Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
347,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.qa
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
98.09% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
18 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
526,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
154 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
4.68 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
14.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$57.258 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$65.922 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$60.461 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$49.410 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$13.751 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$8.270 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$6.426 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$16.652 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$4.260 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.986 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$26.319 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$63.118 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$36.453 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$38.117 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
3.6400 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
3.6400 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
3.6400 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
3.6400 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3.6400 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
3.6400 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
3.6400 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
3.6400 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3.6400 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3.6400 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
3.6400 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
3.6400 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
3.6400 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, fertilizers (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$121.838 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$140.229 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$92.291 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$72.397 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$85.204 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$102.561 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$92.046 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$70.933 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$105.549 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$161.693 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$128.709 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$125.216 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
68.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
12.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
19.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-31.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
30.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
0.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
58.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
45.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$126,046 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$217.983 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$360.218 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
35.1 (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
25.8% (2017 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.6% (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
gas turbines, cars, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$29.717 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$59.271 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$63.475 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$62.193 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$65.811 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$66.770 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$59.065 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$61.204 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$74.52 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$72.174 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$69.692 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
1.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.81% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.68% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.39% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.26% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-0.67% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-2.54% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.30% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.03% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.27% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.123 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$319.296 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$240.425 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$222.778 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$252.949 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$283.662 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$229.538 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$292.655 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$304.903 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$308.522 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$317.064 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.75% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.06% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-1.50% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.23% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.69% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-3.56% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.63% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.18% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.36% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$148,389 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$102,546 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$89,935 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$99,358 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$107,503 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$82,149 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$116,833 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$122,921 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$129,368 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$574.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$498.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$437.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$651.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$858.8 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$37.258 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$31.887 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$15.008 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$30.358 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$39.718 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$40.973 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$42.213 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$47.389 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$51.539 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$53.987 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
0.10% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
0.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
0.14% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
0.2% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
0.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
1.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
0.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
0.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
11.4 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
814.308 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
171.805 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
1.818 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
99.991 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
27.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
127.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Environment: Environmental issues
air, land, and water pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited conservation of oil and wildlife
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
6.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
93.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
9.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
1,040.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
5.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
64.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
58 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
311.156 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
40.18 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
582.862 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
99.32% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.001 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Geography: Area: land
11,586 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
563 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
28 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Geography: Geography - note
the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Geography: Irrigated land
130 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Saudi Arabia 87 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
87 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
6.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
93.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Geography: Population distribution
most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert
Government: Administrative divisions
8 municipalities ( baladiyat , singular - baladiyah ); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
25 17 N, 51 32 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Qatar
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
20 years; 15 years if an Arab national
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Qatar
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: local long form
Dawlat Qatar
Government: Country name: local short form
Qatar
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[974] 4488-4298
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[974] 4496-6000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 237-0682
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 274-1600
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)
Government: Flag
description: maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
September 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/9/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
49 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
6.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1996
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
Government: National color(s)
maroon, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Government: National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field
Government: Political parties
political parties are banned
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Force (ISF or Lekhwiya) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 15,000 active-duty Qatar Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.3% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.52% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
1.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
54.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
17.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
15.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.3% national budget (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.23% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
People and Society: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
83.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
81.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.75% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
28.1 years
People and Society: Median age: male
35.7 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Qatari
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
2,857,822 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.57% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
597,821
People and Society: Population: male
1,970,605
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
4.29 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
1.91 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
24.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
19.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.72 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
99.32% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
349 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
1,200 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A7
Transportation: Heliports
12 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
123 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
6 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.