Arab League Member States
Formed back in 1945, the Arab League brings together 22 countries spanning the Middle East and North Africa. If you’re diving into this region, knowing the population sizes and economic muscle of these countries helps paint a clearer picture.
Highly Populated Arab Countries
All together, these 22 countries clock in around 456 million folks (Wikipedia). But it’s not a one-size-fits-all; there’s quite a range. Here’s the rundown of the big hitters population-wise as of 2016:
| Country | Population (millions) |
|---|---|
| Egypt | 93 |
| Algeria | 40.4 |
| Sudan | 39 |
| Iraq | 37.2 |
| Saudi Arabia | 32.6 |
| Yemen | 27 |
| Syria | 18.5 |
| Jordan | 9.5 |
| Libya | 6.4 |
| Palestine | 4.9 |
Numbers courtesy of our trusted buddy Wikipedia.
GDP Ranking of Arab Nations
The economic scoreboard here is equally varied. Many of the Arab League countries pull in heavy bucks, largely thanks to oil and gas. Check out these GDP figures for some big players:
| Country | GDP (in billion USD) |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 793.0 |
| UAE | 421.1 |
| Egypt | 394.3 |
| Iraq | 248.4 |
| Algeria | 151.5 |
| Qatar | 146.2 |
| Kuwait | 136.5 |
Data’s pooled from Wikipedia and the number crunchers over at World Bank.
If hunger for knowledge has you clicking for more economic intel, swing by our list of countries by GDP and list of countrys economic status.
By squaring off population numbers with GDP stats, you get a mixed bag view of the Arab League’s countries. This peek-a-boo into the region highlights its many layers and differences. For more context, check our list of developed countries and list of developing countries sections for even more eye-opening insights.
Evolution of the Arab League
Grasping how the Arab League has changed over time means taking a look at its beginning, its growth, and who’s part of it now.
Formation and Expansion
The Arab League kicked off March 22, 1945, in Cairo. Its main idea? Get together to work better on stuff like culture, economics, and politics. It started with seven countries in the club: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (which we know today as Jordan), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and North Yemen (Wikipedia).
As time rolled on, the club got bigger, now standing at 22 countries. This growth mainly came from adding countries around North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. The move showed the League’s widening reach in the Arab-speaking regions.
Current Member Composition
Today’s Arab League is a colorful mix of 22 nations, each bringing their own flair in terms of culture, languages, and economics. Here’s who’s in the League nowadays:
| Country | Population (2022) | Literacy Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 43.85 million | 80% |
| Bahrain | 1.5 million | 96.1% |
| Comoros | 907,000 | 77.8% |
| Djibouti | 988,000 | 70% |
| Egypt | 106 million | 71.2% |
| Iraq | 40.22 million | 85% |
| Jordan | 10.2 million | 98% |
| Kuwait | 4.27 million | 96% |
| Lebanon | 6.77 million | 93% |
| Libya | 6.69 million | 91% |
| Mauritania | 4.65 million | 52% |
| Morocco | 36.9 million | 73% |
| Oman | 4.97 million | 95.7% |
| Palestine | 5.1 million | 96.2% |
| Qatar | 2.88 million | 97.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | 34.81 million | 95% |
| Somalia | 16.36 million | 37.8% |
| Sudan | 43.85 million | 60.7% |
| Syria | 17.5 million | 81% |
| Tunisia | 11.82 million | 80.9% |
| UAE | 9.89 million | 93% |
| Yemen | 30 million | 54.1% |
For more on population size and detailed geography, have a peek at our list of african countries.
Spreading out over a whopping 5 million square miles (13 million square kilometers), the Arab League’s member countries cover a lot of ground! With differences in populations and literacy levels, they all still team up, making a big impact in the region. Wanna know more? Check out the list of countries by population density and list of countries by area.
Arab League and Political Standpoints
Dive into the Arab League—the big player in regional politics keeping its members in harmony. Let’s chat about some key moves they’ve made and that big sports show they put on, the Pan-Arab Games.
Arab League Resolutions
Coming together on March 22, 1945, in Cairo, the Arab League started with seven buddies. Now they’ve got 22 folks in the club (Wikipedia). They’re like the region’s go-to for pushing through some important decisions on political, social, and dough-related matters. Check out some memorable calls they’ve made:
- Thumbs Down to Israeli Moves: The League has often said ‘nah’ to Israel’s maneuvers, like in 2019, when they called out Benjamin Netanyahu’s idea to snag the Jordan Valley (Wikipedia).
- Rooting for Palestine: Always got Palestine’s back, fighting for their rights and backing their dream of statehood.
- Money Moves – Sanctions: When one of their own steps out of line, the League isn’t shy about slapping on some economic sanctions for some much-needed accountability.
- Mediating Mayhem: They’re a bit of a peacemaker too, getting their hands dirty trying to calm down spots like the Lebanese civil war or Yemen’s troubles.
These resolutions show how the League members stand together, keeping the neighbors in check while tackling sticky situations.
