The Demographics of the Middle East describes populations of the Middle East or the Greater Middle East that includes Northern Africa. Overview Encyclopedia Britannica definition of Middle East Encyclopedia Britannica stated in 2018 that "by the mid-20th century a common definition of the Middle East encompassed the states or territories of Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and the various states and territories of Arabia proper (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Trucial States, or Trucial Oman [now United Arab Emirates])." Historical In the year 1600, the population of the Middle East stood at about 18.5 million. Within modern borders:Alexander V. Avakov, Two Thousand Years of Economic Statistics, Volume 1, pages 12 to 14. Anatolia - c. 6,500,000 Iran - 4,472,000 Yemen - 2,243,000 Saudi Arabia - 1,809,000 Syria - 1,175,000 Iraq - 1,000,000 Lebanon - 292,000 Oman - 275,000 Jordan - 191,000 Israel/Palestine - 161,000 Cyprus - 98,000 Kuwait - 71,000 Bahrain - 54,000 United Arab Emirates - 35,000 In addition, the population of North Africa was 12 million, with the following breakdown within borders: Egypt - 5,000,000 Algeria - 2,250,000 Morocco - 2,250,000 Tunisia - 2,000,000 Libya - 500,000 See also Demographics of the Arab League Demographics of the Middle East and North Africa Ethnic groups in the Middle East Genetic history of the Middle East Largest metropolitan areas of the Middle East List of Middle Eastern countries by population References Middle East Demography