Qatar

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Introduction - Qatar:
Country	Qatar


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. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him 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.


Location - Qatar:
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: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 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: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources	petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use	arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land	130 sq km (2002)

Natural hazards	haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment current issues	limited natural fresh water 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 - Qatar:
Population	907,229 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 23.1% (male 106,853/female 102,713) 15-64 years: 72.9% (male 455,631/female 206,099) 65 years and over: 4% (male 26,689/female 9,244) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 31.9 years male: 37.3 years female: 23.1 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	2.386% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	15.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	4.82 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.211 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.887 male(s)/female total population: 1.852 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 17.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 74.14 years male: 71.6 years female: 76.82 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	2.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.09% (2001 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	NA

Hiv aids deaths	NA

Nationality	noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

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

Religions	Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

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

Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 89.1% female: 88.6% (2004 census)

Government - Qatar:
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

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

Independence	3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday	Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution	ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system	based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage	18 years of age; universal

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, fourth 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 HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007) 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

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 9 June 2005, 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; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura in late 2007

Judicial branch	Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; note - the Amir appoints all judges - based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council - for renewable three-year terms

Political parties and leaders	none

Political pressure groups and leaders	none

International organization participation	ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general: Houston

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 4176

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

Economy - Qatar:
Economy overview	Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar one of the worlds faster growing and higher per-capita income countries - in 2006 per-capita income equaled that of the EU. Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build Qatars budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatars proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and is expected to become the worlds top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007. Qatar is also trying to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy projects by further liberalizing the economy.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$26.37 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$30.76 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	7.1% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$29,800 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 0.1% industry: 77.2% services: 22.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force	508,000 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate	3.2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line	NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices	7.2% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed	33.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $22.51 billion expenditures: $16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt	23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate	10% (2003 est.)

Electricity production	12.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	11.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	0 kWh (2004)

Oil production	790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil consumption	80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	15.21 billion bbl (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural gas production	39.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	15.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas exports	24.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas imports	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas proved reserves	25.77 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance	$12.51 billion (2006 est.)

Exports	$33.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports partners	Japan 39.8%, South Korea 18.6%, Singapore 6.4%, Thailand 4.1% (2006)

Imports	$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports commodities	machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports partners	France 13.3%, Japan 10.1%, US 9.3%, Italy 8.9%, Germany 7.8%, UK 6.2%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$5.755 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external	$25.7 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$NA

Currency code	Qatari rial (QAR)

Exchange rates	Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002)

Communications - Qatar:
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March

Telephones main lines in use	228,300 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	919,800 (2006)

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

Radio broadcast stations	AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations	1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001)

Internet country code	.qa

Internet hosts	301 (2006)

Internet users	289,900 (2006)

Transportation - Qatar:
Airports	5 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports	1 (2006)

Pipelines	condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)

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

Merchant marine	total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1) registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals	Doha

Military - Qatar:
Military branches	Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2007)

Military service age and obligation	18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005)

Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 302,873 females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 238,566 females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 7,851 females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	10% (2005 est.)

Disputes international	none