ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Demographics of the Middle East and North Africa

Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is a region on the other side of the world where many people live. Just like how you have a lot of friends in your class or neighborhood, MENA has a lot of countries with different types of people. Think of it like a big school with many classrooms, but instead of classrooms, we have countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt.

Now, every person is unique, but people in different countries share some similarities, which can help us understand who they are. One way to learn about people is by looking at their demographics. That is like knowing their favorite food, games, music and more.

Demographics are some facts and numbers that can tell us about people, like how many people live in a country or the type of job they have. Let's talk about some demographics of MENA countries.

Firstly, people there speak different languages. Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Kurdish are the most common ones. Just like how you like speaking with your friends who speak the same language as you, people in MENA countries like speaking in their language too.

Secondly, people follow different religions, just like you might celebrate Christmas, and your friend might celebrate Hanukkah. People in MENA countries might follow Islam, Christianity, or Judaism. The majority of people in MENA countries are Muslims.

Thirdly, the population of some countries in MENA is growing quickly, while in some countries, it is not. For example, Egypt is more populated than Oman or Yemen. This is because in Egypt, families have more children on average than in other countries.

Finally, people in MENA countries work in different jobs. Some work in oil and gas industries, some in agriculture, and some work in the service sector like tourism, education, and healthcare.

So, these are some of the demographics, or facts and numbers, that help us understand the people who live in the Middle East and North African countries.