Middle East

Extracted Attributes

• Climate

  Generally hot, arid; temperate Mediterranean in Levantine coast and much of Turkey

• Term Coined

  Early 20th century

• Term Replaced

  Near East

• Term Criticism

  Eurocentric

• Religious Origins

  Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism)

• Countries Included

  Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

• Main Ethnic Groups

  Arabs, Turks, Persians, Kurds, Jews, Assyrians

• Major River Systems

  Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan

• Estimated Population

  371,000,000

• Climate Change Impact

  Major contributor to and highly vulnerable to climate change

• Key Economic Resource

  Vast petroleum reserves (especially Persian Gulf countries)

• Historical Significance

  Cradle of civilization

• Largest Country by Area

  Saudi Arabia

• Most Populous Countries

  Egypt, Iran, Turkey

• Primary Geographic Scope

  Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the Levant, Turkey

Timeline

• The Middle East's history dates back to ancient times, and it was long considered the 'cradle of civilization'. (Source: Summary)

  Ancient Times

• The term 'Middle East' came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and Western European nations, replacing the term 'Near East'. (Source: Summary)

  Early 20th Century

Middle East

The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the Levant, and Turkey. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and Western European nations in the early 20th century as a replacement of the term Near East (both were in contrast to the Far East). The term "Middle East" has led to some confusion over its changing definitions. Since the late 20th century, it has been criticized as being too Eurocentric. The region includes the vast majority of the territories included in the closely associated definition of West Asia, but without the South Caucasus. It also includes all of Egypt (not just the Sinai region) and all of Turkey (including East Thrace). Most Middle Eastern countries (13 out of 18) are part of the Arab world. The three most populous countries in the region are Egypt, Iran, and Turkey, while Saudi Arabia is the largest Middle Eastern country by area. The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, and it was long considered the "cradle of civilization". The geopolitical importance of the region has been recognized and competed for during millennia. The Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) have their origins in the Middle East. Arabs constitute the main ethnic group in the region, followed by Turks, Persians, Kurds, Jews, and Assyrians. The Middle East generally has a hot, arid climate, especially in the Arabian and Egyptian regions. Several major rivers provide irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas here, such as the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates watersheds of Mesopotamia, and the basin of the Jordan River that spans most of the Levant. These regions are collectively known as the Fertile Crescent, and comprise the core of what historians had long referred to as the cradle of civilization; multiple regions of the world have since been classified as also having developed independent, original civilizations. Conversely, the Levantine coast and most of Turkey have relatively temperate climates typical of the Mediterranean, with dry summers and cool, wet winters. Most of the countries that border the Persian Gulf have vast reserves of petroleum. Monarchs of the Arabian Peninsula in particular have benefitted economically from petroleum exports. Because of the arid climate and dependence on the fossil fuel industry, the Middle East is both a major contributor to climate change and a region that is expected to be severely adversely affected by it. Other concepts of the region exist, including the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which includes states of the Maghreb and the Sudan. The term the "Greater Middle East" also includes Afghanistan, Mauritania, Pakistan, as well as parts of East Africa, and sometimes Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

Web Search Results

• Growth and Stability in the Middle East and North Africa

  MENA covers a surface of over 15 million square kilometers and contains some 6 percent of the world's _population_, about the same as the population of the European Union (EU). The three smallest countries (Bahrain, Djibouti, and Qatar) each have a population of about half a million inhabitants. By contrast, the two largest countries (Egypt and the Islamic Republic of Iran) comprise about 60 million inhabitants each. Together with Algeria, Morocco, and Sudan, these five most populated countries [...] The MENA region commands abundant human and natural resources, accounts for a large share of world petroleum production and exports, and enjoys on average a reasonable standard of living. Within this general characterization, countries vary substantially in resources, economic and geographical size, population, and standards of living. At the same time, intra-regional interaction is weak, being restricted principally to labor flows, with limited trade in goods and services. [...] Most MENA countries are experiencing rapid population growth and have high dependency ratios. The average annual rate of population increase during 1989-94 was about 3 percent, the same as that in sub-Saharan Africa. Underlying the population growth are fertility rates substantially higher than those in other economies with similar real per capita income. Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have registered population growth rates exceeding 3.5 percent in

• Palestine and the Middle East After the Iran-Israel war

  The Middle East in recent months has witnessed multiple military and ideological confrontations. Historic changes in regional power balances signal new strategies by Israel, Syria, Hezbollah, Yemen, and Iran. Many of the current dynamics appear to be continuations of past trends, albeit with heightened degrees of violence, cruelty, and criminality (most notably in the US-Israel joint-venture genocide against Palestinians and attacks on Iran). [...] The unfolding transformations will affect numerous dimensions of conflict in the Middle East, including relations between major Arab powers and Iran, the actions of Iranian-assisted armed Islamist resistance groups, Turkey’s influence, and the role of great powers (the United States, Russia, and China) in the region. But a closer look suggests that all these phenomena are linked to a long-standing core issue: the rights and fate of the Palestinian people. Indeed, the Palestine-Israel conflict [...] North AfricaExpand Navigation Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Tunisia The Horn of AfricaExpand Navigation Djibouti Somalia Sudan

