This is some basic information about the countries in Western Asia.
The sizes of some of the countries might surprise you, as well as the sizes of some of their economies.
The circumstances that existed in some of the countries when they became Member States of the UN is also interesting for me, and the autonomous regions and number of break-away regions are too.
The countries are listed by area, from the smallest to the largest.
Bahrain
Area: 760 sq. km (293 sq. miles)
Population: 1,234,571 (2010)
Became independent: August 15, 1971
Became a Member State of the UN: September 21, 1971
GDP 2010 USD: 22,656,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 32%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 1.5%
Palestine
Area: 6,220 sq. km (2,401 sq. miles)
Includes:
- The Gaza Strip - 360 sq. km
- The West Bank - 5,860 sq. km
Population (2010): 4,108,631
Includes:
- The Gaza Strip - 1,561,906
- The West Bank - 2,546,725
Declared independence: November 15, 1988
Granted Observer Status at the UN: November 22, 1974
GDP 2009 USD: 6,763,600,000
Includes:
- The West Bank - 5,327,300,000 (the parts of Jerusalem annexed by Israel
in 1967 not included)
- The Gaza Strip - 1,436,300,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: ~11% (World Bank estimate)
Estimated GDP Growth in 2010: 9.3%
Cyprus
Area: 9,251 sq. km (3,572 sq. miles)
Includes:
- The unrecognized Turkish-backed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - 3,355 sq. km
- The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus - 346 sq. km
- The United Kingdom’s Eastern Sovereign Base Area (Dhekelia) - 131 sq. km
- The United Kingdom’s Western Sovereign Base Area (Akrotiri) - 123 sq. km
Population: 1,149,503
Includes:
- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - 294,906
- The UK’s Sovereign Base Areas - 15,700 (7,700 Cypriots, 3,600 Service and UK-based
contract personnel, and 4,400 dependents)
Became independent: August 16, 1960
Became a Member State of the UN: September 20, 1960
GDP 2010 USD: 23,174,000,000
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus GDP 2010 USD: 3,750,600,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 60.8%
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: ?
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: -0.3%
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: ?
Lebanon
Area: 10,452 sq. km (4,036 sq. miles)
Population: 4,010,000 (IMF estimate for 2012)
French recognition of Lebanese independence under the Mandate for Syria: November 22, 1943
French and British forces completed their withdrawal from Lebanon on December 31, 1946
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
While occupied by French and British forces
GDP 2010 USD: 39,236,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 134%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 1.5%
Qatar
Area: 11,586 sq km (4,473 sq. miles)
Population: 1,760,221
Became independent: September 3, 1971
Became a Member State of the UN: September 21, 1971
GDP 2010 USD: 127,332,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 27%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 18.7%
Kuwait
Area: 17,818 sq. km (6,879 sq. miles)
Population: 3,566,437 (2010)
Became independent: June 19, 1961
Became a Member State of the UN: May 14, 1963
GDP 2010 USD: 132,569,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 10.4%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 5.7%
Israel
Area (1949-1967): 20,770 sq. km (8,019 sq. miles)
Population: 7,836,300
Declared independence: May 14, 1948
Became a Member State of the UN: May 11, 1949
After signing armistice agreements with Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan but before signing an
armistice agreement with Syria
GDP 2010 USD: 217,445,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 77.4%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 4.8%
Armenia
Area: 29,743 sq. km (11,484 sq. miles)
Includes:
- The Artsvashen exclave located in northwestern Azerbaijan and occupied
by Azerbaijan - ~40 sq. km
Population: 3,272,200
Declared independence: August 23, 1990
Became independent on December 26, 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR
Became a Member State of the UN: March 2, 1992
While Armenia was backing the Armenian side in the Nagorno-Karabakh War in Azerbaijan
GDP 2010 USD: 11,665,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 39%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 5.5%
Georgia
Area: 69,700 sq. km (26,911 sq. miles)
Includes:
- The Autonomous Republic of Adjara - ~2,900 sq. km
- The unrecognized Russian-backed Republic of Abkhazia - 8,660 sq. km
- The unrecognized Russian-backed Republic of South Ossetia - 3,900 sq. km
Population: 4,469,200
Declared independence: April 9, 1991
Became independent on December 26, 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR
Became a Member State of the UN: July 31, 1992
While ruled by a council which had overthrown the elected government on January 6, 1992
While the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War was being fought
GDP 2010 USD: 11,665,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 39%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 5.5%
The United Arab Emirates
Area: 83,600 sq. km (32,278 sq. miles)
Population: 8,300,000 (2010)
The emirates became independent: December 1, 1971
The union was established on December 2, 1971
Became a Member State of the UN: December 9, 1971
GDP 2010 USD: 302,039,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 20.1%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 3.3%
Azerbaijan
Area: 86,600 sq. km (33,436 sq. miles)
Includes:
- The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic - 5,363 sq. km
- The unrecognized Armenian-backed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic - 11,458 sq. km
- The Yuxari Askipara and Asagi Askipara exclave located in northeastern Armenia and
occupied by Armenia - ~37 sq. km
- The Barxudarli exclave located in northeastern Armenia and occupied by Armenia - ~22 sq.
