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Qatar (2003)

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Qatar 2003 year

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.)
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Airports 4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2

over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 11,437 sq km

land: 11,437 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut
Birth rate 15.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $5 billion

expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (FY 02/03 est.)
Capital Doha
Coastline 563 km
Constitution 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
Country name conventional long form: State of Qatar

conventional short form: Qatar

local long form: Dawlat Qatar

local short form: Qatar

Currency Qatari rial (QAR)
Death rate 4.43 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $15.4 billion (2002 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN

embassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha

mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone: [974] 488 4101

FAX: [974] 488 4298
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA

chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600

FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061

consulate(s) general: Houston
Disputes - international none
Economic aid - recipient $NA
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.
Electricity - consumption 8.616 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 9.264 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Exchange rates Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)
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 JASIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

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)

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
Exports 0 kWh (2001)
Exports $10.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports 16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Exports NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.4%

industry: 67.6%

services: 32% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.6% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Geography - note strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Heliports 1 (2002)
Highways total: 1,230 km

paved: 1,107 km

unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)

highest 10%: NA%
Imports 0 kWh (2001)
Imports $3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Imports NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners France 17.8%, Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8%, Italy 6.7%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2002)
Independence 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA%
Industries crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Infant mortality rate total: 20.03 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.9% (2002)
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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 130 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal
Labor force 280,122 (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 60 km

border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Land use arable land: 1.27%

permanent crops: 0.27%

other: 98.46% (1998 est.)
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 dominates family and personal matters
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 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
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.14 years

male: 70.65 years

female: 75.76 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.5%

male: 81.4%

female: 85% (2003 est.)
Location Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Map references Middle East
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWT

ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1, UAE 3 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 10% (FY00)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 320,835

note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 168,416 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 7,192 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Nationality noun: Qatari(s)

adjective: Qatari
Natural hazards haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, fish
Net migration rate 17.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines condensate 90 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders none
Political pressure groups and leaders none
Population 817,052 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA%
Population growth rate 2.87% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways 0 km
Religions Muslim 95%
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.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system centered in Doha

domestic: NA

Telephones - main lines in use 142,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 43,476 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Terrain mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Total fertility rate 3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.7% (2001)
Waterways none