Qatar

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Qatar

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Dawlat Qatar/State of Qatar Area 11,400 sq km/4,401 sq mi Capital Doha (and chief port) Language Arabic (official), English Religion Sunni Muslim 95% Time difference GMT +3 Major holidays 3 September, 31 December; variable: Eid-ul-Adha (4 days), end of Ramadan (4 days)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Dukhan, Wakra, ad-Dawhah, ar-Rayyan, Umm Salal, Musay'id, Ash Shahaaniyah Physical features mostly flat desert with salt flats in south Airports one international airport; three other airports and one heliport; total passengers carried: 2.8 million (2001 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 1,230 km/764 mi, of which 90% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 571 per 1,000 people (2002 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani from 2007 Head of government Sheikh 'Abd Allah ibn Khalifah al-Thani from 1996 Political system absolutist Political executive absolute Administrative divisions nine municipalities Political parties none Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 12,400 (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 7.3 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 6.5 (2002 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Qatari riyal GDP (US$) 28.5 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 6.7 (2006 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 31,500 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 9% (2006 est) Unemployment dependent on immigrant workers – shortage of indigenous labour Labour force 2.7% agriculture, 41% industry, 56.3% services (2004) Foreign debt (US$) 22.4 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners Japan, France, Singapore, USA, South Korea, India, Germany, Spain, UK Resources petroleum, natural gas, water resources Industries petroleum refining and petroleum products, industrial chemicals, iron and steel, flour, cement, concrete, plastics, paint Exports petroleum, liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals. Principal market: Japan 39.6% (2005) Imports machinery and transport equipment, basic manufactures, food and live animals, miscellaneous manufactured articles, chemicals. Principal source: France 13.2% (2005) Arable land 1.6% (2006 est) Agricultural products cereals, vegetables, fruits (especially dates); livestock rearing; fishing


POPULATION

Population 839,200 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 74 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 92 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 22%, 15–59 75%, 60+ 3% (2005 est) Ethnic composition only about 30% of the population are indigenous Qataris; 40% are Arabs, and the others Pakistanis, Indians, and Iranians Life expectancy 72 (men); 77 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 21 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 9 Literacy rate 85% (men); 82% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 22.1 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 2.4 (2003 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 26.4 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 92.2 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 450 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 423 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 17.9 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 28.2 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

7th century AD Islam introduced. 8th century Developed into important trading centre during time of Abbasid Empire. 1783 The al-Khalifa family, who had migrated to northeast Qatar from west and north of the Arabian Peninsula, foiled Persian invasion and moved their headquarters to Bahrain Island, while continuing to rule the area of Qatar. 1867–68 After the Bahrain-based al-Khalifa had suppressed a revolt by their Qatari subjects, destroying the town of Doha, Britain intervened and installed Muhammad ibn Thani al-Thani, from the leading family of Qatar, as the ruling sheikh (or emir). A British Resident was given power to arbitrate disputes with Qatar's neighbours. 1871–1914 Nominally part of Turkish Ottoman Empire, although in 1893 sheik's forces inflicted a defeat on Ottomans. 1916 Qatar became British protectorate after treaty signed with Sheikh Adbullah al-Thani. 1949 Oil production began at onshore Dukhan field in west. 1960 Sheikh Ahmad al-Thani became new emir. 1968 Britain's announcement that it would remove its forces from the Gulf by 1971 led Qatar to make an abortive attempt to arrange a federation of Gulf states. 1970 Constitution adopted, confirming emirate as absolute monarchy. 1971 Independence achieved from Britain. 1991 Qatar forces joined United Nations (UN) coalition in the Gulf War against Iraq. 1995 Sheikh Khalifa ousted by son, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. 1996 Announcement of plans to introduce democracy followed by assassination attempt on Sheikh Hamad. Sheikh 'Abd Allah ibn Khalifah Al Thani appointed prime minister. 2001 Ruling of International Court of Justice on long-standing territorial disputes with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain accepted. 2002 Qatar seen by USA as strategically vital in its plans for possible war against Iraq; USA developed and expanded its al-Udeid airbase and made plans to deploy US Central Command staff to Qatar. 2003 USA's Qatar Central Command base became nerve centre of its military campaign in Iraq. New constitution, providing for parliament composed of 30 elected members and 15 emir appointees, approved by voters. Emir named younger son Prince Tamin crown prince. 2004 Relations with Russia deteriorated after former Chechen president Zelimkhan Yanderbiyev killed in explosion in Doha, where he had been living. Two Russian agents given life sentences for the killing, but later extradited to Russia. 2005 Car bomb near British school in Doha killed one Briton and injured 12 other people. Country's first written constitution came into effect, bringing with it degree of democratic reform. A $14 billion joint project with USA to build world's largest liquefied natural gas plant launched. Most of gas produced would go to USA. 2006 Qatar became first Arab country to host Asian Games.


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