01
Physical geography
Mostly flat and barren desert.
Local timeDoha ·
Asia / Western Asia · Card 036
Qatar
Qatar is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Doha.
Find Qatar
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Doha
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Qatari riyal (QAR)
- Population
- 3.0 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 11,586 km²4,473 square miles
- Independence
- 1971from the UK
Qatar in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Doha; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Arabic.
03
Location
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia.
Flag
Maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Qatar government · Shura Council
History & independence
Qatar developed under Al Thani rule and entered a treaty relationship with Britain in 1916. It became independent in 1971. Large-scale natural-gas development later transformed its economy and international role.
-
British treaty relationship begins
-
Independence
-
First liquefied natural gas exports
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Qatar government · Shura Council
Economy
Main activities
Natural gas, especially liquefied natural gas exports, is central. Oil, petrochemicals, finance, aviation and construction also contribute to the economy.
Industry and production
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Qatar government · Shura Council
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people3.02025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 116,350 | 0.116 |
| 1980 | 275,913 | 0.276 |
| 1990 | 440,175 | 0.440 |
| 2000 | 644,989 | 0.645 |
| 2010 | 1,616,832 | 1.617 |
| 2020 | 2,794,148 | 2.794 |
| 2025 | 2,972,215 | 2.972 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars183.52025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18,579,844,379 | 18.580 |
| 1991 | 18,271,004,153 | 18.271 |
| 1992 | 20,341,205,347 | 20.341 |
| 1993 | 20,071,656,698 | 20.072 |
| 1994 | 20,356,414,975 | 20.356 |
| 1995 | 20,844,813,472 | 20.845 |
| 1996 | 21,756,546,972 | 21.757 |
| 1997 | 28,286,130,488 | 28.286 |
| 1998 | 31,459,453,162 | 31.459 |
| 1999 | 32,807,196,384 | 32.807 |
| 2000 | 35,440,999,279 | 35.441 |
| 2001 | 36,822,541,702 | 36.823 |
| 2002 | 39,467,329,344 | 39.467 |
| 2003 | 40,935,482,224 | 40.935 |
| 2004 | 48,802,669,201 | 48.803 |
| 2005 | 52,459,320,480 | 52.459 |
| 2006 | 66,188,134,255 | 66.188 |
| 2007 | 78,092,213,538 | 78.092 |
| 2008 | 91,885,668,301 | 91.886 |
| 2009 | 102,872,944,218 | 102.873 |
| 2010 | 120,085,188,333 | 120.085 |
| 2011 | 135,721,967,110 | 135.722 |
| 2012 | 142,000,786,638 | 142.001 |
| 2013 | 148,292,418,282 | 148.292 |
| 2014 | 154,400,753,941 | 154.401 |
| 2015 | 161,739,955,577 | 161.740 |
| 2016 | 166,695,978,169 | 166.696 |
| 2017 | 164,199,531,362 | 164.200 |
| 2018 | 166,227,185,730 | 166.227 |
| 2019 | 167,371,229,300 | 167.371 |
| 2020 | 161,416,823,769 | 161.417 |
| 2021 | 164,042,828,071 | 164.043 |
| 2022 | 170,908,036,354 | 170.908 |
| 2023 | 172,936,988,055 | 172.937 |
| 2024 | 178,314,693,415 | 178.315 |
| 2025 | 183,488,780,202 | 183.489 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.886Very High human developmentRank 43 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.767
20000.795
20100.834
20200.872
20230.886
82.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth
10.8 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Hereditary emirate headed by the emir. The emir appoints the prime minister and cabinet. Constitutional amendments approved in 2024 restored an appointed Shura Council.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Qatar government · Shura Council
Knowledge check
Three questions about Qatar.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Qatar?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Qatar government · Shura Council
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.