Country name conventional long form: State of Qatar
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 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 a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.Location Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Area total: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut Coastline 563 km 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 hazards haze, dust storms, sandstorms common Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities Geography - note strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits Population 817,052 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.) Median age total: 31.2 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 21.6 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari Ethnic groups Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% Religions Muslim 95% Languages Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language Internet country code .qa Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.5%
male: 81.4%
female: 85% (2003 est.) Government type traditional monarchy National holiday Independence Day, 3 September (1971) Legal system discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Economy - overview 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 comparable to 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. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important to the economy. 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. Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar"s economy is expected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquid natural gas exports. Exports - partners Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002) Currency Qatari rial (QAR) Currency code QAR Exchange rates Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998) Airports 4 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 Disputes - international none |
