Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
1,951,591
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
78.090 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Doha
Amsterdam
Largest city
Doha (population: 344,939)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.899
0.958
GDP per capita
$104,300 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
89%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
6.5
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
0.400%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
emirate
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
3 September 1971 (from UK)
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Religions
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$125,300,000,000 $
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
11,586 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
563 km
451 km
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
