General
Information
|
Total Land Area: |
11,520 km2 |
|
Land boundaries: |
60 km |
|
Coastline: |
563 km |
|
Capital: |
Doha |
|
Other Large
Cities: |
Ar-Rayyan, Al-
Wakrah |
|
Official
Language: |
Arabic |
|
National
Currency Unit: |
Qatari Riyal (QAR) |
|
National Day: |
September 3 |
Location and
Geography
Qatar is located on
the Western shore of
the Arabian Gulf. It
is surrounded by the
sea on three sides
and also has a
number of offshore
reefs and islands.
Its nearest seaward
neighbour is Bahrain
in the North. In the
South at the neck of
the peninsula, it is
bordered by Saudi
Arabia. The channel
that runs into the
Gulf of Salwa
separates Qatar from
Bahrain. Natural
vegetation is
limited. Blown sand
covers much of the
South and the
existing flora is
confined to the
North. The coastline
is uneven and rises
gently on both sides
of the peninsula.
The country has a
moderate desert
climate with mild
winters and humid
summers. Rainfall is
limited.
Demography
|
Population:
|
0.60 million
(2002) |
|
Crude Birth
Rate:
|
20 per thousand
people (2001) |
|
Crude Death
Rate:
|
2 per thousand
people (2001) |
|
Infant Mortality
Rate:
|
9 per thousand
(2001) |
|
Life Expectancy:
|
Male: 73 years,
Female: 75 years
(2001) |
|
Urban
Population:
|
100.0 percent
(2001) |
|
Adult Literacy:
|
81.70 percent
(2001) |
Economy
Qatar has large
deposits of crude
oil and natural gas
with increased
production levels
and developing
offshore oilfields.
The country has one
of the world’s
largest oilfields
and the third
largest source of
natural gas.
However, there have
been shifts in
production from
hydrocarbons
industry to
petrochemicals, fuel
additives and oil
distribution. The
other industrial
products are
fertilisers, steel
and cement. Tourism,
banking and services
sectors are also
developing.
Agricultural
production is
limited to fruits,
vegetables, poultry,
beef and fish and
most food products
are imported.
|
GDP at Current
Market Prices:
|
17881 million
US$ (2002) |
|
Per Capita GDP:
|
29802 US$ (2002) |
|
Share of Sectors
in GDP:
|
0.4%
Agriculture,
64.4% Industry,
35.2% Services,
(2001) |
|
Total Exports:
|
11812 million
US$ (2002) |
|
Total Imports:
|
4055 million US$
(2002) |
|
Major Exports
Items: |
Petroleum
products,
natural gas,
fertilizers and
steel |
|
Major Imports
Items: |
Machinery and
equipment,
manufactured
goods,
foodstuffs and
chemicals |
|
Major Trading
Partners: |
US, Japan,
South Korea,
Italy, UAE and
UK |
|
