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Middle East Map

Need to know where each of the countries in the Middle East are located? Check the map below, and find the information you're looking for. Moreover, in the map you will find the key cities, and the capitals with stars.

What is the Middle East

The Middle East is a transcontinental region that spans across parts of three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. More exactly, the Middle East encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. It is characterized by its historical, cultural, and strategic significance as the cradle of major civilizations and religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The core Middle East typically includes the following 17 UN-recognized countries (plus dependencies and entities like Palestine, Northern Cyprus, Akrotiri, and Dhekelia):

The Middle East is a geographic and geopolitical region centered on Western Asia and Egypt, connecting the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Its boundaries vary depending on context, such as politics, culture, security, or economics.

Many sources also use the broader term MENA (“Middle East and North Africa”), which explicitly includes North African countries.

Countries in the Middle East

The countries that are commonly considered part of the Middle East include:

This list aligns with common geopolitical and UN classifications.

Key Demographics of the Middle East

The Middle East is a diverse region with significant variations in demographics, including:

• Population: Approximately 460 million people, with a growth rate of 1.8% per year.
• Age Structure: A relatively young population, with a median age of 26 years old.
• Urbanization: Approximately 70% of the population lives in urban areas, with significant migration to cities.
• Language: Arabic is the dominant language, spoken by approximately 60% of the population, followed by Persian, Turkish, and Kurdish.
• Religion: Islam is the dominant religion, with approximately 93% of the population identifying as Muslim, mostly Sunni (85%) and Shia (12%).
• Ethnic Groups: The region is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds, and others.
• Literacy: Approximately 84% of the population is literate, with significant variations between countries.
• Human Development Index (HDI): The region has a medium to high HDI, with significant variations between countries, ranging from 0.470 in Yemen to 0.919 in Israel.
• Refugee and Displacement: The region is home to a significant number of refugees and displaced persons, primarily due to conflict and instability.

These demographics contribute to the complex and diverse nature of the Middle East, with significant opportunities and challenges for economic, social, and cultural development.

Ethnic Groups

The region hosts a wide variety of ethnic groups. The largest are:

Summary

[1] CIA World Factbook – Middle East regional grouping: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/middle-east/

[2] Encyclopaedia Britannica – “Middle East”: https://www.britannica.com/place/Middle-East

[3] Wikipedia – Middle East: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East