CapitalDoha
Population2,568,426
Area11,586 km²
GDP per capita$110,900
LanguagesArabic is the official language, while English is frequently utilized as a secondary language
CurrencyQatari rials
Life Expectancy80.3 yr
Governmentabsolute monarchy
Introduction
Background
Since the mid-1800s, Qatar has been governed by the Al Thani family. Over the past 60 years, it has transitioned from a financially constrained British protectorate primarily recognized for its pearling industry to an independent nation benefiting from substantial hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who executed a bloodless coup against his father in 1995, initiated extensive political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investments, and an expanding role for Qatar in regional leadership, notably through the establishment of the pan-Arab satellite news organization Al-Jazeera and Qatar's involvement in mediating various regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar settled its long-standing border disagreements with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had achieved the highest per capita income globally. Unlike other countries in the Near East and North Africa, Qatar did not encounter domestic unrest or violence during the events of 2011, attributed in part to its vast wealth and patronage systems. In mid-2013, HAMAD abdicated peacefully, passing leadership to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM enjoys popularity among the Qatari populace due to his management of the country during an economic blockade imposed by several neighboring states, his initiatives to enhance the healthcare and education sectors, and his efforts to expand national infrastructure in preparation for hosting international sporting events. Qatar achieved a historic milestone as the first Arab nation to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022.
In the wake of regional unrest in 2011, Doha took pride in its backing of numerous popular revolutions, notably in Libya and Syria. This position negatively affected Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily withdrew their ambassadors from Doha in 2014. Subsequently, TAMIM managed to improve Qatar’s ties with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 through Kuwaiti mediation and the signing of the Riyadh Agreement. However, this reconciliation was brief. In 2017, the Quartet—Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—terminated diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar due to purported breaches of the agreement and other grievances. They reinstated relations in 2021 after a declaration was signed at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the United States recognized Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.
Geography
Area
land
11,586 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
11,586 sq km
Climate
dry; winters that are mild and pleasant; summers that are extremely hot and humid
Terrain
predominantly flat and desolate desert
Land use
other
93.4% (2023 est.)
forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
6.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Middle East, a peninsula adjacent to the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Coastline
563 km
Elevation
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
mean elevation
28 m
Irrigated land
130 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
87 km
border countries
Saudi Arabia 87 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Natural hazards
haze, dust storms, and sandstorms are frequently encountered
Geography - note
the peninsula holds a crucial position in the central Persian Gulf close to significant oil reserves
Natural resources
oil, fish, natural gas
Area - comparative
nearly double the area of Delaware; marginally smaller than Connecticut
Geographic coordinates
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Population distribution
the majority of the populace is concentrated in or near the capital, Doha, located on the eastern part of the peninsula
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Arabic is the official language, while English is frequently utilized as a secondary language
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% (estimation for 2020)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years
4.29 male(s)/female
total population
3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
1.91 male(s)/female
Birth rate
9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
35.7 years
total
34.4 years (2025 est.)
female
28.1 years
Population
male
1,970,605
total
2,568,426 (2025 est.)
female
597,821
Nationality
noun
Qatari(s)
adjective
Qatari
Tobacco use
male
24.6% (2025 est.)
total
19.2% (2025 est.)
female
2.3% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
99.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)
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)
Ethnic groups
non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
17.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
15.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
54.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
1.8 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
2.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.3% national budget (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
7 deaths/1,000 live births
total
6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.57% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the majority of the populace is concentrated in or near Doha, situated on the eastern part of the peninsula
Life expectancy at birth
male
78.2 years
female
82.4 years
total population
80.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0.96 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.)
Major urban areas - population
798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.1% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.6% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.3% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
12 years (2022 est.)
total
13 years (2022 est.)
female
15 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
dry; winters that are mild and enjoyable; summers that are extremely hot and humid
Land use
other
93.4% (2023 est.)
forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
6.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
99.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
5.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
64.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
1,040.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
9.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.001 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
6% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
pollution of air, land, and water; scarce natural freshwater supplies; inadequate preservation of oil and wildlife
Total water withdrawal
municipal
582.862 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial
40.18 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
311.156 million cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
127.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
99.991 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
27.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
58 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: deep red featuring a wide, jagged white stripe on the left side
meaning: the maroon color symbolizes the blood lost in conflicts involving Qatar, while the white represents peace; the nine-pointed jagged border signifies Qatar's position as the ninth entity in the "reconciled emirates" following the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight entities include Bahrain and the seven members of the UAE
Capital
name
Doha
etymology
the name originates from the Arabic ad-dawha, translating to "the big tree," likely referring to a prominent tree at the location of the early fishing settlement
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
25 17 N, 51 32 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
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
Constitution
history
previously 1972 (provisional); most recent version drafted on 2 July 2002, ratified by referendum on 29 April 2003, affirmed on 8 June 2004, and came into effect on 9 June 2005
amendment process
initiated by the Amir or one-third of the Advisory Council members; approval necessitates a two-thirds majority vote from the Advisory Council and subsequent endorsement and promulgation by the emir; articles concerning the state's governance and its succession, the emir's roles, and citizens' rights and freedoms are immutable
Country name
etymology
the name may stem from the Arabic term katran, which translates to "tar" or "resin," referencing the region's oil and natural gas deposits
local long form
Dawlat Qatar
local short form
Qatar
conventional long form
State of Qatar
conventional short form
Qatar
Independence
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system incorporating civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (applied in family and personal affairs)
Government type
absolute monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (composed of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (formed of the chief justice and six members)
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, offers dispute resolution services for organizations and entities in Qatar and internationally
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges are proposed by the Supreme Judiciary Council, an independent body with nine members, all judiciary heads appointed by the amir; judges serve renewable three-year terms; members of the Supreme Constitutional Court are suggested by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment not applicable
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
chief of state
Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)
head of government
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the prime minister is designated by the amir
National holiday
National Day, 18 December (1878), marks the Al Thani family's rise to power; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
National color(s)
maroon, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
Political parties
political parties are banned
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
49 (all appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/9/2025
expected date of next election
September 2029
percentage of women in chamber
6.1%
National anthem(s)
title
"Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (Peace be to the Emir)
history
adopted 1996
lyrics/music
Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 237-0682
chancery
2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 274-1600
chief of mission
Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[974] 4488-4298
embassy
22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone
[974] 4496-6000
mailing address
6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130
chief of mission
Ambassador (currently vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
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
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration on ICJ jurisdiction; is not a party to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$65.922 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$57.258 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$161.693 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$128.709 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$125.216 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$74.52 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$72.174 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$69.692 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
liquefied natural gas, crude oil extraction and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcement bars, cement, commercial ship maintenance
Labor force
2.123 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
3.64 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
3.64 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
3.64 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
3.64 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
3.64 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income, oil-and-gas-centered Middle Eastern economy; executing the 'National Vision 2030' governmental strategy aimed at economic growth, diversification, and creating a conducive environment for business to enhance investment and job opportunities; anticipated expansion of the LNG sector to facilitate growth; leader in Islamic finance
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
0.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
0.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
0.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 18%, India 11%, South Korea 10%, Japan 7%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 12%, China 12%, UAE 9%, UK 7%, India 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$114,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$116,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$110,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, crude oil, refined oil, plastics, fertilizers (2023)
Imports - commodities
gas turbines, automobiles, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$63.118 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$36.453 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$38.117 billion (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$217.983 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
19.5% (2022 est.)
government consumption
12.9% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital
30.6% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services
68.6% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services
-31.6% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
14.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.3% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
1.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$304.903 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$308.522 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$317.064 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
0.1% (2024 est.)
total
0.4% (2024 est.)
female
1.2% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$47.389 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$51.539 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$53.987 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
58.5% (2024 est.)
services
45.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
0.3% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.6% (2017 est.)
highest 10%
25.8% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
35.1 (2017 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
1.818 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
11.4 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
171.805 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
814.308 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
100% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
regulation of television and radio licensing by the government and access to regional media markets; the headquarters of the satellite TV network Al-Jazeera, which was initially state-owned but has since become independent; local radio features a mix of state-run, private, and international stations on FM frequencies; satellite television services are available as of 2019.
Internet country code
.qa
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
526,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
18 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
4.68 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
154 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
347,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
2
medium
1
key ports
Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said
very small
3
total ports
6 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
5
Airports
8 (2025)
Heliports
12 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
123 (2023)
by type
5 bulk carriers, 4 container ships, 4 general cargo vessels, 2 oil tankers, 108 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A7
Military & Security
Military - note
The military of Qatar oversees both territorial defense and maritime security; it is currently engaged in an extensive program to acquire new equipment aimed at improving its operational capabilities and enhancing Qatar's position in the region. Qatar maintains military relationships with several nations, such as France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Turkey, and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is home to the regional headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM; founded in 1983) and hosts several thousand US military personnel across various installations, including the Al Udeid Air Base. Qatar holds the status of Major Non-NATO Ally with the US, a classification under US law that grants certain advantages in defense trade and security cooperation to its foreign partners. Additionally, Qatar has Turkish military forces stationed at two bases established in 2014 and 2019. The Qatari military is also a participant in the Peninsula Shield Forces, a collective military initiative of the GCC countries aimed at ensuring regional security and stability (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2019
3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020
4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and security forces
Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, which includes the Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, which encompasses the 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 service age and obligation
generally, voluntary service for both men and women ranges from ages 18 to 30; mandatory military service for men is required between the ages of 18 and 35; the duration of compulsory service varies from 4 to 12 months, depending on educational and professional conditions (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the arsenal of the Qatari military consists of a combination of older and contemporary weapon systems, primarily sourced from Turkey, the US, and various European nations, including France, Germany, and Italy (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 15,000 active-duty members of the Qatar Armed Forces (2025)
Terrorism
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
349 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
1,200 (2024 est.)
