2
under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)

@Puerto Rico:Military

Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Puerto Rico:Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

______________________________________________________________________

QATAR

@Qatar:Introduction

Background: During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown in a
bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues
enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading
industrial countries of Western Europe.

@Qatar:Geography

Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi
Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements, or the
median line
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
gravel

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits

@Qatar:People

Population: 744,483 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960)
15-64 years: 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978)
65 years and over: 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.35% (2000 est.)

Bi