Name
The name may derive from the Arabic word "katran," meaning "tar" or "resin," in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Qatar
25.24° N, 51.14° E
99.4% of everyone here lives in a city.
urban population 99.4% · 12th/225
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 2,832,067
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 11,586 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 11,052 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 256 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- QA · QAT
- GDP (nominal)
- $217.98 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $110,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Qatar 11,586 km²Palestine ≈ 6,329 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Qatar sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age34.4 years102nd of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy80.3 years52nd of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate1.9 children per woman114th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population2,832,067141st of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area11,586 km²163rd of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline563 km99th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Background
Pearling once marked a poor British protectorate ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s. Qatar transformed itself into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. In 1995, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani overthrew his father in a bloodless coup and introduced wide-sweeping political and media reforms. He also pursued unprecedented economic investment and a growing regional leadership role through Al-Jazeera and mediation of some regional conflicts.
Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, Hamad peacefully abdicated to his son, Tamim bin Hamad, who expanded infrastructure for international sporting events before Qatar hosted the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022. After supporting many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria, Doha saw relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE worsen; in 2017, they cut diplomatic and economic ties. They restored ties in 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia; in 2022, the United States designated Qatar a major non-NATO ally.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Geography
A peninsula in the Middle East, Qatar borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. The peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits. Its landscape is mostly flat and barren desert.
Qatar's natural resources include petroleum, fish, and natural gas. Tuwayyir al Hamir is the highest point. The Persian Gulf is the lowest point.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Arid conditions shape Qatar's climate, with mild, pleasant winters and very hot, humid summers. Haze, dust storms, and sandstorms are common weather hazards.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
An absolute monarchy governs Qatar. Qatar's legal system combines civil law with Islamic (sharia) law in family and personal matters. The latest constitution was drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, and took effect 9 June 2005. Independence Day, 3 September (1971), marks independence from the UK. National Day, 18 December (1878), marks the anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
A maroon flag carries a broad, serrated white band on its left side. Maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, while white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge refers to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916. The national symbol is a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $217.98 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $317.06 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $110,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +2.8%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 1.3%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 0.2%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $125.22 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $69.69 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 80.3 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 34.4 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 9.19 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 1.42 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 1.9 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +0.57% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 99.4%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Arabicofficial
- English commonly used as a second language
- Field “People and Society → Languages → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 11,586 km²Land 11,586 km² · Water 0 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 563 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 87 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 28 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 103 m Tuwayyir al Hamir
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 1
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Gulfs 1
Largest cities 1
Population · Natural Earth
- Dohacapital1.5M