nvironment: haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater
resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major crude oil sources

- People
Population: 490,897 (July 1990), growth rate 5.7% (1990)

Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 38 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 73 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality: noun--Qatari(s); adjective--Qatari

Ethnic divisions: 40% Arab, 18% Pakistani, 18% Indian, 10% Iranian,
14% other

Religion: 95% Muslim

Language: Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second language

Literacy: 40%

Labor force: 104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

- Government
Long-form name: State of Qatar

Type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in
personal matters

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Executive branch: amir, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--Amir and Prime Minister
Khalifa bin Hamad Al THANI (since 22 February 1972); Heir Apparent Hamad
bin Khalifa AL THANI (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: none

Elections:
Advisory Council--constitution calls for elections for part
of this consultative body, but no elections have been held;
seats--(30 total)

Member of: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO,
IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hamad Abd al-Aziz
AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington
DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-0111;
US--Ambassador Mark G. HAMBLEY; Embassy at Fariq Bin Omran
(opposite the television