Qatar Economy 2001

Economy - overview: Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $6 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $15.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 49%
services: 50% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2000)

Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $3.9 billion
expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: 9 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: 8.37 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Exports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners: Japan 52%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 8%, US, UAE (1998)

Imports: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners: UK 10%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, US 6%, Italy 6% (1998)

Debt - external: $13.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $NA

Currency: Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code: QAR

Exchange rates: Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Qatar on this page is re-published from the 2001 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Qatar Economy 2001 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Qatar Economy 2001 should be addressed to the CIA.