Political and Population Geography

of the Middle East and North Africa

Introduction to the states of the realm

Dr. Roy Cole

Department of Geography and Planning
GVSU
States of North Africa and Southwest Asia
States of the realm and regions
Basic demographic and economic data

United States of America

Capital: Washington.
Total area: 3,717,796 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 299,100,000.
Population density: 80 per square mile.
Urban population: 74%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 80.
-males: 75.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 99.
-males: 99.
GNI PPP per capita: $41,950.
Type of government: Republic.
Table 1. Economic and demographic data for USA (2006) for
comparative purposes.

Source: Population Reference Bureau. (2007) www.prb.org.

States of the region ‫غـرب ِّية‬
ْ َ‫ال َم ْملـَكة المـ‬
North Africa

Kingdom of the Maghreb (Morocco)

Capital: Ribat.
Total area: 172,413 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 31,700,000.
Population density: 184 per square mile.
Urban population: 55%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 72.
-males: 68.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 61.
-males: 77.
GNI PPP per capita: $4,360.
Type of government: Constitutional
monarchy.
States of the region ‫الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية‬
North Africa

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Capital: Algiers.
Total area: 919,591 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 33,500,000.
Population density: 36 per square mile.
Urban population: 49%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 76.
-males: 74.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 86.
-males: 94.
GNI PPP per capita: $6,770.
Type of government: Presidential republic.
States of the region ‫الجمهورية التونسية‬
North Africa

Tunisian Republic
Capital: Tunis.
Total area: 63,170 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 10,100,000.
Population density: 160 per square mile.
Urban population: 65%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 75.
-males: 71.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 91.
-males: 98.
GNI PPP per capita: $7,900.
Type of government: Republic.
States of the region ‫الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية اإلشتراكية ال ُعظ َمى‬
North Africa

Great Libyan Arab Socialist People’s

Jamahiriya
Capital: Tripoli.
Total area: 379,359 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 5,900,000.
Population density: 9 per square mile.
Urban population: 86%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 78.
-males: 74.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 94.
-males: 100.
GNI PPP per capita: $???.
Type of government: Jamahiriya (?).
States of the region ‫جمهورية مصر العربية‬
North Africa

Arab Republic of Egypt

Capital: Cairo.
Total area: 386,660 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 75,400,000.
Population density: 195 per square mile.
Urban population: 43%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 72.
-males: 67.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 67.
-males: 79.
GNI PPP per capita: $4,440.
Type of government: Presidential republic.
States of the region ‫جمهوری اسالمی ايران‬
Southwest Asia

Islamic Republic of Iran

Capital: Tehran.
Total area: 630,575 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 70,300,000.
Population density: 112 per square mile.
Urban population: 67%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 72.
-males: 69.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 91.
-males: 96.
GNI PPP per capita: $8,050.
Type of government: Islamic republic.
States of the region ‫جمهورية العراق‬
Southwest Asia

Federal Republic of Iraq

Capital: Baghdad.
Total area: 169,236 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 29,600,000.
Population density: 175 per square mile.
Urban population: 68%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 60.
-males: 57.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 29.
-males: 59.
GNI PPP per capita: $???.
Type of government: Parliamentary
democracy.
States of the region ‫الجمهورية العربية السورية‬
Southwest Asia

Syrian Arab Republic

Capital: Damascus.
Total area: 71,498 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 19,500,000.
Population density: 273 per square mile.
Urban population: 50%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 75.
-males: 71.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 93.
-males: 97.
GNI PPP per capita: $3,740.
Type of government: Presidential republic.
States of the region ‫الجمهورية اللبنانية‬
Southwest Asia

Lebanese Republic
Capital: Beirut.
Total area: 4,015 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 3,900,000.
Population density: 963 per square mile.
Urban population: 87%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 74.
-males: 70.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 93.
-males: 97.
GNI PPP per capita: $5,740.
Type of government: Republic.
States of the region ‫دَو َل ْة إِ ْس َرائِيل‬
ْ ‫מְ דִ ינַת י ִשְׂ ָראֵ ל‬ 
Southwest Asia Medinat Yisra'el

State of Israel
Capital: Tel Aviv.
Total area: 8,131 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 7,200,000.
Population density: 890 per square mile.
Urban population: 91 %.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 82.
-males: 78.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 99.
-males: 100.
GNI PPP per capita: $25,280.
Type of government: Parliamentary
democracy.
States of the region
Southwest Asia

Palestinian Territory
Capital: ?.
Total area: 2,417 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 3,900,000.
Population density: 1,609 per square mile.
Urban population: 57%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 74.
-males: 71.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 97.
-males: 97.
GNI PPP per capita: $???.
Type of government: Not sure yet.
States of the region ‫المملكة األردنية الهاشمية‬
Southwest Asia

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Capital: Amman.
Total area: 34,444 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 5,600,000.
Population density: 164 per square mile.
Urban population: 82%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 72.
-males: 71.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 100.
-males: 99.
GNI PPP per capita: $5,280.
Type of government: Constitutional
monarchy.
States of the region ‫مملكة البحرين‬
Southwest Asia

Kingdom of Bahrain
Capital: Manama.
Total area: 266 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 700,000.
Population density: 2,793 per square mile.
Urban population: 100%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 75.
-males: 73.
Literacy rate (15 to 24 year olds):
-females: 97.
-males: 97.
GNI PPP per capita: $21,290.
Type of government: Constitutional
monarchy.
States of the region ‫دولة الكويت‬
Southwest Asia

State of Kuwait
Capital: Kuwait.
Total area: 6,880 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 2,700,000.
Population density: 387 per square mile.
Urban population: 96%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 79.
-males: 77.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 94.
-males: 92.
GNI PPP per capita: $24,010.
Type of government: Constitutional emirate.
States of the region ‫س ْلـطـَـنة ُعمان‬
ُ
Southwest Asia

Sultanate of Oman
Capital: Musqat.
Total area: square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 2,600,000.
Population density: 31 per square mile.
Urban population: 71%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 75.
-males: 73.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 97.
-males: 100.
GNI PPP per capita: $14,680.
Type of government: Monarchy.
States of the region ‫طـر‬
ْ َ‫دولة قــ‬
Southwest Asia

State of Qatar
Capital: Doha.
Total area: 4,247 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 800,000.
Population density: 196 per square mile.
Urban population: 100%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 76.
-males: 71.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 96.
-males: 94.
GNI PPP per capita: $over 25K
Type of government: Constitutional
monarchy.
States of the region ‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬
Southwest Asia

Saudi Arab Kingdom

Capital: Riyadh.
Total area: 829,996 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 24,100,000.
Population density: 29 per square mile.
Urban population: 86%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 74.
-males: 70.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 92.
-males: 95.
GNI PPP per capita: $14,470.
Type of government: Monarchy.
States of the region ‫اإلمارات العربية المتحدة‬
Southwest Asia

United Arab Emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi.
Total area: 32,278 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 4,900,000.
Population density: 153 per square mile.
Urban population: 74%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 80.
-males: 75.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 95.
-males: 88.
GNI PPP per capita: $24,090.
Type of government: Federal constitutional
monarchy.
States of the region ‫الجمهورية اليمنية‬
Southwest Asia

Yemen
Capital: Sana’a.
Total area: 203,849 square miles.
Population (mid 2006): 21,600,000.
Population density: 106 per square mile.
Urban population: 26%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 62.
-males: 59.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 51.
-males: 84.
GNI PPP per capita: $920.
Type of government: Republic.
States of the region Türkiye Cumhuriyeti
Southwest Asia

Republic of Turkey
Capital: Ankara.
Total area: 299,158 square miles.
Population (mid 2006):73,700,000.
Population density: 246 per square mile.
Urban population: 59%.
Life expectancy at birth:
-females: 74.
-males: 69.
Literacy rate (15-24 year olds):
-females: 93.
-males: 98.
GNI PPP per capita: $8,420.
Type of government: Parliamentary
republic.
Urban population distribution
Millionaire Cities
Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million
Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million
Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Teheran, Iran
6.9 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million
Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Teheran, Iran
6.9 million

Baghdad, Iraq
5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million
Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Teheran, Iran
6.9 million

Baghdad, Iraq
5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
7.9 million
4.6 million
 Millionaire Cities
Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Teheran, Iran
6.9 million

Alexandria, Egypt Baghdad, Iraq

4.2 million 5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
7.9 million
4.6 million
 Millionaire Cities

Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Ankara, Turkey Teheran, Iran

3.7 million 6.9 million

Baghdad, Iraq
Alexandria, Egypt
5.8 million
4.2 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million
Millionaire Cities

Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million

Teheran, Iran
Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million

3.7 million

Alexandria, Egypt Baghdad, Iraq

4.2 million 5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million Giza, Egypt
3.2 million Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million
 Millionaire Cities

Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million
Teheran, Iran
Casablanca, Morocco Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million
3.7 million
3.2 million

Alexandria, Egypt Baghdad, Iraq

4.2 million 5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million Giza, Egypt
3.2 million Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million
 Millionaire Cities

Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million
Teheran, Iran
Casablanca, Morocco Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million
3.7 million
3.2 million

Alexandria, Egypt Baghdad, Iraq

4.2 million 5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt
7.9 million Giza, Egypt
3.2 million Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million

Jidda, Saudi Arabia

3.1 million
 Millionaire Cities

Istanbul, Turkey
10.5 million
Teheran, Iran
Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million
3.7 million

Casablanca, Morocco
3.2 million
Alexandria, Egypt Baghdad, Iraq
4.2 million 5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt Giza, Egypt

7.9 million 3.2 million
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million

Jidda, Saudi Arabia

3.1 million
 Mashhad, Iran
Millionaire Cities 2.5 million
Izmir, Turkey Mosul, Iraq
2.7 million 2.3 million
Istanbul, Turkey
Beirut, Lebanon 10.5 million
Teheran, Iran
2 million Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million
3.7 million

Casablanca, Morocco
3.2 million
Alexandria, Egypt
4.2 million Baghdad, Iraq
5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt Giza, Egypt

7.9 million 3.2 million
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million

Jidda, Saudi Arabia

3.1 million

Sana’a Basra, Iraq

2.3 million 2.4 million
 Millionaire Cities Mashhad, Iran
2.5 million

Izmir, Turkey
Mosul, Iraq
2.7 million
2.3 million

Istanbul, Turkey
Beirut, Lebanon 10.5 million
2 million Teheran, Iran
Ankara, Turkey 6.9 million
3.7 million

Casablanca, Morocco
3.2 million
Alexandria, Egypt
4.2 million Baghdad, Iraq
5.8 million

Cairo, Egypt Giza, Egypt

7.9 million 3.2 million
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4.6 million

Jidda, Saudi Arabia

3.1 million

Sana’a Basra, Iraq

2.3 million 2.4 million
Millionaire Cities
Millionaire Cities
All Cities