SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia has approximately has 25 million people. The life
expectancy average in Saudi Arabia is about 70 years old for males and
74 years old for females. The majority of the population is literate with a
percentage of 84 for males and 67 percent for females. Of the 25 million
people the official religion of Saudi Arabia is Islam. About 85–90% of
Saudis are Sunni, while Shi’ites represent around 10–15% of the Muslim
population. Since Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocracy, there is no
protection on the rights of minorities to practice freedom of religion.
Non-Muslim propagation is banned, and conversion from Islam to
another religion is punishable by death.
The country has the two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. This city holds about 7 million
people. Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest sand deserts in the
world; the Rub Al Khali (empty equator) located in the south eastern
part of Saudi Arabia
TURKEY
Turkey is a westernized country in the Middle East that has a
population of 75.6 million people. Turkey's location is at the crossroads
of Europe and Asia, making it a country of significant geostrategic
importance. Given its strategic location, large economy and military
strength, Turkey is a major regional power. This ties into why Turkey is
considered to be westernized. They are also seen as westernized because
of their clothing, and democratic government style. Turkey is still
dominated by the Islamic religion. The most common language is
Turkish. The life expectancy for the people in Turkey is 69 years old for
men and 74 for women. The literacy average for men is 94% and 77%
for women.
Turkey is generally a mountainous country including the Taurus
Mountains in southern Turkey. The Taurus Mountains help the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers because of the snowcapped peaks melting down.
Also, in some areas can be diverse ranging from steppe to highland. The
largest city in Turkey is Istanbul, but Ankara is the capital.
SYRIA
Syria is an exception the majority rule theory. Out of the
20.5 million people living in Syria 90% are Muslim and the
remaining 10% is Christian. Out of the 90% of Muslims 75% are
Sunni Muslim and the Shi’ites, the minority, have rule over the
county. The life expectancy on average in Syria is 71 years old
for males and 75 years old for females. The men have a higher
literacy rate with 88% compared to the women’s 60%.
Damascus, in the southwest is Syria’s capital, with a
population of 2.5 million people. The climate in Syria is dry and
hot, and winters are mild. Although their winters are mild snow
fall does happen occasionally because of its high altitude. The
Syrian Desert is located at the southern part of Syria and in the
northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
ISRAEL
Israel was created and gained independence in 1948. It was created
as a homeland for Jewish people. Israel is about the size of New Jersey
and holds a population of 7.4 million people. The dominant religion in
Israel is Judaism with 76.4% of the population. The literacy rate is
extremely high for both men and women. Men are at 98% and women
with 94%. Israel is considered one of the most advanced countries in
Southwest Asia in economic and industrial development. Since they are
considered to be more of an advanced country the medical care they
receive is better than most of the countries in the Middle East. The life
expectancy for males averages at 78 and 82 for women.
The Capital of Israel, Jerusalem, is very controversial because all
three religions; Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all claim a stake to
Jerusalem or the “Holy Land”. Jerusalem is the birthplace of three of the
world’s major religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Conflict has
plagued this area for hundreds of years.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan has a population of 32.7 million people.
Islam is the main religion of Afghanistan and over 99% of
Afghans are Muslims. Approximately 80-89% of the population
practice Sunni Islam, while the remaining 10-19%
practices Shi'ite Islam.
Afghanistan is an impoverished and least developed
country, one of the world’s poorest due to the decades of war
and nearly complete lack of foreign investment. Due to these
economic problems their life expectancy average and literacy
rate are drastically low. The life expectancy for males is 41
years old and 42 years old for females. The literacy rate is 51%
for males and women at a very low 21%.
IRAN
Iran is one of the world's most mountainous countries, its
landscape dominated by rugged mountain ranges that separate
various basins or plateaus from one another. The populous western part
is the most mountainous, with ranges such as
the Caucasus, Zagros and Alborz Mountains.
Iran has a high population of approximately 72 million people. The
life expectancy for men is 69 years old and women average at about 72
years old. Out of the 72 million Iranians majority are Muslim. Around
89% belong to Shi'ite branch of Islam, the official state religion, and
about 9% belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. Unlike other Middle
Eastern countries Iran does acknowledge women’s rights. The literacy
rate for men is 84 % and 70% for women.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan was formed in 1947. Pakistan is a rapidly developing
country. Pakistan has a high potential of becoming the world's largest
economies in the 21st century. The economy is semi-industrialized.
Pakistan’s economy does not reflect the majority of the average person.
The average literacy rate for men in Pakistan is at 58% and 28% for
women. The life expectancy is average with 61 years old for men and 63
years old for women. Pakistan has an extremely high population of
173.9 million people. The state religion in Pakistan is Islam, which is
practiced by about 95-98% of the population.
The capitol of Pakistan is Islamabad. Islamabad is located near the
Hindu Kush Mountain range. Osama Bin Laden was hiding in the
Hindu Kush mountain range and eventually was found in the countries
capital.
IRAQ
Iraq is home to approximately 31.2 million people. Of
those 31.2 million people 75% are Arab and 25% Kurd. The
dominant religion is Islam with a mix of both Sunni and Shi’ite
Muslims. The life expectancy in Iran is below average with men
at 57 years old and women averaging at 60 years old. The
literacy rate for males is 71% and females have a 45%
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. Baghdad’s population is
approximately 7 million people, making it the largest city in
Iraq, the second largest city in the Arab World (after Cairo,
Egypt), and the second largest city in Western Asia
(after Tehran, Iran). The largest mountain range stretching from
Western Iran to North Iraq is the Zaggros Mountains.
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1. Why is Israel’s capital such a controversial topic?
2. Explain Saudi Arabia’s government?
3. How does Turkey being part of the Europe and Asia continent make Turkey
a more westernized country?
4. How does Afghanistan being an impoverished country lead to the country
having a low average life expectancy and a low average literacy rate?