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Background: Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
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Common Name: Qatar
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Local Official Name: Qatar
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Abbreviated Name: State of Qatar
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Official Name: Dawlat Qatar
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Official Script Name: Qatar
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Local Common Name: Qatar
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Former Name: Qatar
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani
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Government Type: traditional emirate
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Independence: 1971 September 3 (from UK)
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Constitution: 2003 April 29 (ratified by public referendum); endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 3 September
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International Organization Participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 16 September 2003, also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003, also Electricity and Water Minister since 1999 and Energy and Industry Minister since 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative Branch:
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since; the new constitution, which came into force on 9 June 2005, provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint the remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura in early 2007
Judicial Branch:
Court of Appeal
note: under a judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, established for appeals
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Party Leaders: NA
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Qatar: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
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Continent: Middle East
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Land Area Total: 11,437 sq km
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Region: Middle Eastern |
Land Area Land: 11,437 sq km
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Capitol City: Doha
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Latitude: 025 30 N
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Border Boundary Land: 60 km
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Longitude: 051 15 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 563 km
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Arable Land: 1.64 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.27 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 103 m
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Location: Qurayn Abu al Bawl
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Persian Gulf
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Largest City in Qatar: Doha
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Doha Largest City Population: 391,000
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Threatened Species: 11
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Environmental Issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Irrigated Land: 130
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Bordering Countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
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Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
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Geographical Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
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Comparative Area of Qatar: slightly smaller than Connecticut
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Qatar's Geography: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
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General Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
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Natural Hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
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Economic Overview: Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 16 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter by 2007. In recent years, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highest per-capita income countries.
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GDP: $24,460,000,000 USD
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Currency: Qatari rial
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GDP per Capita: $28,300 USD
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Currency Code: QAR
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GDP Growth Rate: 8.80 %
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 0.20 %
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GDP of Industry: 80.10 %
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GDP of Services: 19.70 % |
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Inflation Rate: 8.80 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 2.70 %
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Tourism: 451,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $17,310,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $11,310,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 9,735,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 9,053,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 790,500 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 30,800,000,000 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 33,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 11,610,000,000 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 18,200,000,000 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 16,000,000,000 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 25,770,000,000,000 cu m
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External Debt: $21,130,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
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Primary Industries: crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
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Industrial Growth Rate: 10.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $6,706,000,000 USD - machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
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Import Partners: France 11.5%, Japan 10.5%, US 10.4%, Germany 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 7.3%, UK 7%, Italy 6.5%, South Korea 5.5%, UAE 4.8%
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Export Amount in USD: $24,900,000,000 USD - liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
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Export Partners: Japan 37.1%, South Korea 19.5%, Singapore 8.3%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 440,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: NA
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 12 |
Number of People with Radios: 256,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 230,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 205,400 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 716,800 |
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Internet Service Providers: 204 |
Internet Users: 219,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .qa |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: QA |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 974 |
Electricity Voltage: 240 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
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Highways: 1,107 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 2,382 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 3 |
Heliports: 1
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Motor Vehicles: 470 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 37,916,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 66.70 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1)
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Ports and Harbors: Doha
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Population: 885,359 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 15.56 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 55.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 4.72 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 2.50% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.81 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 105,546 |
Population Female 0-14: 10,137 |
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Population Male 15-64: 446,779 |
Population Female 15-64: 199,133 |
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Population Male 65+: 24,059 |
Population Female 65+: 8,471 |
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Population 0-14: 23.40% |
Literacy Rate: 89.00% |
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Population 15-64: 73.00% |
Literacy rate of Males: 89.10% |
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Population 65+: 3.70% |
Literacy rate of Females: 88.60% |
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Population that is Male: 93.50
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Population that is Female: 2.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 73.90 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 18.04 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 71.37 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 76.57 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.09%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 14.12
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Nationality: QATARI
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Ethnic Groups: Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
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Primary Language: Arabic
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Other Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
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Primary Religion: Muslim
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Other Religions: Muslim 95%
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Branches: Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 440,729 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 355,161 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 14,891 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 10.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Qatar Spa and Resort Directory
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Qatar Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Qatar Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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