Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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.
- Capital
- Doha
- Government
- absolute monarchy
- Population
- 2,568,426
- Area
- 11,586 sq km
- Location
- Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
- Climate
- arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
- Natural resources
- petroleum; fish; natural gas
- Languages
- Arabic (official); English commonly used as a second language
- Religions
- Muslim 65.2%; Christian 13.7%; Hindu 15.9%; Buddhist 3.8%…
- Independence
- 3 September 1971 (from the UK)
- Administrative divisions
- 8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Sham…
- Currency
- Qatari rials (QAR)
- Export partners
- China 18%; India 11%; S. Korea 10%; Japan 7%…
- Import partners
- USA 12%; China 12%; UAE 9%; UK 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain