Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 94% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

@Qatar:People

Population: 670,274 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)