| Introduction - Qatar: |
Country | Qatar |
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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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| Location - Qatar: |
Location | Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates | 25 30 N, 51 15 E |
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Map references | Middle East |
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Area | total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area comparative | slightly smaller than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries | total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
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Coastline | 563 km |
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Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line |
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Climate | arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
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Terrain | mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
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Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, fish |
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Land use | arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005) |
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Irrigated land | 130 sq km (2002) |
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Natural hazards | haze, dust storms, sandstorms common |
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Environment current issues | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
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Environment international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography note | strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |
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| People - Qatar: |
Population | 907,229 (July 2007 est.) |
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Age structure | 0-14 years: 23.1% (male 106,853/female 102,713)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 455,631/female 206,099)
65 years and over: 4% (male 26,689/female 9,244) (2007 est.) |
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Median age | total: 31.9 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 23.1 years (2007 est.) |
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Population growth rate | 2.386% (2007 est.) |
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Birth rate | 15.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Death rate | 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate | 13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.211 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.887 male(s)/female
total population: 1.852 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate | total: 17.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth | total population: 74.14 years
male: 71.6 years
female: 76.82 years (2007 est.) |
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Total fertility rate | 2.75 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
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Hiv aids adult prevalence rate | 0.09% (2001 est.) |
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Hiv aids people living with hiv aids | NA |
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Hiv aids deaths | NA |
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Nationality | noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari |
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Ethnic groups | Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% |
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Religions | Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census) |
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Languages | Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language |
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Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census) |
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| Government - Qatar: |
Country name | conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar |
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Government type | emirate |
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Capital | name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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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 Said, Umm Salal |
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Independence | 3 September 1971 (from UK) |
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National holiday | Independence Day, 3 September (1971) |
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Constitution | ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005 |
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Legal system | based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
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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 HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
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 |
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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 late 2007 |
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Judicial branch | Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; note - the Amir appoints all judges - based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council - for renewable three-year terms |
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Political parties and leaders | none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders | none |
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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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the us | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston |
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Diplomatic representation from the us | chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4176 |
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Flag description | maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side |
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| Economy - Qatar: |
Economy 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 made Qatar one of the worlds faster growing and higher per-capita income countries - in 2006 per-capita income equaled that of the EU. Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build Qatars budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatars 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 worlds top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007. Qatar is also trying to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy projects by further liberalizing the economy. |
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Gdp purchasing power parity | $26.37 billion (2006 est.) |
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Gdp official exchange rate | $30.76 billion (2006 est.) |
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Gdp real growth rate | 7.1% (2006 est.) |
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Gdp per capita ppp | $29,800 (2006 est.) |
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Gdp composition by sector | agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 77.2%
services: 22.6% (2006 est.) |
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Labor force | 508,000 (2006 est.) |
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Unemployment rate | 3.2% (2006 est.) |
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Population below poverty line | NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate consumer prices | 7.2% (2006 est.) |
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Investment gross fixed | 33.2% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget | revenues: $22.51 billion
expenditures: $16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.) |
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Public debt | 23.6% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture products | fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish |
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Industries | crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair |
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Industrial production growth rate | 10% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity production | 12.4 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity consumption | 11.53 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Oil production | 790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil consumption | 80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil exports | NA bbl/day |
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Oil imports | NA bbl/day |
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Oil proved reserves | 15.21 billion bbl (1 January 2005 est.) |
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Natural gas production | 39.17 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas consumption | 15.11 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas exports | 24.06 billion cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas imports | 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas proved reserves | 25.77 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.) |
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Current account balance | $12.51 billion (2006 est.) |
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Exports | $33.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Exports commodities | liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel |
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Exports partners | Japan 39.8%, South Korea 18.6%, Singapore 6.4%, Thailand 4.1% (2006) |
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Imports | $12.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Imports commodities | machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals |
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Imports partners | France 13.3%, Japan 10.1%, US 9.3%, Italy 8.9%, Germany 7.8%, UK 6.2%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2006) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $5.755 billion (2006 est.) |
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Debt external | $25.7 billion (2006 est.) |
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Economic aid recipient | $NA |
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Currency code | Qatari rial (QAR) |
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Exchange rates | Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002) |
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| Communications - Qatar: |
Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March |
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Telephones main lines in use | 228,300 (2006) |
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Telephones mobile cellular | 919,800 (2006) |
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Telephone system | 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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Radio broadcast stations | AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations | 1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001) |
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Internet country code | .qa |
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Internet hosts | 301 (2006) |
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Internet users | 289,900 (2006) |
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| Transportation - Qatar: |
Airports | 5 (2006) |
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Airports with paved runways | total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
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Airports with unpaved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006) |
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Heliports | 1 (2006) |
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Pipelines | condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006) |
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Roadways | total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999) |
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Merchant marine | 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) (2006) |
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Ports and terminals | Doha |
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| Military - Qatar: |
Military branches | Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2007) |
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Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005) |
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Manpower available for military service | males age 18-49: 302,873
females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service | males age 18-49: 238,566
females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually | males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures percent of gdp | 10% (2005 est.) |
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Disputes international | none |
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This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
