Demography

The total population is presently in the region of 800,000 and has been increasing at a rate of 9% annually in recent years. Almost 50% of the population resides in the city of Doha, which is the business and administration capital. Most of them are South Asians, Egyptians, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Iranians. About 5,000 U.S. citizens resided there as of 2001.Other population centres include Dukhan on the west coast, Mesaieed and Al Wakra in the South, and Ras Laffan and Al Khor in the North.