es: boundary with UAE is in dispute; territorial dispute with
Bahrain over the Hawar Islands

_#_Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

_#_Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
gravel

_#_Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish

_#_Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 0%; other 95%

_#_Environment: 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: 518,478 (July 1991), growth rate 5.3% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 35 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Qatari(s); adjective--Qatari

_#_Ethnic divisions: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
other 14%

_#_Religion: Muslim 95%

_#_Language: Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second
language

_#_Literacy: 76% (male 77%, female 72%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1986)

_#_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