1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)
constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Agriculture
farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported
Airports
total: 5 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2
Area
total area: 11,000 sq km land area: 11,000 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Birth rate
18.83 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Budget
revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)
Capital
Doha
Climate
desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Coastline
563 km
Constitution
provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Currency
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Death rate
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA%, of GDP
Digraph
QA
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Faud Al Thani chancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 338-0111
Economic aid
donor: pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7 billion
Electricity
capacity: 1,596,000 kW production: 4.818 billion kWh consumption per capita: 9,655 kWh (1992)
Environment
current issues: limited freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Ethnic divisions
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Exchange rates
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Executive branch
chief of state and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February 1972); Crown Prince HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir and Minister of Defense) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
Exports
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers partners: Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3% (1991)
External debt
$1.5 billion (1993 est.)
FAX
(0974) 861669
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Flag
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
Highways
total: 1,500 km paved: 1,000 km unpaved: gravel, natural surface 500 km (est.)
Imports
$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Japan 14%, UK 12%, US 12%, Germany 9%, France 5% (1991)
Independence
3 September 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel (rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement
Infant mortality rate
21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (1993 est.)
International disputes
territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal
Labor force
104,000 (85% non-Qatari in private sector) (1983)
Land boundaries
total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 0% other: 95%
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Legal system
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.64 years male: 70.08 years female: 75.09 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1986) total population: 76% male: 77% female: 72%
Location
Middle East, peninsula jutting into the central Persian Gulf, between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 217,538; fit for military service 114,468; reach military age (18) annually 3,737 (1994 est.)
Map references
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Merchant marine
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 373,491 GRT/567,294 DWT, container 4, cargo 11, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Names
conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$17,500 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
-0.5% (1993 est.)
Nationality
noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Net migration rate
10.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Overview
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for roughly 85% of export earnings and 75% 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 industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important.
Pipelines
crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Political parties and leaders
none
Population
512,779 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
2.56% (1994 est.)
Ports
Doha, Umm Sa'id, Halul Island
Religions
Muslim 95%
Suffrage
none
Telecommunications
modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV
Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Total fertility rate
3.74 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
traditional monarchy
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH embassy: 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: (0974) 864701 through 864703