station), Doha (mailing address is P. O. Box 2399,
Doha); telephone p974o 864701 through 864703

Flag: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the
hoist side

- Economy
Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for 90% of
export earnings and more than 80% of government revenues. Proved oil
reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current
levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP of about
$17,000, among the highest in the world.

GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $17,070; real growth rate 9.0% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1987)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--petroleum
products 90%, steel, fertilizers; partners--France, FRG, Italy, Japan,
Spain

Imports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.), excluding military equipment;
commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals,
machinery and equipment; partners--EC, Japan, Arab countries, US,
Australia

External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1987)

Electricity: 1,514,000 kW capacity; 4,000 million kWh produced,
8,540 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel, cement

Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP;
commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Aid: donor--pledged $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed countries (1979-
88)

Currency: Qatari riyal (plural--riyals); 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

- Communications
Highways: 1,500 km total; 1,000 km bituminous, 500 km gravel or
natural surface (est.)

Pipelines: crude oil, 235 km; natural gas, 400 km

Ports: Doha, Musayid, Halul Island

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 273,318 GRT/420,227
DWT; includes 7 cargo, 3 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
tanker

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones