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Middle East
Page last updated: May 22, 2024
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar has transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through mediating some regional conflicts and creating pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo from countries in the region, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of hosting international sporting events in Doha. Qatar became the first country in the Arab world to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022.
After the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance undermined Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- known as the "Quartet" -- which temporarily recalled their ambassadors from Doha in 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with the Quartet after Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In 2017, the Quartet cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. They restored ties in 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the United States designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
25°30' N, 51°15' E
Middle East
Total: 11,586 km²
Land: 11,586 km²
Water: 0 km²
Almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Area comparison map:
Total: 87 km
Border countries (1): Saudi Arabia 87 km
563 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Mostly flat and barren desert
Highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Mean elevation: 28 m
Petroleum, fish, natural gas
Agricultural land: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 94.4% (2018 est.)
130 km² (2020)
Arabian Aquifer System
Most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
The peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Total: 2,552,088
Male: 1,961,135
Female: 590,953 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 161; male 131; total 143
Noun: Qatari(s)
Adjective: Qatari
Non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
MENA religious affiliation
0-14 years: 13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)
15-64 years: 85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)
65 years and over: 1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 20.7
Youth dependency ratio: 16.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 2
Potential support ratio: 50.1 (2021 est.)
Total: 34.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 35.7 years
Female: 28.1 years
0.71% (2024 est.)
9.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
1.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Urban population: 99.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 4.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.91 male(s)/female
Total population: 3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 78.2 years
Female: 82.4 years
1.9 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.94 (2024 est.)
37.5% (2012)
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 99.6% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2020)
2.49 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
35.1% (2016)
Total: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 11.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 21.7% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.9% (2020 est.)
NA
65.8% (2023 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.5%
Male: 92.4%
Female: 94.7% (2017)
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 15 years (2021)
Air, land, and water pollution are significant environmental issues; limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities; other issues include conservation of oil supplies and preservation of the natural wildlife heritage
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Agricultural land: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 94.4% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 99.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 59.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 103.26 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 8.34 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,000,990 tons (2012 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 30,030 tons (2014 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2014 est.)
Arabian Aquifer System
Municipal: 530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: State of Qatar
Conventional short form: Qatar
Local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Local short form: Qatar
Etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it dates back at least 2,000 years since a term "Catharrei" was used to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.), and a "Catara" peninsula is depicted on a map by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.)
Note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation is gat-tar or cot-tar
Absolute monarchy
Name: Doha
Geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: derives from the Arabic term "dohat," meaning "roundness," and refers to the small rounded bays along the area's coastline
8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
History: previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005
Amendments: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended
Mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Qatar
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)
Head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs KHALID bin Muhammad al-Attiyah (since 14 November 2017)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the amir
Description: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 30 members directly elected by popular vote for 4-year re-electable terms; 15 members appointed by the monarch to serve until resignation or until relieved; note - legislative drafting authority rests with the Council of Ministers and is reviewed by the Advisory Council
Elections: last held for 30 elected members on 2 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025); last members appointed - 14 October 2021 (next appointments - NA)
Election results: 30 nonpartisan members elected; composition - men 30, women 0, percentage women 0%
15 appointed members; composition men 13, women 2, percentage women 13.3%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the Amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally
Political parties are banned
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916
Note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted
A maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white
Name: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Amiri Salute)
Lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
Note: adopted 1996; anthem first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
High-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy; National Vision 2030 government strategy for economic development, diversification, favorable business conditions to grow investment and employment; infrastructure investments; Islamic finance leader; citizenship-based labor force growth
$260.235 billion (2022 est.)
$249.725 billion (2021 est.)
$245.727 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
4.21% (2022 est.)
1.63% (2021 est.)
-3.56% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$96,600 (2022 est.)
$92,900 (2021 est.)
$89,000 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$236.258 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
5% (2022 est.)
2.3% (2021 est.)
-2.54% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: AA- (2017)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2017)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.)
Industry: 50.3% (2017 est.)
Services: 49.5% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 181; industry 11; agriculture 218
Household consumption: 24.6% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 17% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 43.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 51% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -37.3% (2017 est.)
Tomatoes, dates, chicken, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, eggs, sheep milk, goat milk, pumpkins/squash, milk (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
1.69% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
2.011 million (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
0.13% (2022 est.)
0.14% (2021 est.)
0.14% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 1.1% (2021 est.)
Male: 0.9%
Female: 2.1%
41.1 (2007 est.)
On food: 12.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 1.3%
Highest 10%: 35.9% (2007)
0.44% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.48% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.45% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $65.922 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $57.258 billion (2019 est.)
