How Many Countries Are There In The Middle East?
The Middle East includes 18 countries in total. These are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Sometimes the definition of the Middle East is expanded to include the concept of the “Greater Middle East”, which includes Afghanistan, Comoros, Djibouti, the Maghreb, Pakistan, Sudan and Somalia.
The Middle East includes countries that share common factors such as ethnic groups, geographical features, religious beliefs, and political history.
A transcontinental region that includes parts of Eurasia and Africa, the Middle East includes countries that share common factors such as ethnic groups, geographical features, religious beliefs, and political history. The region covers 18 countries. These are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. These countries are mainly located in Western Asia, Egypt in North Africa and part of Turkey in Southeast Europe.
Sometimes the definition of the Middle East is expanded to include the concept of the “Greater Middle East”, which includes Afghanistan, Comoros, Djibouti, the Maghreb, Pakistan, Sudan and Somalia. Even the countries in Central Asia and Transcaucasia can be integrated into the group of Middle East countries.
But in this article, we will highlight 18 countries that are definitely part of the Middle East.
What is the Middle East?
As stated above, the countries of the region share many common features. For example, the Middle East region has Arabs as the largest ethnic group. Iranian peoples and Turkic speaking peoples are the next two common ethnic groups. Islam is the largest religion in the region. In fact, the region is the birthplace of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. As expected, the most spoken language here is Arabic. Other popular languages include Persian, Kurdish, Hebrew and Turkish.
Bahreyn
Area: 760 km 2
Population: 1,641,170
Capital: Manama
Bahrain is an archipelago country located in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and the Qatari peninsula. It covers an area of 760 km2 and has a population of just over 1.64 million. About half of Bahrain’s population is foreign national. The 2011 Index of Economic Freedom ranked the country as the country with the most independent economy in the Middle East. Prior to that, Bahrain was known for the fastest growing banking and financial services sector in the world.
Lebanon
Area: 10,400 km2
Population: 6,855,710
Capital: Beirut
Lebanon is one of the smallest, non-island countries in the Middle East, covering an area of 10,400 km2. It has a population size of just over 6.8 million, which is recognized for its diverse cultural and ethnic background. Lebanon’s economy was able to resist the global economic crisis of 2008, managing to grow at a rate of 8.5% in 2008 and 9% in 2009. The services sector makes up the largest part of the country’s economy and employs approximately 65% of the population.
Oman
Area: 309,500 km 2
Population: 4,974,990
Capital: Muscat
Oman is located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula and has a long coastline that runs along the Arabian Sea. The country covers an area of 309,500 km2 and has a population of about 4.97 million. Its government is considered an absolute monarchy and all government responsibilities are carried out by the Sultan, a hereditary position. Oman’s economy is particularly dependent on oil and the oil industry, which is the largest export contributor. However, the tourism sector in Oman is growing rapidly.
Palestine
Area: 6,020 km2
Population: 4,685,310
Capital: Ramallah1
Palestine shares borders with both Israel and Jordan and the country claims ownership of the Gaza Strip and West Bank regions. Palestine covers an area of 6,020 km2 and has a population size of 4.68 million. The nation has engaged in the decades-long conflict with Israel over Israeli-occupied lands, which were ruled by the Israeli Military Governorate from 1967 until 1982. The services industry in Palestine makes up 82% of the country’s $10 Billion GDP.
Qatar
Area: 11,586 km 2
Population: 2,832,070
Capital: Doha
Qatar is located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, where it covers an area of 11,586 km2. This country has a population of more than 2.83 million, of which 2.3 million are foreign nationals. This large percentage of foreign-born residents is due to the natural gas and oil industries, which attract significant numbers of migrant workers each year.
Saudi Arabia
Area: 2,149,690 km2
Population: 34,268,530
Capital: Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and covers an area of 2,149,690 km2. It has a population size of approximately 34 million, 90% of which identify as Arabs. The country’s population had grown significantly since 1950, when it was only around 3 million, due to a faster-than-average birth rate. The majority of individuals in Saudi Arabia speak 1 of 3 Arabic dialects: Najdi, Hejazi, and Gulf.
Syria
Area: 187,437 km2
Population: 17,070,130
Capital: Damascus
Syria is located in the western region of the Middle East and covers an area of 187,437 km2. The country’s population is estimated to be around 17 million, but this number may be inaccurate given the lack of an accurate census in recent years. Considering the large number of people killed or fleeing the country due to civil war, military violence and political instability, the population represents a reduction compared to previous years. At least 5 million people have sought refuge in other countries, while 7.6 million are internally displaced.
Turkey
Area: 783,562 km2
Population: 83,429,620
Capital: Ankara
Turkey is located between Europe and Asia and is considered a transcontinental country. It covers an area of 783,562 km2 and has a population size of around 83.4 million. Between 70% and 80% of this population identifies as ethnic Turks. Turkey is newly industrialized and has a GDP of $2.199 trillion, over half of which is generated by the services industry.
United Arab Emirates
Area: 83,600 km2
Population: 9,770,530
Capital: Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is along the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. It covers an area of 83,600 km2 and has a population size of approximately 9.7 million. This country has one of the largest economies in the Middle East, with a GDP of around $377 billion. Like most economies in this region of the world, the UAE depends heavily on the oil industry.
Yemen
Alan: 527.968 km 2
Nüfus: 29.161.920
Başkent: Sana’a
Yemen, Arap Yarımadası’nın güneybatı kıyısında yer almakta olup toplam alanı 527.968 km2’dir . Ülkenin yaklaşık yarısı 15 yaş ve altı olmak üzere 29 milyonun üzerinde bir nüfusu var. Bu demografik yapı ve diğer çeşitli faktörler nedeniyle, Yemen nüfusunun 2050 yılına kadar 60 milyona ulaşması bekleniyor. Yemen ekonomisi, diğer birçok orta doğu ülkesi gibi, ihracatının da %73’ünü oluşturan petrol endüstrisine odaklanıyor.