment in inventories:2.5%
exports of goods and services:71.7%
imports of goods and services:-30.8%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:0.1%
industry:72.2%
services:27.7% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish


Industries:
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair


Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Labor force:
1.424 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Unemployment rate:
0.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0.5% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.3%
highest 10%:35.9% (2007)


Budget:
revenues:$77.54 billion
expenditures:$57.25 billion (2013 est.)


    Taxes and other revenues:
38.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
9.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Public debt:
30.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
32.8% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
1.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.93% (31 December 2011 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
5.38% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$29.98 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$24.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$136 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$104.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$170.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$149.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$126.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
$47.56 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$61.59 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$12.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$133 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel


Exports - partners:
Japan 26.7%, South Korea 19%, India 12.1%, Singapore 5.7%, China 5.4% (2013 est.)


Imports:
$39.58 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$27.73 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals


Imports - partners:
US 14.2%, UAE 11.1%, Saudi Arabia 8.6%, UK 6.4%, Japan 6%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, France 4.4% (2013 est.)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$33.19 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$149.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$139.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$33.48 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$32.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$28.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$26.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
3.64 (2013 est.)
3.64 (2012 est.)
3.64 (2010 est.)
3.64 (2009)
3.64 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
32.34 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Electricity - consumption:
20.51 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
7.83 million kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Crude oil - production:
1.579 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18


Crude oil - exports:
1.389 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
25.38 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12


Refined petroleum products - production:
287,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
189,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


Refined petroleum products - exports:
210,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Refined petroleum products - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211


Natural gas - production:
133.2 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Natural gas - consumption:
19.53 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36


Natural gas - exports:
113.7 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Natural gas - proved reserves:
25.2 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
64.46 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
327,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 111


Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.6 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 136


Telephone system:
general assessment:modern system centered in Doha
domestic:combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons
international:country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2011)



    Broadcast media:
TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government, but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha; in August 2013, Qatar's satellite company Es'hailSat launched its first communications satellite Es'hail 1 (manufactured in the US), which entered commercial service in December 2013 to provide improved television broadcasting capability and expand availability of voice and internet; Es'hailSat released a request for proposals in March 2014 for its second satellite to launch in 2016 (2014)


Internet country code:
.qa


Internet hosts:
897 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 173


Internet users:
563,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117

Transportation

Airports
6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 178


Airports - with paved runways
total:4
over 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:2
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:
1 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate 288 km; condensate/gas 221 km; gas 2,383 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 745 km; refined products 103 km (2013)


    Roadways
total:9,830 km (2010)country comparison to the world: 135

Merchant marine
total:28country comparison to the world: 87
by type:bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 13, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned:6 (Kuwait 6)
registered in other countries:35 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 29, Panama 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra's Laffan

Military

Military branches
Qatari Emiri Land Force (QELF), Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN), Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
conscription for males aged 18-35 (2014)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:389,487
females age 16-49:165,572 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:321,974
females age 16-49:140,176 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:6,429
female:5,162 (2010 est.)
Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook