Middle East Population by Country (2020 Estimates)
The Middle East's ~422 million people (2020) are concentrated in a few large nations.
Top 8 Countries by Population
| Country | Population (millions) | Notes |
|---|
| Egypt | 102 | Largest; concentrated in Nile Valley/Delta |
| Turkey | 84 | Transcontinental; most in Anatolia |
| Iran | 83 | Concentrated in north/west |
| Iraq | 40 | Central/south concentration |
| Saudi Arabia | 35 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca corridors |
| Yemen | 29 | Western highlands, coastal plains |
| Syria | 17 | Uncertain due to war displacement |
| Israel | 8.6 | Coastal plain, center |
Other Notable Populations
- Jordan: 10M (including large refugee populations)
- UAE: 9.9M (~88% expatriates)
- Lebanon: 6.8M (including 1.5M+ Syrian/Palestinian refugees)
- Palestine (West Bank/Gaza): ~5M
- Oman: 5M (~45% expatriates)
- Kuwait: 4.3M (~70% expatriates)
- Qatar: 2.8M (~88% expatriates)
- Bahrain: 1.7M (~50% expatriates)
Demographic Dynamics
- Youth bulge: Median age 20–25 in most countries
- Urbanization: 70%+ urban (Gulf states 85%+)
- Migration: Major labor importer (Gulf) and exporter (Levant, Egypt)
- Refugees: Hosts world's largest refugee populations (Syrian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Afghan)
Figures vary by source (UN, World Bank, national censuses). Conflict zones (Syria, Yemen, Iraq) have high uncertainty.
Wanderlust World