Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for 90% of export earnings and more than 80% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP of about $17,000, among the highest in the world.

GDP: $5.4 billion, per capita $17,070; real growth rate 9.0% (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1987)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); @m5commodities--petroleum products 90%, steel, fertilizers; @m5partners--France, FRG, Italy, Japan, Spain

Imports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.), excluding military equipment; @m5commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment; @m5partners--EC, Japan, Arab countries, US, Australia

External debt: $1.0 billion (December 1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1987)

Electricity: 1,304,000 kW capacity; 4,195 million kWh produced, 9,500 kWh per capita (1988)

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

Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Aid: NA

Currency: Qatari riyal (plural--riyals); 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6399 riyals (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Qatar on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Qatar Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Qatar Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.