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.

The average age in Jordan in 2020 was about 22 years old, compared to about 32 years old in Saudi Arabia. Lower averages ages in the region helped protect it from high fatality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the density of medical doctors in conflict and risk countries in the Arab region was the highest for Libya at about 22 per ten thousand population, and the lowest for Somalia at 0.2 per ten thousand population. Although the COVID-19 cases in the region were low by international standards, the conflict and humanitarian crises which left more than 57 million people in need of humanitarian assistance even prior to the pandemic made them vulnerable to a greater threat.

BackgroundThe Algerian COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which started at the end of January 2021, is marked by a slowly ascending curve despite the deployed resources. To tackle the issue, we assessed the levels and explored determinants of engagement toward the COVID-19 vaccine among the Algerian population.MethodsA nationwide, online-based cross-sectional study was conducted between March 27 and April 30, 2021. A two-stage stratified snowball sampling method was used to include an equivalent number of participants from the four cardinal regions of the country. A vaccine engagement scale was developed, defining vaccine engagement as a multidimensional parameter (5 items) that combined self-stated acceptance and willingness with perceived safety and efficacy of the vaccine. An Engagement score was calculated and the median was used to define engagement vs. non-engagement. Sociodemographic and clinical data, perceptions about COVID-19, and levels of adherence to preventive measures were analyzed as predictors for non-engagement.ResultsWe included 1,019 participants, 54% were female and 64% were aged 18–29 years. Overall, there were low rates of self-declared acceptance (26%) and willingness (21%) to take the vaccine, as well as low levels of agreement regarding vaccine safety (21%) and efficacy (30%). Thus, the vaccine engagement rate was estimated at 33.5%, and ranged between 29.6-38.5% depending on the region (p > 0.05). Non-engagement was independently associated with female gender (OR = 2.31, p < 0.001), low adherence level to preventive measures (OR = 6.93, p < 0.001), private-sector jobs (OR = 0.53, p = 0.038), perceived COVID-19 severity (OR = 0.66, p = 0.014), and fear from contracting the disease (OR = 0.56, p = 0.018). Concern about vaccine side effects (72.0%) and exigence for more efficacy and safety studies (48.3%) were the most commonly reported barrier and enabler for vaccine acceptance respectively; whereas beliefs in the conspiracy theory were reported by 23.4%.ConclusionsThe very low rates of vaccine engagement among the Algerian population probably explain the slow ascension of the vaccination curve in the country. Vaccine awareness campaigns should be implemented to address the multiple misconceptions and enhance the levels of knowledge and perception both about the disease and the vaccine, by prioritizing target populations and engaging both healthcare workers and the general population.

The expected gross domestic product growth in Egypt for 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic was 3.5 percent. This was the leading growth rate for the Middle East and North African region in 2020. Egypt had the largest population in the MENA region in 2018 with approximately 97 million inhabitants, which is contributing to strong GDP growth in comparison to the rest of the region.

In 2030, the number of mobile internet users in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was forecast to reach around 422 million, up from 327 million in 2023. The mobile internet penetration rate in the region was projected to reach around 58 percent of the population by 2030. GCC technology adoption   Investments in technological innovation, notably in 5G technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, have risen dramatically in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 5G solutions were introduced in the region in 2019 and will be the primary focus of smartphone users and gaming companies in 2020. In 2019, the majority of the population in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported a willingness to adopt 5G connections as soon as they become available in the market, but only around a fifth expected positive response after installation . The Middle East outperforms the rest of the world in terms of the rate at which new technologies are adopted, aided by the strong top-down attitude of local governments. Technology sector post COVID-19 in MENA     COVID-19 caused the suspension or cancellation of IT projects in the MENA region. IT investment will likely recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 as the region's situation improves and firms realize the full benefits of a strong digital environment. Cloud management and security services in the MENA area are expected to be valued at 226 million U.S. dollars in 2020. People were more likely to use online choices for shopping, communication, and remote working during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, which resulted in lockdowns and the closure of businesses, restaurants, and supermarkets. Every nation in the area has seen a significant surge in the usage of mobile applications, notably Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. In 2022, the region's spending on communication services in the information technology industry was estimated to exceed 120 billion U.S. dollars.

According to a survey on the digital transformation post the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2021, 83 percent of respondents transformed to remote working and meetings. The number of people who were administrated the COVID-19 vaccine in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in February 2021 was in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 9.7 thousand per one million population.

Middle East EdTech Market size was valued at USD 264.2 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 573.1 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 16.6% from 2024 to 2031.

Middle East EdTech Market Drivers

Government Initiatives and Investments: Governments across the Middle East are heavily investing in digital education and e-learning infrastructure as part of broader efforts to modernize their education systems. National strategies, such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's Vision 2021, emphasize the importance of technology in education, driving demand for EdTech solutions.

Rising Demand for Online Learning: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of online learning across the region. Even as the pandemic subsides, the convenience and flexibility of online education continue to drive demand for EdTech platforms that offer virtual classrooms, digital content, and remote learning tools.

