Emir: Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (1995)

Prime Minister: Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al Thani (2007)

Total area: 4,416 sq mi (11,437 sq km)

Population: 2008 est.): 833,285 (growth rate: 0.9%); birth rate: 15.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 12.6/1000; life expectancy: 75.3; density per sq mi: 214

Capital (2003 est.): Doha, 550,700 (metro. area), 318,500 (city proper)

Monetary unit: Qatari riyal

National name: Dawlat Qatar

Languages: Arabic (official); English a common second language

Ethnicity/race: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religion: Religion Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Literacy rate: 89% (2004 census)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $57.69 billion; per capita $80,900. Real growth rate: 14.2%. Inflation: 13.8%. Unemployment: 0.7%. Arable land: 1.64%. Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish. Labor force: 638,000 (2007 est.). Industries: crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish. Exports: $33.28 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel. Imports: $15.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals. Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, France, U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Germany, UK (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 228,300 (2006); mobile cellular: 919,800 (2006). Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998). Radios: 256,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus three repeaters) (2001). Televisions: 230,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 19 (2007). Internet users: 289,900 (2006).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 1,230 km; paved: 1,107 km; unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id). Airports: 5 (2007).