Qatar: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

US pulls boys team from FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar citing security in the Gulf • Nov. 12, 2026, 4:24 PM ET (AP)

F1 ends plans for backup race in Italy as season finale nears in Qatar and Abu Dhabi • Nov. 10, 2026, 11:26 AM ET (AP)

Trump after meeting with Qatari PM says he believes war with Iran is militarily 'effectively over' • Nov. 9, 2026, 6:37 PM ET (AP)

Trump plans to meet Qatar's prime minister on Monday as the key mediator pushes new proposals in talks with Iran • Nov. 8, 2026, 8:03 PM ET (AP)

Trump discusses Middle East de-escalation with Qatar’s emir, and other Mideast news • Nov. 6, 2026, 9:47 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Dawlat Qatar • State of Qatar
Head Of State And Government	Emir: Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani, assisted by Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abdulrahman Al Thani
Capital	Doha
Population	(2026 est.) 3,164,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 3.640 Qatari riyal
Form Of Government	constitutional emirate with one advisory body (Shura Council [49¹])
Official Language	Arabic
Official Religion	Islam
Official Name	دولة قطر (Dawlat Qaṭar; “State of Qatar”)
Total Area (Sq Km)	11,637
Total Area (Sq Mi)	4,493
Monetary Unit	Qatari riyal (QR)
Population Rank	(2026) 139
Population Projection 2030	3,205,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 704.2
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 271.9
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 99.4% • Rural: (2024) 0.6%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2020) 79.5 years • Female: (2020) 83.1 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000.000)	(2024) 220,878
Gni Per Capita (U.S. $)	(2024) 77,290
¹All seats are appointed by the emir.

Photos and Videos

Skyline of Doha, Qatar, with modern high-rise buildings on the left and the geometric Museum of Islamic Art by architect I.M. Pei on the right, seen across Doha Bay.

Map of Qatar and surrounding region showing international boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar is depicted as a small peninsula extending into the Persian Gulf, with cities such as Doha, Al-Rayyan, and Al-Khawr marked. An inset locator map in the top left shows Qatar's position within the Arabian Peninsula.

Map showing Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, with neighboring countries labeled including Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, and Iran. The capital city, Doha, is marked on the eastern coast of Qatar.

Map of Qatar and its surrounding region, showing physical features such as Abu al-Bawl Hill, Al-Udayd Lagoon, and coastal points along the Persian Gulf. Neighboring countries Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates are labeled, and a small inset locator map highlights Qatar's position on the Arabian Peninsula.

Doha, Qatar: Fanar, Qatar Islamic Cultural Center

Texas A and M University building in Education City, Doha, Qatar, with a row of pink stone pyramids in the foreground and modern geometric architecture in the background.

Pronunciation in English of the country name “Qatar.”

The extraction and global impact of Qatar's natural gas

The importance of Ras Laffan to Qatar's natural gas industry

Visit Doha and explore the Souk Waqif marketplace, take a traditional dhow boat cruise, and see the Islamic Cultural Centre, Museum of Islamic Art, and Al Jazeera headquarters

How oil and gas transformed Qatar

National anthem of Qatar

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani Sheikh Khalifa ibn Hamad Al Thani Thani dynasty Asia history of Arabia Arabia nation-state Middle East OPEC United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani

Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani

emir of Qatar

Sheikh Khalifa ibn Hamad Al Thani

Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani

emir of Qatar

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar wearing a white thobe and black-and-gold bisht, with a black agal securing his head covering.

Sheikh Khalifa ibn Hamad Al Thani

emir of Qatar

A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.

Asia

continent

Physical features of Arabia

Arabia

peninsula, Asia

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

Middle East

region, Asia, Africa, and Europe

Doha, Qatar

Doha

national capital, Qatar

Umm Saʿīd, Qatar

Umm Saʿīd

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

country, Asia

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

country, Asia

Arabian Desert

Arabian Desert

desert, Arabian Peninsula

The Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf

gulf, Indian Ocean

Map showing the extent of the Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century, with regions under direct Abbasid rule shaded in green, and surrounding areas under Abbasid suzerainty or controlled by other dynasties-Aghlabids of Tunisia, Idrisids of Morocco, Tahirids in the east, and the Umayyad emirate of Spain-indicated in different colors. Major cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Cordoba are labeled, along with key regional boundaries.

Caliphate

Islamic history

The Gulf Arab states

Gulf Arab States

region, Asia

default image

Near East

region, Asia, Africa, and Europe

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Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

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Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz

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