21)
15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 23.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female
total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.23 years
male: 71.7 years
female: 76.89 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari

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

Religions: Muslim 95%

Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second
language

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Data code: QA

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al
Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal,
Umm Salal

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

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

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
the monarch 22 October 1996); note--Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of