Pan-Arab Games
Flashy sports and unity are what you get at the Pan-Arab Games. Started in 1953 in Alexandria, Egypt, it’s a gathering of all the Arab athletes, boosting bonds through games (Wikipedia).
| Year | Host Country | Number of Participating Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Egypt | 9 |
| 1957 | Lebanon | 10 |
| 1961 | Morocco | 12 |
| 1985 | Morocco | 17 |
| 1992 | Syria | 18 |
| 1997 | Lebanon | 20 |
| 2004 | Algeria | 22 |
| 2011 | Qatar | 21 |
What’s cool about the Pan-Arab Games:
- Loads of Sports: From running tracks to getting splashed in swimming pools or wrestling and soccer, it’s all there.
- Cultures Mingle: Beyond sports, it’s a chance for everyone to share some cultural vibes—breaking bread, swapping stories, and finding common ground.
- Young Blood: They’re all about getting the young guns involved, spotting fresh talent, and sparking dreams of future champions.
Want more dish on who’s in the mix? Hit up the list of Arab countries for a deep dive.
Through all these moves and shows, the Arab League is weaving stronger bonds while sorting out some shared hiccups. Get the scoop on how they shake up the economic status of member countries to see their wider sway.
Demographics of Arab Countries
The demographics of Arab countries open a window into a vibrant region, showcasing an array of people and languages that shape its distinct identity.
Total Population Figures
By 2022, the 22 nations of the Arab League collectively boasted over 453 million folks scattered across more than 5 million square miles (equivalent to 13 million km²). Egypt leads the pack with a jaw-dropping crowd of over 106 million, making it the most crowded Arab nation. At the other end, Comoros chills out with just about 907,000 residents, snagging the title of least populated.
| Country | Population (2022) | Area (km²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 106,000,000+ | 1,002,450 | 387,048 |
| Comoros | 907,000 | 1,861 | 718 |
| Saudi Arabia | 35,000,000+ | 2,149,690 | 830,000 |
| Iraq | 42,000,000+ | 438,317 | 169,235 |
| Sudan | 43,000,000+ | 1,886,068 | 728,215 |
| Morocco | 36,000,000+ | 710,850 | 274,461 |
Linguistic Diversity
Arabic reigns supreme across Arab lands, acting as a kind of cultural glue. But peel back a layer and you’ll find a tapestry of dialects and secondary tongues, speaking volumes about the area’s rich history.
- Classical Arabic: Found in sacred scripts and old-school literature.
- Modern Standard Arabic: What’s spoken from the media podium—politics, papers, and classrooms.
- Dialects: A chorus of local talk, from Egyptian and Levantine to Gulf and Maghrebi Arabic.
But wait, there’s more. Thanks to bygone colonial chapters, languages like French in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and English in Egypt and the Gulf, have slid into the mix. This multilingual setup spices up the cultural stew in ways that keep the region forever interesting.
If you wanna dig deeper into all things demographics and culture of the Arab world, don’t skip out on checking our pieces on population density and GDP rankings.
The people numbers and wordplay in Arab countries actually help paint a picture of how age-old customs dance with today’s trends.
Notable Architectural Wonders
The Arab world hosts some jaw-dropping structures that highlight its diverse culture and bold visions for the future. Rising to the top of this skyscraper shoot-out are the Jeddah Tower Project in Saudi Arabia and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
Jeddah Tower Project
Plunked down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Tower, initially known as the Kingdom Tower, aims to touch the skies. With plans to outshine the Burj Khalifa in height, this skyscraper is a testament to the ambitions brewing in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom Holding Company’s head honcho, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, is leading this daring venture.
Yet, the road hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Construction hit the brakes in January 2018 over some contract-related hiccups following a significant government clampdown between 2017 and 2019. As of September 2023, they’re chatting with major construction companies to get those cranes swinging again (Wikipedia).
The price tag for this sky-bound ambition? A hefty $20 billion, which also includes the broader Jeddah Economic City plans. This monumental task is supposed to wrap up within the next decade (Wikipedia).
| Project Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Estimated Cost | $20 billion |
| Height | Skyscraping over 1,000 meters |
| Status | On pause, with hopes to resume soon |
Burj Khalifa in Dubai
The Burj Khalifa proudly stands in Dubai, UAE, holding the crown as the world’s tallest completed building so far. Sharing its name with the former UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this towering giant boasts Dubai’s leap into the global league of extraordinary skylines (Wikipedia).
But it’s not just tall; it’s impressive in design too, breaking records with style. Backed by government funds during the economic downturn, its name was switched from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa in a nod to that support (Wikipedia).
| Building Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Dubai, UAE |
| Height | 828 meters |
| Completion Date | 2010 |
| Named After | Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Curious about the financial powerhouses in the Arab League? Check out our page on the list of countries by GDP. Feeling adventurous? Browse our list of African countries or find out who’s who in our list of European countries.
