This statistic shows the total population of the MENA countries in 2023. MENA stands for the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2023, the total population of Egypt amounted to 105.2 million inhabitants.

The total population in the Middle East and Africa region was approximately 484 million in 2018. It was expected to increase to 581 million in 2030, and almost double by 2050 to reach about 724 million.

Demographics

The Middle East and Africa region includes 19 countries, which is approximately of six percent of the population of the world. The population is characterized with an above average fertility rate of 2.8, compared to the global fertility rate of 2.44. Due to the decrease in death rates due to the introduction of modern medicine, combined with the steady birth rates, the population of the MENA region is expected to continue growing in the future. Population growth might cause governmental burden in the future as governments try to decrease poverty rates, provide healthcare, and education to the larger number of people.

The Arab spring

In 2011, a series of demonstrations spread across many Arab countries to overthrow oppressive governments and dictators. It initiated from Tunisia, and spread to other countries including Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria. The instability caused by the Arab spring affected international oil supply and prices, as the MENA region owns 60 percent of the world’s oil reserves and 45 percent of its natural gas reserves which makes it an important global economic stability factor. Some countries succeeded in overthrowing their oppressive governments, while other protests resulted in social violence and civil wars. The instability forced 15 million people to seek refuge in neighboring countries. It was declared as the worst refugee crisis after World War II.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPPOPGROWMNA) from 1961 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, population, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPPOP0014TOZSMNA) from 1960 to 2023 about 0 to 14 years, North Africa, Middle East, and population.

This statistic shows the median age of the population among Middle Eastern countries in 2020. In Kuwait, the median age of the population was 36.8 years old in 2020, in comparison with a median population age of 20.8 in Palestine.

This statistic provides information on the Twitter penetration in selected Middle Eastern and Northern African countries as of March 2013. As of that month, Kuwait had the highest Twitter usage rate with 7.6 percent of the population using the social network.

This statistic provides information on the penetration of LinkedIn (the share of the population using LinkedIn) in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa as of June 2012. As of that month, the United Arab Emirates had the highest LinkedIn usage rate with 12.76 percent of the population using the social network.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SLEMPTOTLSPZSMNA) from 1991 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, employment-population ratio, employment, and population.

Chart and table of Middle East And North Africa population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Graph and download economic data for Refugee Population by Country or Territory of Asylum for Middle East and North Africa (SMPOPREFGMEA) from 1990 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, refugee, World, and population.

This statistic shows the degree of urbanization in the MENA countries in 2023. MENA stands for Middle East and North Africa. Urbanization is defined as the share of urban population in the total population. In 2023, 75.27 percent of the total population of Algeria lived in urban areas.

Chart and table of Middle East North Africa Ida Ibrd Countries population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPPOPDPNDOLMNA) from 1960 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, working-age, ratio, and population.

Sudan had the largest share of the population of about 50 percent who do not have a mobile subscription in 2021 among the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Mobile technology is one of the fastest growing technologies worldwide.

Population Ages 15 to 64 for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa was 63.31925 % of Total in January of 2020, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Population Ages 15 to 64 for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 64.09391 in January of 2012 and a record low of 51.46130 in January of 1967. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Population Ages 15 to 64 for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

In Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, and Qatar, almost all the population had access to safely managed drinking water in 2022. By comparison, less than half had the same in Lebanon, Moreover, numbers were unavailable for conflict-ridden countries such as Yemen, Syria, and Sudan.

The average for 2023 based on 18 countries was 4.78 percent. The highest value was in Lebanon: 9.82 percent and the lowest value was in Qatar: 1.57 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This statistic describes the percentage of the population over the age of 65 years in the Middle East and North Africa as of 2014, by country. During this time period, the share of the population in Lebanon above the age of 65 was 8.14 percent.

Population of MENA countries for the year 2000.

In 2023, the mobile internet connectivity in the Middle East and North African countries reached almost 50 percent of the population. Comparatively, the penetration rate of the mobile internet in the country was 30 percent in 2015.