Qatar
State of Qatar
Population
2.57M
Area
11,586 km²
GDP
$217.98B
GDP Per Capita
$110,900
Pop. Density
222/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
ر.قQatari riyal(QAR)
Calling Code
+974
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Languages
Arabic
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Qatari
Background
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo from some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of hosting international sporting events. Qatar became the first country in the Arab world to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022.
Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. They restored ties in 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the United States designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑260.0% since 2006Population
↑193.8% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 82.4 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography18
Location
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries
border countries: Saudi Arabia 87 km
Coastline
563 km
Maritime claims
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
Elevation
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
mean elevation: 28 m
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
130 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution
most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Natural hazards
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Geography - note
the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
People & Society33
Population
male: 1,970,605
female: 597,821
Nationality
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups
non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
Languages
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)
65 years and over: 1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 15.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 1.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 54.4 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 35.7 years
female: 28.1 years
Population growth rate
0.57% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 4.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.91 male(s)/female
total population: 3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 78.2 years
female: 82.4 years
Total fertility rate
1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access
unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 24.6% (2025 est.)
female: 2.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.6% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.3% national budget (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 12 years (2022 est.)
female: 15 years (2022 est.)
Government23
Country name
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
etymology: the name may derive from the Arabic word katran, meaning "tar" or "resin" in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves
Government type
absolute monarchy
Capital
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is derived from the Arabic ad-dawha, meaning "the big tree," and probably referred to a large tree at the site of the original fishing village
Administrative divisions
Legal system
mixed system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)
Constitution
amendment process: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Qatar
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally
Political parties
political parties are banned
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
info.dc@mofa.gov.qa
https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
PasDoha@state.gov
https://qa.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday
National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Flag
meaning: maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, and white for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge is a reference to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight members are Bahrain and the seven that make up the UAE
National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field
National color(s)
maroon, white
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
history: adopted 1996
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
Economy29
Economic overview
high-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy; implementing “National Vision 2030” government strategy for economic development, diversification, and favorable business conditions to boost investment and employment; expansion of LNG sector expected to boost growth; Islamic finance leader
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $308.522 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $304.903 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $116,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $114,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$217.983 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 58.5% (2024 est.)
services: 45.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)
Industries
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate
1.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force
2.123 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 0.1% (2024 est.)
female: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 25.8% (2017 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $57.258 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
Current account balance
Current account balance 2023: $36.453 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $63.118 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2023: $128.709 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $161.693 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
China 18%, India 11%, S. Korea 10%, Japan 7%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, fertilizers (2023)
Imports
Imports 2023: $72.174 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $74.52 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 12%, China 12%, UAE 9%, UK 7%, India 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
gas turbines, cars, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $51.539 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $47.389 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy7
Electricity access
Electricity
consumption: 51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
state-controlled TV and radio licensing and access to local media markets; home of satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally state-owned but is now independent; local radio includes state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies; satellite TV available (2019)
Internet country code
.qa
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Transportation5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A7
Airports
8 (2025)
Heliports
12 (2025)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security6
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Force (ISF or Lekhwiya) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2022: 5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2019: 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 15,000 active-duty Qatar Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Qatari military's inventory is a mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from Türkiye, the US, and various European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy (2025)
Military service age and obligation
typically 18-30 for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory military service for men 18-35; compulsory service is from 4-12 months, depending on educational and professional circumstances (2025)
Military - note
Qatar's military is responsible for territorial defense and maritime security; the military is in the midst of a large equipment acquisition program designed to enhance its capabilities and Qatar's regional standing; Qatar has military ties with a variety of countries, including France, the UK, the US, Turkey, and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); it hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and several thousand US military forces at various military facilities, including the Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019; the Qatari military is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 1,200 (2024 est.)