Characteristics of Arab Countries
Land Area Variability
The Arab World shows quite a mix when it comes to land size among its nations. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Arabian Sea, the region boasts everything from vast deserts to lush valleys (Wikipedia). This range in size is a key feature that makes these countries stand out.
| Country | Land Area (sq km) |
|---|---|
| Algeria | 2,381,741 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 |
| Sudan | 1,861,484 |
| Libya | 1,759,541 |
| Egypt | 1,002,450 |
| Somalia | 637,657 |
| Iraq | 438,317 |
| Morocco | 446,550 |
| Comoros | 2,235 |
Algeria tops the list as the biggest Arab nation, covering a whopping 2.3 million square kilometers. In contrast, little Comoros covers just about 2,235 square kilometers. These size differences shape everything from how people are spread out to how they earn a living and manage resources.
Language and Religion Integration
Language and religion are big connectors in the Arab World, acting like the glue that holds things together culturally and socially. Arabic reigns supreme as the main language, although there’s a flavorful mix of dialects all across these countries. This common tongue makes chatting and sharing culture a breeze between the nations.
Religiously, Islam takes center stage, with most people being Sunni Muslims, though there are significant Shia communities scattered about. The shared religious life and beliefs make the ties between Arab countries even stronger (Wikipedia).
That said, there’s no shortage of variety in language and faith:
- Mauritania struggles with a literacy rate below 50%, while Bahrain, Palestine, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan proudly boast more than 95% literacy.
- A gap in literacy between genders persists, with about two-thirds of the illiterate population being women, and only 69 literate women for every 100 literate men.
To see how these traits stack up against others, check out stats from the list of African countries, list of European countries, and list of Asian countries.
Internal links:
- list of african countries
- list of european countries
- list of asian countries
- list of eu countries
- list of nato countries
- list of countries by gdp
- list of third world countries
- list of caribbean countries
- list of countries in europe
Economic Picture in the Arab Lands
Saudi Arabia’s Financial Might
Saudi Arabia’s got the reputation of being the big cheese in the Arab world, at least economically speaking. Thanks to its immense oil reserves and production capabilities, it has a major say in how things run around here. But oil ain’t the only trick up their sleeve. They’ve smartly spread out their investments into tourism, real estate, and entertainment.
| Country | GDP Estimate ($ Trillion) | GDP Per Capita ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 0.8 | 23,339 |
With their Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s all set to shift gears from oil dependency and give public services a boost while building a well-rounded economy. They’re going big with projects like NEOM City, which promises renewable energy and a peek into cities of the future.
Gaps Between Rich and Poor
The Arab world is like a tale of two cities when it comes to wealth. On one hand, you’ve got Qatar, swimming in riches with high GDP per capita.
| Country | GDP Per Capita ($) |
|---|---|
| Qatar | 60,804 |
| United Arab Emirates | 43,005 |
| Kuwait | 32,614 |
| Bahrain | 23,654 |
| Mauritania | 1,280 |
| Sudan | 720 |
| Yemen | 600 |
Then there’s Yemen and Sudan, struggling with way lower figures owing to shaky governance, uneven natural resource spread, and politics not playing nice.
Back in 2011, the whole Arab gang was rounding up a GDP of around $2.8 trillion (Wikipedia). They pull in a sizable chunk of the broader Muslim world’s GDP and trade, making them key players in global economics.
This rich-poor divide calls for a bit of teamwork, investing in areas that could help bring in some balance. You can check out more on how countries stack up economically in our country economic status list.
Getting to grips with these financial shifts gives you a front-row seat to the diversity found in our Arab countries list. For a deeper dive into Africa’s role in the Arab mix, peek at our African countries list.
North Africa in the Arab Context
Where the Sands Meet the Seas
North Africa’s got it all—sprawling deserts, picturesque coastlines, and a few surprises in between. This northern slice of the African continent stretches out to meet the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You’ve got big players like Algeria holding vast territories while little Chad stays landlocked, waving hello from its sandy corner. Yes, it’s a mix and match of the biggest sandboxes to borders that reach out to crystal-blue waters. And that keeps things interesting both culturally and environmentally.
Money Talks in Arab North Africa
When it comes to cash and clout, Arab North Africa pulls its weight in more ways than one. The World Bank says the Arab World, North Africa included, chipped in a cool $2.85 trillion GDP with a bustling crowd of 456 million folks in 2021. The economies here, well, they’re on the up and up. These lands churn out oil, gas, and goods from ground to market.
| Country | Population (2022) | GDP (USD Trillions, 2021) | Top Export |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 44.18 million | 0.16 | Oil and Gas |
| Sudan | 44.91 million | 0.03 | Agricultural Products |
| Egypt | 106 million | 0.35 | Textiles, Oil and Gas |
| Morocco | 37.34 million | 0.13 | Phosphates, Cars |
| Tunisia | 12.1 million | 0.05 | Olive Oil, Textiles |
Data Source: Wikipedia and World Population Review
Peeking into North African economies is like checking out a global snapshot. The hustle and bustle here account for a hefty slice of the Arab World’s money pie, two-fifths of GDP and more than half of the trade from the Muslim world. Now that’s a hefty workload! But don’t let those numbers fool you, not every country in North Africa rolls in riches. Some are soaring high; others are still trying to steady their economic feet.
Arab North Africa stands tall and mighty when it comes to its economic role in both Africa and among Arab nations. Craving more details on who’s raking in the bucks and who’s still hustling? Check out the list of countrys economic status.