Introduction

This report presents a broad illustration of Arab society and the ways in which it is changing.

Population

● The population in the Arab region continues to grow rapidly, and the region is expected to double in size in approximately 35 years.
Graph 1.6

● The population is young overall, but the proportion of older people is increasing fast in several countries.
1.7

Percentage of popultion by age group, by sex, latest data available



● The number of international migrants in the region consistently increased over the past 20 years, and the region houses has the largest number of refugees and displaced populations worldwide.
1.12

HOUSEHOLDS & FAMILIES

● Child and early marriage has been decreasing but still common high in some countries.
2.5

Women's marital status by age groups, latest available estimates

Egypt 2014

Iraq 2018

Jordan 2017

Mauritania (2015)

Qatar (2012)

State of Palestine (2014)

Sudan (2014)

Tunisia (2018)

Yemen (2013)



● Extended living arrangement is no longer universal, but current economic hardship facing several countries may give rise to three generation families.
2.6

Percentage ever married among girls aged 15-19, latest available estimates

HOUSING CONDITIONS

● Availability of improved drinking water sources, electricity and sanitation facilities are increasing in most countries, but are still lacking in some rural areas .
3.1

Occupied housing units by tenure of housing unit, percentage, latest available data

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● Home ownership is the norm for households, especially in rural areas.
3.4

Percentage of households using an improved drinking water source, by area, latest available data

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HEALTH

● Reproductive and maternal health has improved significantly in the region, but disparities both within and between countries persist .
4.3

● Maternal mortality continues to decline, but is still high in some countries.
4.4

● Adult obesity is common, particularly among women.
4.10

Obese adults (18 years and older), percentage, by sex, 2000-2016

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Mauritania

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Sudan

Syrian Arab Republic

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

CORONAVIRUS

● GCC countries have reported the highest numbers of cases per capita in the region since the pandemic broke out.
5.4

● Half the countries reported summer spikes in daily deaths due to COVID-19, and in some countries further surges were observed afterwards.
5.5

Prevalence Covid-19 Arab Region

EDUCATION

● Education has improved dramatically over the years, but illiteracy is still high in some countries.
6.1

Adult literacy, age 15 and over, percentage, by sex, 2000-2019

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Mauritania

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

State of Palestine

Syrian Arab Republic

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

● The gender gap in net enrollment has significantly narrowed in most countries.
6.3

Primary enrolment ratio, by sex, 2000-2019

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Mauritania

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

State of Palestine

Syrian Arab Republic

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

LABOUR

● Labour force participation is low in the region, mainly because of very low participation rates among women.
7.1

● Unemployment is disproportionally high among women and youth.
7.2; 7.5

Unemployment rate, by sex, 2000-2019

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Mauritania

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

State of Palestine

Syrian Arab Republic

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Libya

Sudan



Labour force participation rate, by sex, 2000-2019

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Mauritania

Morocco

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

State of Palestine

Syrian Arab Republic

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Libya

Sudan

POVERTY & INEQUALITY

● Poverty as measured by the national poverty line increased in many countries.
8.1

● Education and health account for the smallest shares of household consumption expenditure.
8.5

Allocation of consumption expenditure, latest available data

CULTURE

● The overwhelming majority of adults in the region practice a religion, and women tend to be more religious than men.
9.1

Religiosity, percentage, by sex, latest data available

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● Trust in ‘other’ people is relatively low everywhere.
9.2

Percentage of respondents who believe most people can be trusted, by sex, latest data available

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