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NAVIGATION
State of Qatar
Dawlat Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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25 30 N, 51 15 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 11,437 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
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Coastline:
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563 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.27%
permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.46% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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130 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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haze, dust storms, sandstorms common |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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793,341 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 25.2% (male 102,110; female 98,053)
15-64 years: 72.1% (male 403,508; female 168,428) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 15,299; female 5,943) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.02% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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15.78 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.57 male(s)/female total population: 1.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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20.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.88 years
female: 75.48 years (2002 est.) male: 70.4 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.1 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.09% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 95% |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79% male: 79% female: 80% (1995 est.) |