Growing Youth Population: The Middle East has a young and tech-savvy population, creating a substantial market for EdTech solutions. This demographic is increasingly seeking digital learning platforms that offer personalized and interactive educational experiences, from K-12 to higher education and professional development.

Expanding Private Education Sector: The growing private education sector in the Middle East is a major driver of EdTech adoption. Private schools and universities are increasingly incorporating digital tools and platforms into their curricula to enhance learning outcomes and attract students.

In 2019, the share of forcibly displaced people in conflict and risk countries in the Arab region as a percentage of the total population was the highest for Palestinian territories at about 45 percent. Although the COVID-19 cases in the region were low by international standards, the conflict and humanitarian crises which left more than 57 million people in need of humanitarian assistance even prior to the pandemic made them vulnerable to a greater threat.

As of 2024, there were 739 fintech companies in Turkey, which was the highest in the entire MENA region. The United Arab Emirates and Israel followed with 686 and 550 fintech companies, respectively. The majority of countries in the region had less than 100 fintech companies in operation. Fintech in MENA At its core, fintech not only assists consumers, but also companies and business owners to better manage their financial operations using specialized software. High smartphone and internet penetration in the MENA region in recent years has been a factor in driving the rise in fintech startups. Additionally, the region holds a sizeable youthful population who tends to be more flexible to change and early technology adopters. Burdensome and outdated regulations in the region have historically slowed down adoption and investment. However, a recent rapid change in the regulatory environment has been observed in different countries such as Egypt and Jordan, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online banking penetration rate in Egypt was forecasted to expand to 12 percent by 2025. Despite being in their relative infancy, the region now has different levels of regulatory aspects that pertain to fintech specifically. Adding to this, the region hosts a high percentage of unbanked adults, which provides opportunities for fintech startups to step in and fill in the market gaps. Fintech in UAE The UAE holds one of the most mature fintech markets in the region, accounting for a large percentage of fintech startups. The country had the highest overall fintech readiness score among the MENA region, growth, making it a premium global fintech hub, while Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Bahrain were emerging hubs. This is due to several factors, including the government’s efforts to foster startup growth, which makes the UAE a global hub for tech companies. Approximately 34 percent of firms in the UAE had a company-wide digital transformation strategy in place, with good progress in implementing it in 2019.

The total spending on the information technology services in the IT sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2022 was forecast to amount to around 16.17 billion U.S. dollars. In 2020, the total spending amounted to around 13.55 billion U.S. dollars.

IT industry during COVID-19 in MENA

COVID-19 caused IT projects throughout the MENA region to be halted or canceled. As the situation in the region improves and businesses recognize the full advantages of a robust digital environment, IT spending will likely recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. The value of cloud management and security services markets in the MENA region in 2020 was expected to reach 226 million U.S. dollars. People were more motivated to use internet options for shopping, communication, and remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which resulted in lockdowns and the closure of businesses, restaurants, and supermarkets. Every country in the area has seen a significant surge in the use of mobile applications, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. It was forecasted that spending in the communication services in the information technology sector in the region in 2022 would reach 120 billion U.S. dollars.

GCC technology adoption 

Investments in technical progress, particularly in 5G technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, have poured into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 5G services were released in the region in 2019 and were the focus of smartphone users and gaming services in 2020. In 2019, most of the population in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia expressed a willingness to use 5G connections as soon as they become available in the market.

In the first quarter of 2024, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Tunisia increased by 0.2 percent compared to the same quarter of 2023. Moreover, it rose by 0.6 percent compared to the previous quarter. Following the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the GDP decreased by -1 percent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the previous year. Economic recovery after COVID-19 As of the first quarter of 2024, Tunisia’s GDP experienced a growth rate of 0.2 percent, recovering from the decline in the two previous quarters. However, in 2020, the Tunisian GDP growth rate assumed a negative value for the first time since 2012. Previously, negative growth had been recorded in 2011 concurrently with the Jasmine Revolution. The economy then gradually recovered after 2020, with the GDP expanding by 4.61 percent in 2021 and 0.42 percent in 2023. After declining in 2020, the GDP per capita was also set to grow again to reach around 4,416 U.S. dollars by 2027. Overall, Tunisia is a small economy and ranks among the countries with the lowest GDP per capita in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Compared to other countries in the region, its territory is not particularly rich in oil and gas. Its industries mainly operate in textiles, mining and phosphates, and agri-food. Main sectors to drive economic growth The economy of Tunisia is largely based on the tertiary sector, with services contributing around 60 percent to the GDP. Within this sector, the tourism industry is particularly profitable. Tourists are especially attracted by the country’s seaside resorts, as well as the suggestive landscapes of the Sahara Desert. The global tourism industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis and Tunisia registered a significant fall in the annual number of tourists in 2020, however, the sector managed to recover, with 6.89 million arrivals in 2023. Agriculture represents another significant driver of economic growth, accounting for around 10 percent of the country’s GDP and employing roughly 14 percent of the working population. Cereals lead the domestic agricultural production, while olive oil, dates, and fish represent the main exports.