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.

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

slightly smaller than Connecticut

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

petroleum, natural gas, fish

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

833,285 (July 2010 est.)

15.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.44 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

3 September 1971 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)

ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)

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

ABEDA, ACC, 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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has maintained its economic growth of the last several years. Qatari authorities throughout the crisis sought to protect the local banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 and the global financial crisis reduced Qatar's budget surplus and slowed the pace of investment and development projects in 2009, but GDP growth still registered more than 9% for the year and will likely rebound in 2010. 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 have made Qatar the second highest per-capita income country - following Liechtenstein - and the world's second fastest growing - following Macau. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 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.

$99.59 billion (2009 est.)

$90.95 billion (2008 est.)

$81.43 billion (2007 est.)

$83.91 billion (2009 est.)

$119,500 (2009 est.)

$110,300 (2008 est.)

1.179 million (2009 est.)

32.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

15.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

5.1% of GDP (2008 est.)

5.5% (31 December 2009)

5.5% (31 December 2008)

6.84% (31 December 2008)

7.43% (31 December 2007)

$14.59 billion (31 December 2009)

$13.98 billion (31 December 2008)

$44.5 billion (31 December 2009)

$36.58 billion (31 December 2007)

$69.21 billion (31 December 2009)

$59.43 billion (31 December 2008)

$87.84 billion (31 December 2009)

$76.31 billion (31 December 2008)

$95.49 billion (31 December 2007)

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

15.11 billion kWh (2007 est.)

13.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)

1.213 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

142,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

753,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

27.19 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

76.98 billion cu m (2008 est.)

20.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)

56.78 billion cu m (2008 est.)

25.26 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$4.619 billion (2009 est.)

$14.23 billion (2008 est.)

$37.24 billion (2009 est.)

$54.91 billion (2008 est.)

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

Japan 34.68%, South Korea 22.44%, Singapore 10.03%, India 4.86% (2009)

$20.89 billion (2009 est.)

$25.14 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

US 13.43%, Italy 8.34%, South Korea 8.33%, Japan 8.04%, Germany 7.31%, France 6.26%, UK 5.59%, China 5%, UAE 4.67%, Saudi Arabia 3.96% (2009)

$18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$9.998 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$63.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$57.37 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$20.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$15.39 billion (2008 est.)

$14.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$10.16 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2009), 3.64 (2008), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005)

1.683 million (2008)

television and radio broadcast media are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari Government; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Doha (2007)

condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 980 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2009)

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

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

10% of GDP (2005 est.)