Qatar

Qatar

Introduction

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. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced the level of unrest or violence seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth – it has the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar’s international image is bolstered in part by the Doha-based Al Jazirah news network, which has provided comprehensive coverage of the Near East and North African Arab revolutions. Additionally, Qatar played a significant role in the Libyan revolution by pressing the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to assist the Libyan rebel movement.

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 km
country 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: 1.64%
permanent crops:0.27%
other:98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.29cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita:358cu m/yr (2000)

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 14% (2004 census)

Population

848,016 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 95,240/female 89,446)
15-64 years:76.7% (male 460,673/female 189,914)
65 years and over:1.5% (male 7,311/female 5,432) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 30.8 years
male:32.9 years
female:25.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.81% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Birth rate

15.48 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Death rate

2.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221

Net migration rate

-4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Urbanization

urban population: 96% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

DOHA (capital) 427,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:2.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.36 male(s)/female
total population:1.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 154

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 133 male:12.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female:11.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.7 years
country comparison to the world: 84 male:73.96 years
female:77.53 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.43 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Health expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183

Physicians density

2.757 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 46

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 120

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:11 years
female:14 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 1.6%
country comparison to the world: 129 male:0.7%
female:7.5% (2007)

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 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

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

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

also observed is National Day, 18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)

Constitution

ratified by public referendum 29 April 2003

endorsed by the Amir 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005

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 HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995)

Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by the amir 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 Ministers Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007) and Ahmad bin Abdallah al-MAHMUD
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the amir is hereditary
note:in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited 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 (45 seats

15 members appointed

30 members elected by popular vote)
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 year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005

the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura

the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15

elections to the Majlis al-Shura have been rescheduled for 2013

Judicial branch

Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation

an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007

note – all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree 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, AFESD, AMF, CICA (observer), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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 Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
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 Susan L. ZIADEH
embassy:Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address:P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:[974] 488 4161
FAX:[974] 488 4150

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
note:the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain

according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted

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

Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has prospered in the last several years – in 2010 Qatar had the world’s highest growth rate. Qatari authorities throughout the crisis sought to protect the local banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP rebounded in 2010 largely due to the increase in oil prices. 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 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas likely have made Qatar the highest per-capita income country – ahead of Liechtenstein – and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 57 years. Qatar’s proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar’s successful 2022 world cup bid will likely accelerate large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar’s metro system and the Qatar-Bahrain causeway.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$150.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 $129.5 billion (2009 est.)
$119.2 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$129.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

16.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 8.6% (2009 est.)
25.4% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$179,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 $155,400 (2009 est.)
$144,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 0.1%
industry:71.8%
services:28.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.242 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Unemployment rate

0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 0.5% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%:35.9%

Distribution of family income – Gini index

41.1 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 56

Investment (gross fixed)

29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Budget

revenues: $52.84 billion
expenditures:$31.61 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

16.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Public debt

8.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124 13.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 -4.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69 5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.34% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 7.27% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$18.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 $14.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$72.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $59.09 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$89.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 $74.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$123.6 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 45 $87.86 billion (31 December 2009)
$76.31 billion (31 December 2008)

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

27.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Electricity – production

19.18 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity – consumption

18.79 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

1.437 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Oil – consumption

166,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Oil – exports

1.038 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Oil – imports

4,108 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Oil – proved reserves

25.38 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas – production

116.7 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Natural gas – consumption

21.89 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas – exports

94.81 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas – proved reserves

25.37 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Current account balance

$15.04 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 $6.688 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$72.04 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41 $48.31 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Japan 30.3%, South Korea 13.1%, India 8%, Singapore 7.7%, UK 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$20.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 $22.45 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports – partners

US 15.5%, Germany 9%, UAE 7.3%, South Korea 6.5%, UK 6.1%, Japan 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.5%, China 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$31.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 $18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$75.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $70.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$26.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $20.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$19.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 $14.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
3.64 (2010)
3.64 (2009)
3.64 (2008)
3.64 (2007)
3.64 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world:172

Airports – with paved runways

total: 4
over 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 145 km

condensate/gas 132 km

gas 980 km

liquid petroleum gas 90 km

oil 382 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 7,790 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 144

Merchant marine

total: 29
country comparison to the world: 85 by type:bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 14, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned:7 (Kuwait 7)
registered in other countries:30 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 24, Panama 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra’s Laffan

Military

Military branches

Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

no conscription (2010)

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.)

Military expenditures

10% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution

men and women from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Sudan, Thailand, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and China voluntarily migrate to Qatar as low-skilled laborers and domestic servants, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the Government of Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

it did not demonstrate evidence of significant efforts to punish traffickers or proactively identify victims

however, the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would largely bring the country into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

it is devoting sufficient resources to implementing the plan (2011)