Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Syria (2002) - Qatar (2001) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Syria (2002) - Qatar (2001)

Compare Syria (2002) z Qatar (2001)

 Syria (2002)Qatar (2001)
 SyriaQatar
Administrative divisions 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Age structure 0-14 years: 39.3% (male 3,467,267; female 3,264,639)


15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,052,841; female 4,817,662)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 267,803; female 285,602) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
25.77% (male 101,155; female 97,086)

15-64 years:
71.75% (male 391,178; female 160,665)

65 years and over:
2.48% (male 13,625; female 5,443) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Airports 99 (2001) 4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 24


over 3,047 m: 5


2,438 to 3,047 m: 16


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total:
2

over 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 68


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 55 (2002)
total:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 185,180 sq km


land: 184,050 sq km


water: 1,130 sq km


note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
total:
11,437 sq km

land:
11,437 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than North Dakota slightly smaller than Connecticut
Background Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights. Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Birth rate 30.11 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 15.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $5 billion


expenditures: $7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues:
$3.9 billion

expenditures:
$4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Capital Damascus Doha
Climate mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Coastline 193 km 563 km
Constitution 13 March 1973 provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution
Country name conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic


conventional short form: Syria


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah


local short form: Suriyah


former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
conventional long form:
State of Qatar

conventional short form:
Qatar

local long form:
Dawlat Qatar

local short form:
Qatar

note:
closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Currency Syrian pound (SYP) Qatari rial (QAR)
Death rate 5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $22 billion (2001 est.) $13.1 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF


embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus


mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus


telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342


FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
chief of mission:
Ambassador Elizabeth Davenport MCKUNE

embassy:
22 February Road, Doha

mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone:
[974] 488 4101

FAX:
[974] 488 4298

note:
workweek is Saturday-Wednesday
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Rustum al-ZU'BI


chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313


FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
chief of mission:
Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA

chancery:
4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone:
[1] (202) 274-1600

FAX:
[1] (202) 237-0061

consulate(s) general:
Houston
Disputes - international Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim to Hatay province in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and adjusted its maritime boundary with Qatar; a final border resolution was agreed to with Saudi Arabia in March of 2001
Economic aid - recipient $199 million (1997 est.) $NA
Economy - overview Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing slower than its 2.5% annual population growth rate, causing a persistent decline in per capita GDP. President Bashar AL-ASAD has made little progress on the economic front after one year in office, but does appear willing to permit a gradual strengthening of the private sector. His most obvious accomplishment to this end was the recent passage of legislation allowing private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation to develop. ASAD's recent cabinet reshuffle may improve his chances of implementing further growth-oriented policies, although external factors such as the international war on terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and downturn in oil prices could weaken the foreign investment and government revenues Syria needs to flourish. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $6 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.
Electricity - consumption 17.671 billion kWh (2000) 8.37 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 650 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 19.7 billion kWh (2000) 9 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 64%


hydro: 36%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m


highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Exchange rates Syrian pounds per US dollar - 51 (December 2001), 46 (2000), 46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997) Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)
Executive branch chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)


head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa MIRU (since 13 March 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Farouk al-SHARA (since 13 December 2001), Dr. Muhammad al-HUSAYN (since 13 December 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death of President Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held NA 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president


election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%


note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'th Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name to the People's Council on 25 June 2000
chief of state:
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

head of government:
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary

note:
in March 1999 Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services
Exports $5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities crude oil 68%, textiles 7%, fruits and vegetables 6%, raw cotton 4% (1998 est.) petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners Germany 27%, Italy 12%, France 10%, Turkey 10%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2000 est.) Japan 52%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 8%, US, UAE (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $54.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 23%


services: 50% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
1%

industry:
49%

services:
50% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2001 est.) 4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 35 00 N, 38 00 E 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Geography - note there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.) strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Heliports 7 (2002) 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 41,451 km


paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)


unpaved: 31,876 km (1997)
total:
1,230 km

paved:
1,107 km

unpaved:
123 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets -
Imports $4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 21%, food and livestock 18%, metal and metal products 15%, chemicals and chemical products 10% (2000 est.) machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners Italy 9%, Germany 7%, France 5%, Lebanon 5%, China 4%, South Korea 4%, Turkey 4%, US 4% (2000 est.) UK 10%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, US 6%, Italy 6% (1998)
Independence 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Infant mortality rate 32.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 21.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.3% (2001 est.) 2.5% (2000)
International organization participation AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 12,130 sq km (1998 est.) 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts Court of Appeal
Labor force 4.7 million (1998 est.) 233,000 (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1996 est.) -
Land boundaries total: 2,253 km


border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
total:
60 km

border countries:
Saudi Arabia 60 km
Land use arable land: 25.96%


permanent crops: 4.08%


other: 69.96% (1998 est.)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
94% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Legal system based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Legislative branch unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)


election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents 33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receives one-half of the seats
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)

note:
the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their terms extended every four years since
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.08 years


male: 67.9 years


female: 70.32 years (2002 est.)
total population:
72.62 years

male:
70.16 years

female:
75.21 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 70.8%


male: 85.7%


female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
79%

male:
79%

female:
80% (1995 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Map references Middle East Middle East
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 41 NM


territorial sea: 35 NM
contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 143 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 482,985 GRT/702,590 DWT


ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 126, livestock carrier 4, roll on/roll off 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 2, Italy 1, Lebanon 10 (2002 est.)
total:
25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 677,992 GRT/1,049,447 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)
Military branches Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), Police and Security Force Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military expenditures - dollar figure $921 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending $723 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.9% (FY98) 10% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 4,550,496 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
312,116

note:
includes non-nationals (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 2,539,342 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
163,642 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age (2002 est.) 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 200,859 (2002 est.) males:
6,797 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 17 April (1946) Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Nationality noun: Syrian(s)


adjective: Syrian
noun:
Qatari(s)

adjective:
Qatari
Natural hazards dust storms, sandstorms haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Natural resources petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower petroleum, natural gas, fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 20.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Political parties and leaders National Progressive Front or NPF (includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP) [President Bashar al-ASAD, chairman]; Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan KOUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI] none
Political pressure groups and leaders conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence none
Population 17,155,814 (July 2002 est.)


note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (February 2003 est.)
769,152 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 15%-25% NA%
Population growth rate 2.5% (2002 est.) 3.18% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
Radio broadcast stations AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 4.15 million (1997) 256,000 (1997)
Railways total: 2,750 km


standard gauge: 2,423 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 327 km 1.050-m gauge


note: rail link between Syria and Iraq replaced in 2000 (2001)
0 km
Religions Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo) Muslim 95%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
2.43 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
2.5 male(s)/female

total population:
1.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal suffrage is limited to municipal elections
Telephone system general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology


domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network


international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
general assessment:
modern system centered in Doha

domestic:
NA

international:
tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use 1.313 million (1997) 142,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 43,476 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995) 2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Terrain primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Total fertility rate 3.84 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (2000 est.) NA%
Waterways 870 km (minimal economic importance) none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.