Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 85% of export earnings and roughly 75% 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 $12,500, among the highest in the world outside the OECD countries.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $12,500 (1989 est.); real growth rate 5.0% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.9% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $400 million (FY89 est.)

Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers; partners--Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.), excluding military equipment; commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment; partners--Japan, UK, US, Italy

External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1987); accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil

Electricity: 1,514,000 kW capacity; 4,000 million kWh produced, 8,540 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Economic aid: donor--pledged $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88)

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

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Qatar on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Qatar Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Qatar Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.