The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) has released the 56th issue of the Qatar Monthly Statistics bulletin; a series of statistical newsletters released on a monthly basis. In this issue, it has highlighted the most important statistical changes that occurred in the country during the month of August 2018 and compared the changes to the data that was recorded in August 2017.
General Index Qatar Exchange
The most important change in this issue is the rise in the General Index Qatar Exchange by a monthly rate of 0.6% from July 2018 and by an annual rate of 12.3% from the same month of the previous year (August 2017). In addition, total deposits increased from the same month of the previous year by 1.7%, compared to a rise in the total credit at an annual rate of 2.9% (from August 2017).
Population
The demographic statistics in the present bulletin showed that the total population of Qatar has increased from 2.45 million during August 2017 to 2.56 million at end of August 2018, an annual increase of 4.7%.
Births and deaths
With regard to vital statistics, a total number of 2,095 live births were registered in August 2018, a 2.2% decrease compared to July 2018. However, this decrease was offset by an increase in the total Qatari live births by 6.4% compared to last month. On the other hand, 207 deaths were recorded during the same period, an increase of 14.4% compared to July 2018.
Marriage and divorce
August 2018 experienced a decrease in marriage contracts while an increase in divorce certificates compared to July 2018 was recorded. The total number of marriage contracts was 295, whereas the total number of divorces reached 99; namely, one divorce for every three marriages.
Social security
As for Social Security statements, they reached QR.80.513 thousand in August 2018, for 14,628 beneficiaries in the same month.
Electricity utilisation
The bulletin indicated that the total electricity utilisation during August 2018 was 4158.0 GWh attaining a monthly decrease of 0.3% as compared to August 2018, while recording an annual drop of 10.4% when compared to August 2017. The bulletin also indicated that the total water consumption has reached 38845.4 thousand m3 during the same month attaining a monthly decrease of 0.1% as compared with last month, while recording an annual drop of 14.5% when compared to August 2017.
Building permits
As for the data of buildings permits issued, the total number of permits reached 493 permits during August 2018, recording a monthly decrease of 32.4%.
Traffic accidents
As for traffic accidents cases, a total of 479 traffic cases were recorded during August 2018, showing a monthly increase of 1.1%. Light injuries accounted for the vast majority of traffic accidents during the same month, with 87%, followed by severe injuries by 10%. However, 12 deaths were recorded, equivalent to only 3% of total traffic accidents.
New vehicles registration
The bulletin also highlighted that the total number of registered new vehicles during August 2018 reached 3,818 new vehicles. The figure showed a monthly decrease of 17.4% and an annual decrease of 29.6%.
Banking sector
The Total Broad Money Supply (M2) recorded about QR.581.4 billion during August 2018, an annual increase of 4.0% compared with August 2017. On the other hand, cash equivalents, including Commercial Bank deposits attained for QR.807.3 billion during the month of August 2018. The figure has recorded an annual increase of 1.7% compared to August 2017, when deposits recorded approximately QR.793.6 billion.
