São Paulo – Qatar is the richest country in the world, according to a report disclosed on Friday (23) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the institution, in 2010, the Arab country had the highest per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world: US$ 88,221. The Fund forecast is that Qatar may reach a per capita GDP of US$ 111,963, against US$ 94,621 of Luxembourg and almost double that forecasted for the United States, which is US$ 55,622.
Qatar is the main exporter of liquefied natural gas, with annual estimated production of 77 million tonnes. According to the study, the GDP of the country, whose population is 848,000 people, should reach the highest growth worldwide for the second year running. In February, the IMF report on Qatar estimated that the country’s GDP should grow 20% this year as against 2010, when the country GDP was US$ 126.9 million. In 2011, the GDP of Qatar should reach US$ 160 billion.
The sovereign fund of Qatar should invest US$ 125 billion in coming years, especially in the sectors of construction and energy. The country will host the 2022 World Cup.
*Translated by Mark Ament
