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Demographics of Qatar


Natives of the Arabian Peninsula, many Qataris are descended from a number of migratory tribes that came to Qatar in the 18th century to escape the harsh conditions of the neighboring areas of Nejd and Al-Hasa. Some are descended from Omani tribes. Qatar has over 2.2 million inhabitants, the majority of whom (about 92%) live in Doha, the capital.Foreign workers make up over 91% of the population, with Indians being the largest community numbering around 545,000. As of 2014, there were a further 400,000 Nepalis, 200,000 Filipinos, 180,000 Egyptians, 150,000 Bangladeshis, 100,000 Sri Lankans and 90,000 Pakistanis among many other nationalities. The treatment of these foreign workers has been heavily criticized in recent years, with living conditions suggested to be exploitative and abusive.

The Qataris are mainly Sunni Muslims. Islam is the official religion, and Islamic jurisprudence is the basis of Qatar's legal system. Arabic is the official language and English is the lingua franca of business. Hindi and Urdu are also widely spoken, especially by the South Asian foreign workers. Education is compulsory and free for all residents 6–16 years old. Qatar has an increasingly high literacy rate.

Qataris can be divided into three ethnic groups: Bedouins, Hadar, and Africans-origin. Bedouins are descended from the nomads of the Arabian Peninsula. The Hadar are mostly descended from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and are occasionally referred to as "Irani-Qataris".


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