Part 684

Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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: 670,274 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 95,145; female 91,338) 15-64 years : 70% (male 339,892; female 131,429) 65 years and over: 2% (male 8,567; female 3,903) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.04% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 17.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 26.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 2.59 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.56 years male: 71.06 years female: 76.18 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1997 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.)

@Qatar: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 ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)

Data code: QA

Government type: traditional monarchy

National capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, 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