ha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address-AMEMB Doha,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130
telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
FAX: [974] 861669
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

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

@Qatar:Economy

Economy-overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for
more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of
government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should
ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given
Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European
industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7
trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest
in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming
increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of
off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$16,700 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 49%
services: 50% (1996 est.)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.5% (1996)

Labor force:
total: 233,000 (1993 est.)
note: 83% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $3.7 billion
expenditures: $4.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (FY97/98 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)

Electricity-capacity: 1.303 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 5.8 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 10,863 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products,
beef; fish (all on small scale)

Exports:
total value: $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
partners: Japan 55%, Singapore 11%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE
3% (1996)

Imports:
total value: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners: Italy 14%, UK 12%, France 11%, Japan 10%, Germany 9% (1996)

Debt-external: $11 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Qatar