• Middle East and North Africa Economic Update — April 2025

  The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to grow moderately at 2.6 percent in 2025 — a forecast that is shrouded in uncertainty given the rapidly changing global environment as well as ongoing conflicts and extreme weather shocks. This is amidst a long history of sluggish economic growth in MENA, much of it stemming from the poor performance of the private sector. The April 2025 edition of the semi-annual MENA Economic Update, titled Shifting Gears: The Private Sector as an [...] In Part I of the report, World Bank economists estimate that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region grew at a modest 1.9 percent in 2024. Economic growth is forecast to rise moderately to 2.6 percent in 2025. For oil exporters, the growth uptick is linked to the planned rollback of oil production cuts. Among oil importers, growth is expected to pick up due to strong private consumption as inflation eases and a rebound in the agricultural sector in some economies. Despite these positive [...] projections, the region’s outlook remains highly uncertain. Conflict has dialed back development across the region, and the effects will remain for a long while after, compounding a history of chronic low growth. Part I examines the situation of fragile and conflict-affected countries, where prospects for peace and recovery remain precarious.

• Middle East - Fit for Travel

  Bahrain Iran Iraq Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria United Arab Emirates Yemen Destinations Africa Asia (Central) Asia (East) Australasia & Pacific Caribbean Central America Europe & Russia Middle East North America South America & Antarctica More from fitfortravel ====================== [...] Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad. About us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Show Menu Home Destinations Advice News Search Resources A - Z Index Home Destinations Middle East Middle East =========== Image 3: Map of the Middle East Countries in Middle East ------------------------

• Economic Challenges the Middle East in 2025 | Wilson Center

  The “perception” that conflicts could “worsen or spread” is the chief concern in the near future, Saadia Zahidi, a managing director at the World Economic Forum, reported in January 2025.” Fear and uncertainty cloud the outlook.” The Middle East has several “fragile theaters,” notably Yemen, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, where the challenges are "exacerbated by poor leadership, weak governance, and endemic corruption,” the Middle East Institute warned in January 2025. [...] The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform US foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Read more Image 5: Middle East Program Explore More ------------ Browse Insights & Analysis Browse Insights & Analysis Image 6: SyriaPalmyra Society and Culture

• Image

  

• Country

  Iraq

• Instance Of

  Q3502482

• Population

  371,000,000

• Coordinates

  Lat: 28.0, Lon: 45.0

The Middle East (Arabic: الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ash-Sharq al-Awsat) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (European part of Turkey), Egypt, Iran, the Levant (including Ash-Shām and Cyprus), Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), and the Socotra Archipelago (a part of Yemen). The term came into widespread usage as a replacement of the term Near East (as opposed to the Far East) beginning in the early 20th century. The term "Middle East" has led to some confusion over its changing definitions, and has been viewed by some to be discriminatory or too Eurocentric. The region includes the vast majority of the territories included in the closely associated definition of Western Asia (including Iran), but without the South Caucasus, and additionally includes all of Egypt (not just the Sinai Region) and all of Turkey (not just the part barring East Thrace). Most Middle Eastern countries (13 out of 18) are part of the Arab world. The most populous countries in the region are Egypt, Turkey, and Iran, while Saudi Arabia is the largest Middle Eastern country by area. The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, with the geopolitical importance of the region being recognized for millennia. Several major religions have their origins in the Middle East, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Arabs constitute the main socioethnic grouping in the region, followed by Turks, Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Copts, Jews, Assyrians, Iraqi Turkmen, Yazidis, and Greek Cypriots. The Middle East generally has a hot, arid climate, especially in the Arabian and Egyptian regions. Several major rivers provide irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas here, such as the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates watersheds of Mesopotamia, and the basin of the Jordan River that spans most of the Levant. These regions are collectively known as the Fertile Crescent, and comprise the core of what historians had long referred to as the cradle of civilization (a label now applied to multiple regions of the world). Conversely, the Levantine coast and most of Turkey have relatively temperate climates typical of the Mediterranean, with dry summers and cool, wet winters. Most of the countries that border the Persian Gulf have vast reserves of petroleum, with monarchs of the Arabian Peninsula in particular benefiting economically from petroleum exports. Because of the arid climate and heavy reliance on the fossil fuel industry, the Middle East is both a heavy contributor to climate change and a region expected to be severely negatively impacted by it. Other concepts of the region exist including the broader the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which includes states of the Maghreb and the Sudan, or the "Greater Middle East" which additionally also includes parts of East Africa, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and sometimes Central Asia and the South Caucasus.