Qatar Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Doha

Population

2,568,426 (2025 est.)

Area

11,586 sq km

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

🧭 Background

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had attained the highest per capita income in the world. 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, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo from some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of hosting international sporting events. Qatar became the first country in the Arab world to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022. Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. 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 as a major non-NATO ally.

🗺️ 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

11,586 sq km

Area — land

11,586 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

Almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries — total

87 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Saudi Arabia 87 km

Coastline

563 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — 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

Elevation — highest point

Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m

Elevation — lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

28 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use — agricultural land

6.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

93.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2022)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Population distribution

Most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula

Natural hazards

Haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Geography - note

The peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,568,426 (2025 est.)

Population — male

1,970,605

Population — female

597,821

Nationality — noun

Qatari(s)

Nationality — adjective

Qatari

Ethnic groups

Non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)

Languages — Languages

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Languages — major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)

Age structure — 15-64 years

85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)

Age structure — 65 years and over

1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

17.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

15.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

1.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

54.4 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

34.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

35.7 years

Median age — female

28.1 years

Population growth rate

0.57% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula

Urbanization — urban population

99.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

4.29 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

1.91 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

7 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

80.3 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

78.2 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

82.4 years

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

19.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

24.6% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

2.3% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.3% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

64.6% (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.3% national budget (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

13 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

15 years (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air, land, and water pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited conservation of oil and wildlife

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

6.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

93.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

99.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

127.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

27.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

99.991 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

1,040.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

9.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

64.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

5.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

1.001 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

582.862 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

40.18 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

311.156 million cubic meters (2022)

Total renewable water resources

58 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

State of Qatar

Country name — conventional short form

Qatar

Country name — local long form

Dawlat Qatar

Country name — local short form

Qatar

Country name — etymology

The name may derive from the Arabic word katran, meaning "tar" or "resin" in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves

Government type

Absolute monarchy

Capital — name

Doha

Capital — geographic coordinates

25 17 N, 51 32 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The name is derived from the Arabic ad-dawha, meaning "the big tree," and probably referred to a large tree at the site of the original fishing village

Administrative divisions

8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal

Legal system

Mixed system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)

Constitution — history

Previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

The father must be a citizen of Qatar

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

20 years; 15 years if an Arab national

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the amir

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir

Legislative branch — legislature name

Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

49 (all appointed)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

10/9/2025

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

6.1%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

September 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally

Political parties

Political parties are banned

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 274-1600

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 237-0682

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[974] 4496-6000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[974] 4488-4298

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

3 September 1971 (from the UK)

National holiday

National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Flag

Description: maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side meaning: maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, and white for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge is a reference to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight members are Bahrain and the seven that make up the UAE

National symbol(s)

A white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field

National color(s)

Maroon, white

National anthem(s) — title

"Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (Peace be to the Emir)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1996

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

High-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy; implementing “National Vision 2030” government strategy for economic development, diversification, and favorable business conditions to boost investment and employment; expansion of LNG sector expected to boost growth; Islamic finance leader

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$317.064 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$308.522 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$304.903 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$110,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$116,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$114,700 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$217.983 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.3% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

58.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

45.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

19.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

12.9% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

30.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

68.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-31.6% (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

Dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)

Industries

Liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.123 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

0.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

0.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

0.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

0.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

0.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

1.2% (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

35.1 (2017 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

14.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.6% (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

25.8% (2017 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$65.922 billion (2019 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$57.258 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$38.117 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$36.453 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$63.118 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$125.216 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$128.709 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$161.693 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

China 18%, India 11%, S. Korea 10%, Japan 7%, Pakistan 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, fertilizers (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$69.692 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$72.174 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$74.52 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 12%, China 12%, UAE 9%, UK 7%, India 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Gas turbines, cars, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$53.987 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$51.539 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$47.389 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

3.64 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

3.64 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

3.64 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

3.64 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

3.64 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

11.4 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

1.818 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

171.805 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

814.308 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

526,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

4.68 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

154 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

State-controlled TV and radio licensing and access to local media markets; home of satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally state-owned but is now independent; local radio includes state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies; satellite TV available (2019)

Internet country code

.qa

Internet users — percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

347,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A7

Airports

8 (2025)

Heliports

12 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

123 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108

Ports — total ports

6 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

1

Ports — small

2

Ports — very small

3

Ports — ports with oil terminals

5

Ports — key ports

Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Force (ISF or Lekhwiya) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2019

3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 15,000 active-duty Qatar Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The Qatari military's inventory is a mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from Türkiye, the US, and various European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy (2025)

Military service age and obligation

Typically 18-30 for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory military service for men 18-35; compulsory service is from 4-12 months, depending on educational and professional circumstances (2025)

Military - note

Qatar's military is responsible for territorial defense and maritime security; the military is in the midst of a large equipment acquisition program designed to enhance its capabilities and Qatar's regional standing; Qatar has military ties with a variety of countries, including France, the UK, the US, Turkey, and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); it hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and several thousand US military forces at various military facilities, including the Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019; the Qatari military is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

349 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

1,200 (2024 est.)