-5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
53.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
$63.118 billion (2022 est.)
$26.319 billion (2021 est.)
-$2.986 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$161.693 billion (2022 est.)
$105.549 billion (2021 est.)
$70.933 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
China 18%, India 15%, Japan 10%, South Korea 9%, UK 6% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, fertilizers, ethylene polymers (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$74.52 billion (2022 est.)
$61.204 billion (2021 est.)
$59.065 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
UAE 13%, China 11%, US 10%, UK 8%, India 5% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Gas turbines, jewelry, cars, garments, aircraft (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$47.389 billion (2022 est.)
$42.213 billion (2021 est.)
$40.973 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$167.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$157.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
3.64 (2022 est.)
3.64 (2021 est.)
3.64 (2020 est.)
3.64 (2019 est.)
3.64 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 10.633 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 44,116,984,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.772 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 63; transmission/distribution losses 146; imports 181; exports 173; consumption 56
Fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 1,815,100 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 293,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,264,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)
273,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
485,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
12,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Production: 167,460,996,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Consumption: 37,701,809,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Exports: 126,749,621,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 23,860,500,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
111.922 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 33.44 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 78.482 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
723.582 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 524,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 4.693 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (2022 est.)
General assessment: Qatar had developed a mature telecom sector which has been able to absorb the additional data demands made on it during the pandemic; mobile services based on LTE are universally available to migrate to 5G; in combination with a strong fiber rollout, the country is aiming to provide gigabit services nationally; 5G services are largely based on 3.5GHz spectrum made available following an auction in early 2019 (2022)
Domestic: fixed-line is 17 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership is 144 telephones per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 974; landing points for the Qatar-UAE Submarine Cable System, AAE-1, FOG, GBICS/East North Africa MENA and the FALCON submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; retains full ownership of two commercial satellites, Es'hailSat 1 and 2 (2019)
TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha; in August 2013, Qatar's satellite company Es'hailSat launched its first communications satellite Es'hail 1 (manufactured in the US), which entered commercial service in December 2013 to provide improved television broadcasting capability and expand availability of voice and Internet; Es'hailSat launched its second commercial satellite in 2018 with aid of SpaceX (2019)
.qa
Total: 2.7 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 100% (2021 est.)
Total: 296,126 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 251
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 29,178,923 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,666,710,000 (2018) mt-km
A7
8 (2024)
12 (2024)
288 km condensate, 221 km condensate/gas, 2,383 km gas, 90 km liquid petroleum gas, 745 km oil, 103 km refined products (2013)
Total: 7,039 km (2016)
Total: 123 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108
Total ports: 6 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 1
Small: 2
Very small: 3
Ports with oil terminals: 5
Key ports: Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said
Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)
Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Forces (includes Mobile Gendarmerie) (2024)
Note: the national police and Ministry of Interior forces maintain internal security, including preventing terrorism, cyberattacks, and espionage
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
4% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
3.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
Information varies; approximately 15,000 active-duty personnel (10,000 Land Force, including Emiri Guard; 3,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2023)
The Qatari military's inventory includes a broad mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from the US and Europe; in the 2010s, Qatar embarked on an extensive military expansion and modernization program with large air, ground, and naval equipment purchases; in recent years, France and the US have been the top suppliers; other major suppliers have included Germany, Italy, and the UK; Qatar is one of the world's largest arms importers (2023)
Conscription for men aged 18-35 introduced in 2013; compulsory service times range from 4-12 months, depending on educational and professional circumstances; since 2018, women have been permitted to serve as volunteers in the armed forces, including as uniformed officers and pilots (2023)
Note 1: the military incorporates about 2,000 conscripts annually
Note 2: Qatar recruits foreign contract soldiers to overcome manpower limitations
The QAF is a small and well-equipped force that is responsible for defense against external threats; following the downturn in ties with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in the mid-2010s, the Qatari Government embarked on a major arms acquisition and modernization program to increase the QAF’s capabilities and regional standing; the Air Force has benefited the most, growing from an inventory of 12 older combat aircraft and a few fighter trainers in 2017 to a current inventory of about 60 modern multirole fighter aircraft from France, the UK, and the US; it is slated to grow to about 100 such aircraft by the mid-2020s; other aircraft acquisitions have included US attack helicopters; the Land Force has re-equipped its armored brigade and separate mechanized and artillery battalions with modern tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery, mostly with purchases from Germany and Turkey; meanwhile, the Navy over the same period has received four corvettes and four offshore patrol vessels from Italy and Turkey
Qatar hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and several thousand US military forces at various military facilities, including the large Al Udeid Air Base; it has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019 (2023)
Stateless persons: 1,200 (2022)