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:

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

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

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: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land:

130 sq km (2002)

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%) per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People
Qatar

Population:

824,789 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 92,896/female 87,201) 15-64 years: 76.8% (male 451,127/female 182,330) 65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,545/female 4,690) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.7 years male: 32.8 years female: 25.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.093% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

15.69 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.47 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.47 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.4 male(s)/female total population: 2.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.19 years male: 73.5 years female: 76.98 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: