Psychiatry in Qatar

Abstract

The State of Qatar is a peninsula overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with an area of 11 400 km². The Al Thani family has ruled the country since the mid-1800s. The population of just over 860 000 is of a multi-ethnic nature, and predominantly resides in the capital, Doha. Only about 20% of the population is Qatari. Around 73% of the population are between the ages of 15 and 64 years. Life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years for males and 73.8 years for females. The literacy rate is 94.9% for men and 82.3% for women. Arabic is the official language and English is a common second language. The economy is dominated by oil and natural gas, and the country has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The per capita government expenditure on health is $574 (international dollars), which is among the highest in the region.