ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
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playerDESCRIPTIONtypemajority populationmajority muslim sectregional power index (1-10)territory (km2)population / membersGDP ($bn)GDP per person% world oil reservesnoteslinks
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n.b. 'Syria' refers to Assad's regime unless stated otherwise; 'Egypt' refers to Egyptian military government following 2013 coupour calcshttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html?countryname=Germany&countrycode=gm&regionCode=eur&rank=6#gmhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html?countryname=Germany&countrycode=gm&regionCode=eur&rank=29#gmhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2244rank.html?countryname=Israel&countrycode=is&regionCode=mde&rank=92#ishttp://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/07/mapping-the-global-muslim-population/
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AfghanistanAFGHANISTAN: Turbulent decade has seen the country invaded, occupied by and finally militarily allied with the US. Currently experiencing an equally turbulent transition to democracy.nationMuslimSunni 1652,23031,108,077$34.29$1,1000.01%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan
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Al-QaedaAL-QAEDA: Global militant Sunni Islamic terrorist group, responsible for the 9/11 in 2001 attacks & various other civilian & military attacks since. Enforce a very strict Wahabist/Salafi form of Islam and consider liberal Muslims, Shias and other Muslim sects as enemies. Active in Syrian civil war.organisationMuslimSunni 3-unknown---http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda_insurgency_in_Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda_in_Iraq
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BahrainBAHRAIN: Small island nation & absolute monarchy, one of the only Middle Eastern Arab states not reliant on oil revenue. Focuses on "banking & tourism" instead.nationMuslimShiabut Sunni rulers17601,281,332$33.63$29,2000.00%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Bahrain
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ChinanationNon-Muslim-59,596,9611,349,585,838$12,610.00$9,3000.97%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Iran_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Pakistan_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Syria_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Palestine_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Israel_relations
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EgyptEGYPT: Largest Arab country, key player in the region, and one of the only to have a peace treaty with Israel.nationMuslimSunni41,001,45085,294,388$548.80$6,7000.29%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/eg.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Egypt#Crude_oilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Egyptian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat#International_reactions
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EUinternational organisationNon-Muslim-64,324,782503,890,016$15,970.00$35,1000.35%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ee.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93European_Union_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93European_Union_relations
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FatahFATAH: Founded and led by Yasser Arafat, Islamic group Fatah currently governs the West Bank area of the State of Palestine. Formed a unity government with Hamas under Mahmoud Abbas.political organisationMuslimSunni 1-10,000---Palestinian political party. governs West Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatahhttp://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=128
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FranceFRANCE: Good business ties (mostly energy & arms) with several Middle Eastern nations.nationNon-Muslim-3643,80165,951,611$2,291.00-0.01%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_France#Middle_Easthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93Israel_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93Russia_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93Turkey_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93United_States_relations
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Gaza stripGAZA STRIP: Part of the State of Palestine and currently governed by Hamas.self-governing regionMuslimSunni23651,700,000$0.77$3,100-GDP = 2009 estimatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip
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GermanynationNon-Muslim-4357,02281,147,265$3,250.00$39,7000.02%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.htmlhttp://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/07/mapping-the-global-muslim-population/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relations
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HamasHAMAS: Palestinian Islamic group governing the Gaza Strip region of the State of Palestine. Commited to the end of the state of Israel. Recognized as a terrorist organisation by the US & EU, but not by Iran, Russia & China.political organisationMuslimSunni3-1,000---Palestinian political party. governs Gaza striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamashttp://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Palestine_relations
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HezbollahHEZBOLLAH: Lebanese Shia militant Islamist group & terrorist organisation, funded by Iran, heavily involved in the Syrian civil warpolitical organisationMuslimShia3-unknown---Lebanese militant movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah#Involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_and_the_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_conflict
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Houthis
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IndianationNon-Muslim-43,287,2631,220,800,359$4,761.00$3,9000.58%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Palestine_relations
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IranIRAN: A large powerful Shia theocracy in a largely Sunni Muslim world. Major political and economic force in the region. Close to developing a nuclear weapon. Currently under UN sanctions.nationMuslimShia61,648,19579,853,900$1,016.00$13,3009.87%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_relations
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Iraq IRAQ: Effectively a three state country with Kurd-controlled region in the North, US-backed Shia-government controlling Baghdad and the South, and Islamic State (ISIS) controlling the rest. nationMuslimShia5438,31731,858,481$242.50$7,2009.34%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iz.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi%E2%80%93Turkish_relations
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Iraqi KurdistanIRAQI KURDISTAN: Kurdish northern region of IraqregionMuslimSunni540,6436,000,000--2.94%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Kurdistanhttp://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138359/joost-r-hiltermann/revenge-of-the-kurdshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Kurdish_relations
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Islamic Army in IraqISLAMIC ARMY IN IRAQ: Shia militia group formed the backbone of the Iraqi resistance against US occupation and is now back in action against Islamic State (ISIS) in northern Iraq.groupMuslimSunni2-10,400---underground Islamist militant organization combines Islamism with Iraqi nationalism, formed after 2003 invasionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Army_in_Iraq
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Islamic State (ISIS)ISLAMIC STATE (ISIS): Violent Sunni Jihadist military group, currently occupying most of central and Northern Iraq. Also fighting in Syria.groupMuslimSunni 3-2,500---insurgent group affiliated with Al-Qaeda that has declared war on Shi'a Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq
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IsraelnationNon-Muslim-620,7707,707,042$252.80$32,8000.00%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Israel_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Syria_relations
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JordanJORDAN: Key diplomatic and strategic player & meditator in the regionnationMuslimSunni489,3426,482,081$39.29$6,1000%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jo.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Jordan
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KuwaitKUWAIT: Oil-rich and struggling to reform its economic & political structures amid much internal factional disputes.nationMuslimSunni317,8182,695,316$153.40$40,5006.63%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Kuwait#United_States
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LebanonLEBANON: Complex melting pot of communities and religions.nationMuslimSunni210,4004,131,583$64.22$16,0000.00%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/le.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Lebanonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Lebanon_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq%E2%80%93Lebanon_relations
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Muslim BrotherhoodMUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: Pan Arabic religious social movement and group. Its brand of Islamic politics differs from the strict Salafi creed of Saudi Arabia. Considered a terrorist organisation by some Arab nations. Currently "under review" by major Western governments.organisationMuslimSunni4-2,000,000---http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood
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OmanOMAN: Moderate Islamic monarchy that pragmatically avoids trouble.nationMuslimSunniIbadhi3309,5012,773,479$76.00$24,7640.32%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Oman
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PakistanPAKISTAN: Nuclear state with close ties to the USnationMuslimSunni3796,095182,490,721$514.56$2,9600.03%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Pakistan_relations
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Islamic JihadISLAMIC JIHAD: Full name: "Palestinian Islamic Jihad" - an terrorist organisation opposed to the state of Israel, funded by IranorganisationMuslimSunni2->1,000---operating in West Bank & Gaza striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Jihad_Movement_in_Palestine
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State of PalestineSTATE OF PALESTINE: After prolonged conflict, Fatah and Hamas formed a unity government under Mahmoud Abbas to unite the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a single State of Palestine (recognised by the UN in 2012)nationMuslimSunni36,2204,260,636$11.95$2,9000http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_territorieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Palestinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_Palestine_Liberation_Organization#Bilateral_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine%E2%80%93United_States_relations
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QatarQATAR: Tiny, oil rich state, notable for directly and indirectly sponsoring Islamist groups, especially in the Syrian Civil War. Home of Al Jazeera. Location of the 2018 Football World Cup.nationMuslimSunni411,5862,042,444$191.00$103,9001.67%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Qatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar%E2%80%93United_Arab_Emirates_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Qatar_relations
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RussiaRUSSIA: Substantial arms contracts in the Middle East. 13% of its sales going to government forces in Syria. nationNon-Muslim-417,098,242142,500,482$2,555.00$18,0003.92%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_and_the_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_conflict
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Saudi ArabiaSAUDI ARABIA: Regional superpower, religious, political, economic.nationMuslimSunni62,149,69026,939,583$921.70$31,80017.27%http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/world/middleeast/06wikileaks-financing.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Saudi_Arabia_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Saudi_Arabia#West_Asia_and_North_Africa
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SyriaSYRIA: Increasingly isolated nation after brutal putdown of protests during Arab Spring resulted in civil warnationMuslimSunni3186,47522,530,746$59.96$2,8020.16%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Syriahttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/world/middleeast/syrias-oil-a-source-of-contention-for-competing-groups.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/29/world/meast/syria-iran-china-russia-supporters/index.htmlhttp://www.cfr.org/syria/syrias-crisis-global-response/p28402#p4
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Syrian "rebels"SYRIAN "REBELS": Umbrella term for mainstream groups opposing the Assad government in Syria.groups and individualsMuslim -1-106,000 (conservative estimate)---http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2013/05/14/63221/the-structure-and-organization-of-the-syrian-opposition/
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TalibangroupMuslimSunni2-36,000---http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban#International_relationshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22980892
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TurkeyTURKEY: Sunni nation has many cultural and historical ties with Middle Eastern states.nationMuslimSunni 5783,56280,694,485$1,142.00$15,2000.02%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey%E2%80%93United_States_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait%E2%80%93Turkey_relations
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UAEUNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Federation of several authoritarian emirates with Dubai as its most famous. Important economic centre.nationMuslimSunni383,6005,473,972$275.80$49,8006.38%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ae.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates
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UKnationNon-Muslim-4243,61063,395,574$2,375.00$37,5000.18%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relations
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USAnationNon-Muslim-89,826,675316,668,567$15,940.00$50,7001.35%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab%E2%80%93American_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia%E2%80%93United_States_relations#Post_9.2F11_relationship_with_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93United_States_relations
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West BankWEST BANK: Region of the State of Palestine governed by Fatah.occupied territoryMuslimSunni25,8602,622,544---forms the bulk of the Palestinian territorieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Palestinian_territories#Demographics_of_the_West_Bankhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/we.html
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YemenYEMEN: Troubled and unstable region struggling against militant factions and an Al-Qaeda style insurgency.nationMuslimSunni2527,96825,408,288$60.06$2,3000.19%https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Yemenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen%E2%80%93United_Kingdom_relations