CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Qatar


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!| 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.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 11,437 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements !| Geography - note:
 * Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
 * 25 30 N, 51 15 E
 * Middle East
 * total: 11,437 sq km
 * slightly smaller than Connecticut
 * total: 60 km
 * 563 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
 * mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
 * lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
 * petroleum, natural gas, fish
 * arable land: 1.64%
 * 130 sq km (1998 est.)
 * haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
 * limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
 * party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
 * strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 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.) !| Median age: male: 36.7 years female: 22 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: 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.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 22.77 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 70.9 years female: 76.04 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Qatari !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 82.5% male: 81.4% female: 85% (2003 est.)
 * 840,290 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 24.2% (male 103,660; female 99,597)
 * total: 31.4 years
 * 2.74% (2004 est.)
 * 15.6 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 4.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 16.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 * total: 19.32 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 73.4 years
 * 2.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 0.09% (2001 est.)
 * NA
 * NA
 * noun: Qatari(s)
 * Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
 * Muslim 95%
 * Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar local long form: Dawlat Qatar !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: 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 !| Legislative branch: 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 !| Judicial branch: 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 !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general: Houston FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101 FAX: [974] 488 4298 !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: State of Qatar
 * traditional monarchy
 * Doha
 * 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
 * 3 September 1971 (from UK)
 * Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
 * 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
 * discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * 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
 * unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
 * Court of Appeal
 * none
 * none
 * 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
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
 * maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 70.8% services: 28.8% (2003 est.) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $6.981 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2003 est.) !| Public debt: !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Oil - proved reserves: !| Natural gas - production: !| Natural gas - consumption: !| Natural gas - exports: !| Natural gas - imports: !| Natural gas - proved reserves: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * 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.
 * purchasing power parity - $17.54 billion (2003 est.)
 * 8.5% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $21,500 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 0.4%
 * 23.2% of GDP (2003)
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 2.3% (2003)
 * 140,000 (2003 est.)
 * 2.7% (2001)
 * revenues: $8.202 billion
 * 72.7% of GDP (2003)
 * fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
 * crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
 * 10% (2003 est.)
 * 9.264 billion kWh (2001)
 * 8.616 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * 14.51 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
 * 32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 17.93 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
 * $4.149 billion (2003)
 * $12.36 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
 * Japan 46%, South Korea 18.5%, Singapore 9.5% (2003)
 * $5.711 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
 * 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)
 * $2.952 billion (2003)
 * $17.5 billion (2003 est.)
 * NA
 * Qatari rial (QAR)
 * QAR
 * Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999)
 * 1 April - 31 March
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: 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: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 184,500 (2003)
 * 376,500 (2003)
 * general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
 * AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
 * 256,000 (1997)
 * 1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
 * 230,000 (1997)
 * .qa
 * 221 (2004)
 * 1 (2000)
 * 126,000 (2003)
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!| Highways: paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.) !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Kuwait 1 (2004 est.) by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 8, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 !| Heliports:
 * total: 1,230 km
 * 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)
 * Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
 * total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT
 * 4 (2003 est.)
 * total: 2
 * total: 2
 * 1 (2003 est.)
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.) !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * Land Force, Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Amiri Air Force
 * 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
 * males age 15-49: 324,001
 * males age 15-49: 170,266 (2004 est.)
 * males: 7,496 (2004 est.)
 * $723 million (FY00)
 * 10% (FY00)
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