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Middle East: Quick Facts

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Last updated
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it destroyed a US radar in Bahrain, and other Mideast news • Nov. 13, 2026, 4:09 AM ET (AP)
Israel hits Gaza hospital and France turns away a settler leader, and other Mideast news • Nov. 12, 2026, 5:02 PM ET (AP)
Netanyahu denies Israel is to blame for conditions in Gaza camps, and other Mideast news • Nov. 11, 2026, 2:44 PM ET (AP)
Israeli strikes and gunfire in Gaza kill 5 people, and other Mideast news • Nov. 10, 2026, 7:20 PM ET (AP)

Did You Know?

  • In the Middle East originated the two largest religions in the world, Christianity and Islam, in additiong to smaller religions, such as Judaism Baha'ism.
  • The name Muhammad, which originated in the Middle East, is the most common name (although spelling may vary) in the world, with 150 million men and boys sharing this name.
  • The Middle East currently has one of the youngest populations in its history, with nearly 30% of its population between the ages of 15 and 29.
  • More women attend a university than men in two thirds of Middle Eastern countries.
  • The Middle East has the greatest amount of religious conflict out of any region. In 2014, its level of strife due to religious motives became quadruple the median for the world.

Photos and Videos

Map of the Middle East region with countries highlighted in orange, including Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and Egypt. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean are labeled, as are the neighboring regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Map of the Middle East highlighting countries in orange, including Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with surrounding bodies of water and neighboring regions labeled.
Map of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with countries highlighted in orange, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Surrounding seas and neighboring countries are shown for geographic context.
Aswān, Egypt: Great Temple of Ramses II
Basalt relief stele of King Kilamuwa from Sam'al, Turkey, showing a robed figure beside lines of Phoenician script and an ornate symbol above the text.
The Monastery (Al-Dayr) in Petra, Jordan
The Victory of Shah Shāpūr I at Edessa
Map showing the extent of the Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century, with regions under direct Abbasid rule shaded in green, and surrounding areas under Abbasid suzerainty or controlled by other dynasties-Aghlabids of Tunisia, Idrisids of Morocco, Tahirids in the east, and the Umayyad emirate of Spain-indicated in different colors. Major cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Cordoba are labeled, along with key regional boundaries.
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with two minarets and city buildings in the background.
Map of the eastern Mediterranean region during the 12th century, highlighting the crusader states: Kingdom of Jerusalem, County of Tripoli, Principality of Antioch, and County of Edessa, along with the Kingdom of Armenia (Little Armenia) and the island of Cyprus. Neighboring regions such as the Fatimid Caliphate, Emirate of Damascus, Dominion of the Atabegs, and Sultanate of Rum are also labeled. Key cities, rivers, and bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, and Dead Sea are
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Mesopotamia
The rise and fall of the Phoenician civilization
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