Page last updated on June 20, 2014

Economy - overview:
Qatar has prospered in the last several years with continued high real GDP growth. Throughout the financial crisis Qatari authorities sought to protect the local banking sector, with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP is driven largely by changes in oil prices and by investment in the energy sector. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 50% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world's highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for about 57 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 13% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid is accelerating large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar's metro system, light rail system, the construction of a new port, roads, stadiums and related sporting infrastructure. The new Hamad International Airport is expected to open in mid-2014 with an annual passenger capacity of 24 million on initial opening and 50 million when complete.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$198.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$185.3 billion (2012 est.)
$171.4 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$213.1 billion (2013 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
8.1% (2012 est.)
13% (2011 est.)
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$102,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$100,900 (2012 est.)
$100,400 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
54.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
62.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
59.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 13.5%
government consumption: 13.8%
investment in fixed capital: 29.3%
investment in inventories: 2.5%
exports of goods and services: 71.7%
imports of goods and services: -30.8%
(2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 72.2%
services: 27.7% (2013 est.)

Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Industries:
liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
1.424 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
0.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0.5% (2012 est.)
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA%
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 35.9% (2007)

Budget:
revenues: $77.54 billion
expenditures: $57.25 billion (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:
38.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
9.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
30.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
32.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
1.9% (2012 est.)
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
4.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
4.93% (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
5.38% (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$29.98 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$24.98 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$136 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$104.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$170.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$149.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$126.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$125.4 billion (31 December 2011)
$123.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$47.56 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$61.59 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$12.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$133 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners:
Japan 26.7%, South Korea 19%, India 12.1%, Singapore 5.7%, China 5.4% (2013 est.)

Imports:
$39.58 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$27.73 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:
US 14.2%, UAE 11.1%, Saudi Arabia 8.6%, UK 6.4%, Japan 6%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, France 4.4% (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$33.19 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$149.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$139.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$33.48 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$32.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$28.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$26.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
3.64 (2013 est.)
3.64 (2012 est.)
3.64 (2010 est.)
3.64 (2009)
3.64 (2008)