km
- The Karki exclave located in western Armenia and occupied by Armenia - ~19 sq. km
Population: 9,111,100
Declared independence: August 30, 1991
Became independent on December 26, 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR
Became a Member State of the UN: March 2, 1992
While the Nagorno-Karabakh War in western Azerbaijan was being fought
GDP 2010 USD: 43,673,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 10.8%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 0.2%
Jordan
Area: 89,342 sq. km (34,495 sq. miles)
Population: 6,275,800
Became independent under the British Mandate for Palestine: May 25, 1946
Gained more independence from Britain with the Anglo-Jordanian Treaty of 1948
which was abrogated by the Anglo-Jordanian Agreement of March 1957 - British forces
withdrew from Jordan and Jordan took control of its military the same month
Became a Member State of the UN: December 14, 1955
While occupied by British forces and while the British controlled the Jordanian military
GDP 2010 USD: 26,447,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 66.8%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 2.4%
Syria
Area: 185,180 sq. km (71,498 sq. miles)
Includes:
- Territory occupied by Israel - 1,295 sq. km
- United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone - 235 sq. km
Population: 21,479,529
Became independent: April 17, 1946
French and British forces completed their withdrawal from Syria on April 17, 1946
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
While occupied by French and British forces
GDP 2010 USD: 59,330,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 29%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: -2%
Oman
Area: 309,500 sq. km (119,498 sq. miles)
Population: 2,773,479
Dynasty founded: 1744
Became a Member State of the UN: October 7, 1971
GDP 2010 USD: 57,851,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 5.7%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 4.3%
Iraq
Area: 438,317 sq. km (169,235 sq. miles)
Population: 33,330,000
Became independent: October 3, 1932
British forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq on October 26, 1947
The current constitution was adopted on October 15, 2005
Became a Member State of the UN: December 21, 1945
While occupied by British forces
GDP 2010 USD: 81,100,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 119%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 9.6%
Yemen
Area: 527,968 sq. km (203,849 sq. miles)
Population: 24,527,000
Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen: May 22, 1990
Became a Member State of the UN: September 30, 1947
The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (North Yemen) on September 30, 1947
The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) on December 14, 1967
GDP 2010 USD: 31,315,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 40.5%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: -2.7%
Turkey
Area: 783,562 sq. km (302,535 sq. miles)
~97% in Western Asia and ~3% in Eastern Europe
Population: 74,724,269
Republic established: October 29, 1923
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
GDP 2010 USD: 735,487,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 42%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 6.6%
Egypt
Area: 1,001,450 sq. km (386,662 sq. miles)
~6% in Western Asia and ~94% in Northern Africa
Population: 81,746,253
Became independent: February 28, 1922
British forces completed their withdrawal from Egypt on December 22, 1956
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
While occupied by British forces
GDP 2010 USD: 218,465,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 73.7%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 1.2%
Iran
Area: 1,648,195 sq. km (636,372 sq. miles)
Population: 77,891,220 (U.S. State Dept. estimate for 2011)
Islamic Republic established: April 1, 1979
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
While occupied by British and Soviet forces
GDP 2010 USD: 407,382,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 11.6%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 2.5%
Saudi Arabia
Area: 2,149,690 sq. km (830,000 sq. miles)
Population: 27,136,977 (2010)
Kingdom established: September 23, 1932
Became a Member State of the UN: October 24, 1945
GDP 2010 USD: 448,360,000,000
Debt to GDP Ratio 2010: 9.9%
Estimated GDP Growth in 2011: 6.4%
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Notes:
Most of the population figures are from each country’s statistics authority.
Most of the economic data are from the IMF.