Statistics

Literacy (Source: Qatar is a highly literate nation. The oldest population has the lowest literacy rate most likely because Qatar’s rise to modernization has happened recently (within the last two decades). The gender difference is obvious there, too, most likely because of the restrictions women faced in the Middle East during the time that those women would be getting educated. The female literacy rate is slightly higher for the groups 15 years and older and 15-24 because more females attend school than males—in 2015, college enrollment differed largely by gender, with 51.01% of females enrolled in tertiary education, and only 7.54% of males, according to UNESCO. The UN data listed similar statistics for 2014. Nationals vs. Non-nationals A demographic of significance is the breakdown of Qatari nationals versus the large population of expats. According to data organized by the Gulf Labour Markets and Migration center based on that collected by the QSA, nationals make up only 14.3% of the population, and non-nationals make up 85.7% of the population. The huge populations of non-nationals certainly has an impact on Qatar's media culture, especially because most of the nation's media is controlled by expatriates. In this sense, I can imagine that it is hard to portray true Qatari identity when, collectively, one does not necessarily exist; Qatar at its essence is a mix of cultures coming together not necessarily defined by the natives, and certainly not conveyed or communicated by natives. Since the media and cultural environment is controlled by expatriates and monitored by the Qatari government, I wonder what media is left out. Qataris pay homage to their past by showcasing art in museums like that of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, but ultimately, modern media in Qatar is created by foreigners. Qatari Exports

UNESCO Qatar Profile, 2015)

Qatar's oil, petroleum, and industrial exports are a contributor to its wealth, and therefore media access. Petroleum is directly connected to Qatar's economy, culture, media, and government. The U.S. has the central Middle East base in Qatar and has established friendly relations with the state, and its connection to oil is a key part of this relationship. The U.S. has questioned Qatar's relationship with the Taliban, but I do not think the U.S. would ever criticize Qatar too harshly because of the U.S. population stationed there, as well as its access to valuable resources. Petroleum is also directly connected to household income. Note the household income disparity between Qatari nationals and non-nationals. The information and data is compiled by the Qatar Statistics authority.

More media use statistical information can be found here on this website and here on Northwestern University in Qatar's media survey webpage about media use in the Middle East.