:Puerto Rico Communications
Railroads:
96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger
railroads
Highways:
13,762 km paved (1982)
Ports:
San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo
Airports:
30 total; 24 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
900,000 or 99% of total households have TV; 1,067,787 telephones (1988);
broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV (1990)
:Puerto Rico Defense Forces
Branches:
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 830,133; NA fit for military service
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
:Qatar Geography
Total area:
11,000 km2
Land area:
11,000 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
60 km total; Saudi Arabia 40 km, UAE 20 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
*** No entry for this item ***
Continental shelf:
not specific
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
location and status of Qatar's southern boundaries with Saudi Arabia and UAE
are unresolved; territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands;
maritime boundary with Bahrain
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Natural resources:
crude oil, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 95%
Environment:
haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean
increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major crude oil sources
:Qatar People
Population:
484,387 (July 1992), growth rate 3.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
21 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
4 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
15 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
24 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
69 years male, 74 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Qatari(s); adjective - Qatari
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
Muslim 95%
Languages:
Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second language
Literacy:
76% (male 77%, female 72%) age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
Labor force:
104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)
Organized labor:
trade unions are illegal
:Qatar Government
Long-form name:
State of Qatar
Type:
traditional monarchy
Capital:
Doha
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Rayyan,
Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Independence:
3 September 1971 (from UK)
Constitution:
provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are
being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Executive branch:
amir, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February 1972);
Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of
Amir)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
Advisory Council:
constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no
elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Hamad `Abd al-`Aziz AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1180, 600 New
Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-0111
US:
Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH; Embassy at 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin
Omran (opposite the television station), Doha (mailing address is P. O. Box
2399, Doha); telephone (0974) 864701 through 864703; FAX (0974) 861669
Flag:
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist
side