West Asia

West Asia, also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost region of Asia. As
West Asia
defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of
Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the
island of Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus.[4][5][6] The region is separated
from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, and separated from Europe by the waterways of
the Turkish Straits and the watershed of the Greater Caucasus. Central Asia lies to its northeast,
while South Asia lies to its east. Twelve seas surround the region (clockwise): the Aegean Sea,
the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the
Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gulf of Suez, and the
Mediterranean Sea. West Asia contains the majority of the similarly defined Middle East. The
Middle East is a political term that has changed many times depending on political and
historical context while West Asia is a geographical term with more consistency. It excludes
most of Egypt and the northwestern part of Turkey, and includes the southern part of the
Area 5,994,935 km2
Caucasus.
(2,314,657 sq mi)a
West Asia covers an area of 5,994,935 km2 (2,314,657 sq mi), with a population of about 313 Population 313,450,000 (2018) (9th)[1][2]
million.[1][2] Of the 20 UN member countries fully or partly within the region, 13 are part of Population 50.1/km2 (130/sq mi)
the Arab world. The most populous countries in West Asia are Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia density
and Yemen.
GDP (PPP) $9.063 trillion (2019)[3]

In the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (WGSRPD), West Asia GDP (nominal) $3.383 trillion (2019)[3]
excludes the Arabian Peninsula and includes Afghanistan.[7] The Food and Agriculture GDP per $10,793 (2019; nominal)[3]
Organization (FAO) excludes Egypt and includes Afghanistan.[8] The United Nations capita $28,918 (2019; PPP)[3]
Environment Programme excludes Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, and Iran from West Asia.[9] HDI 0.699 (medium)
Ethnic groups Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds,
Azerbaijanis, Armenians,
Definition Jews, Assyrians, Baloch, etc.

The term West Asia is used pragmatically and has no "correct" or generally accepted definition. Religions Islam, Christianity, Judaism,
Its typical definitions overlap substantially, but not entirely, with definitions of the terms Baháʼí, Druzism, Yarsanism,
Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Near East (which is historically familiar but widely Yazidism, Zoroastrianism,
deprecated today).[10] The National Geographic Style Manual as well as Maddison's The World Mandaeism, Hinduism,
Economy: Historical Statistics (2003) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Buddhism, etc.
Development (OECD) include only Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Demonym West Asian
Oman, Qatar, Palestine (called West Bank and Gaza in the latter), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Western Asian
UAE, and Yemen as West Asian countries.[11][12] By contrast, the United Nations Industrial Countries 20 recognized
Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 2015 yearbook includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia
and excludes Israel (as Other) and Turkey (as Europe).[13]
Azerbaijan (except for a
small portion of territory north
Unlike the UNIDO, the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) excludes Iran from West
of the Greater Caucasus)
Asia and includes Turkey, Georgia, and Cyprus in the region.[14] In the United Nations
geopolitical Eastern European Group, Armenia and Georgia are included in Eastern Europe, Bahrain
whereas Cyprus and East Thracian Turkey are in Southern Europe. These three nations are Cyprus
listed in the European category of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Egypt (only Sinai
Organisation (UNESCO). Peninsula)
Georgia (except for a
National members of West Asian sports governing bodies are limited to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq,
small portion of territory north
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,
of the Greater Caucasus)
and Yemen.[15][16][17] The Olympic Council of Asia's multi-sport event West Asian Games are
contested by athletes representing these 13 countries. Among the region's sports organisations Iran
are the West Asia Basketball Association, West Asian Billiards and Snooker Federation, West Iraq
Asian Football Federation, and the West Asian Tennis Federation. Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
History
Lebanon
"Western Asia" was in use as a geographical term in the early 19th century, before "Near East" Oman
became current as a geopolitical concept.[18] In the context of the history of classical antiquity, Palestine
"Western Asia" could mean the part of Asia known in classical antiquity, as opposed to the Qatar
reaches of "interior Asia", i.e. Scythia, and "Eastern Asia" the easternmost reaches of Saudi Arabia
geographical knowledge in classical authors, i.e. Transoxania and India.[19][20][21] In the 20th Syria
century, "Western Asia" was used to denote a rough geographical era in the fields of
Turkey (except Turkish
archaeology and ancient history, especially as a shorthand for "the Fertile Crescent excluding
Thrace)
Ancient Egypt" for the purposes of comparing the early civilizations of Egypt and the
United Arab Emirates
former.[22]
Yemen (except Socotra)
Use of the term in the context of contemporary geopolitics or world economy appears to date 3 unrecognized
from at least the mid-1960s.[23] Abkhazia
Northern Cyprus
South Ossetia
Geography
Dependencies Akrotiri and Dhekelia
The region is surrounded by eight major seas; the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, Languages Official languages
the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Arabic

To the northwest and north, the region is delimited from Europe by the Turkish Straits and Abkhaz
drainage divide of the Greater Caucasus, to the southwest, it is delimited from Africa by the Armenian
Isthmus of Suez, while to the northeast and east, the region adjoins Central Asia and South Azerbaijani
Asia. The region is located east of Southern Europe and south of Eastern Europe. English

The Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in eastern Iran naturally delimit the region from Georgian
Balochistan and South Asia. Greek
Hebrew

Geology Kurdish
Ossetian
Persian
Plate tectonics
Russian
Three major tectonic plates converge on West Asia, including the African, Eurasian, and
Turkish
Arabian plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the Azores-Gibraltar
Ridge, extending across North Africa, the Red Sea, and into Iran.[24] The Arabian Plate is Other languages
moving northward into the Anatolian plate (Turkey) at the East Anatolian Fault,[25] and the Afroasiatic:
boundary between the Aegean and Anatolian plate in eastern Turkey is also seismically Neo-Aramaic · Amharic ·
active.[24] South Arabian · Syriac
Austronesian:
Indonesian · Tagalog
Water resources
Indo-European:
Several major aquifers provide water to large portions of West Asia. In Saudi Arabia, two large
Balochi · Domari · French ·
aquifers of Palaeozoic and Triassic origins are located beneath the Jabal Tuwayq mountains and
Gilaki · Hindi · Luri · Bengali ·
areas west to the Red Sea.[26] Cretaceous and Eocene-origin aquifers are located beneath large
Mazanderani · Nepali · Pashto
portions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia, including Wasia and Biyadh which contain
· Rohingya · Romani · Shabaki
amounts of both fresh water and saline water.[26] Flood or furrow irrigation, as well as sprinkler
language · Spanish · Talysh ·
methods, are extensively used for irrigation, covering nearly 90,000 km2 (35,000 sq mi) across Urdu · Yiddish · Zaza
West Asia for agriculture.[27] Also, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers contribute very well.
NE Caucasian:
Avar · Chechen · Lezgian
Climate NW Caucasian:
West Asia is primarily arid and semi-arid, and can be subject to drought, but it also contains Circassian · Kabardian
vast expanses of forest and fertile valleys. The region consists of grasslands, rangelands, Turkic:
deserts, and mountains. Water shortages are a problem in many parts of West Asia, with rapidly Qashqai · Turkmen
growing populations increasing demands for water, while salinization and pollution threaten Time zones 5 time zones
water supplies.[28] Major rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates, provide sources for
UTC+02:00:
irrigation water to support agriculture.
Standard: Cyprus, Israel,
There are two wind phenomena in West Asia: the sharqi and the shamal. The sharqi (or sharki) Jordan, Lebanon,
is a wind that comes from the south and southeast. It is seasonal, lasting from April to early Palestine, Sinai, Syria

June, and comes again between late September and November. The winds are dry and dusty, UTC+03:00:
with occasional gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour) and often kick up Daylight: Cyprus, Israel,
violent sand and dust storms that can carry sand a few thousand meters high, and can close Jordan, Lebanon,
down airports for short periods of time. These winds can last for a full day at the beginning and Palestine, Syria ·
end of the season, and for several days during the middle of the season. The shamal is a Standard: Bahrain, Iraq,
Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, Yemen
UTC+03:30:
Standard: Iran
summer northwesterly wind blowing over Iraq and the Persian Gulf states (including Saudi UTC+04:00:
Arabia and Kuwait), often strong during the day, but decreasing at night. This weather effect Standard: Armenia,
occurs anywhere from once to several times a year.[29] Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Oman, UAE
UTC+04:30:
Topography
Daylight: Iran
West Asia contains large areas of mountainous terrain. The Anatolian Plateau is sandwiched
Internet TLD .ae, .am, .az, .bh, .cy, .eg, .ge,
between the Pontus Mountains and Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Mount Ararat in Turkey rises
.il, .iq, .ir, .jo, .kw, .lb, .om, .ps,
to 5,137 m (16,854 ft). The Zagros Mountains are located in Iran, in areas along its border with
.qa, .sa, .sy, .tr, .ye
Iraq. The Central Plateau of Iran is divided into two drainage basins. The northern basin is
Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert), and Dasht-e-Lut is the southern basin. Calling code Zone 9 except Armenia,
Cyprus (Zone 3) & Sinai (Zone
In Yemen, elevations exceed 3,700 m (12,100 ft) in many areas, and highland areas extend 2)
north along the Red Sea coast and north into Lebanon. A fault zone also exists along the Red Largest cities Listb
Sea, with continental rifting creating trough-like topography with areas located well below sea
Amman
level.[30] The Dead Sea, located on the border between the West Bank, Israel, and Jordan, is
Ankara
situated at 418 m (1,371 ft) below sea level, making it the lowest point on the surface of the
Earth.[31] Baghdad
Dubai
Rub' al Khali, one of the world's largest sand deserts, spans the southern third of the Arabian Istanbul
Peninsula in Saudi Arabia, parts of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Jebel al
İzmir
Akhdar is a small range of mountains located in northeastern Oman, bordering the Gulf of
Oman. Jeddah
Kuwait City
Riyadh
Demographics Tehran

The population of West Asia was estimated at 272 million as of 2008, projected to reach 370 UN M49 code 145 – West Asia

million by 2030 by Maddison (2007; the estimate excludes the Caucasus and Cyprus). This 142 – Asia
corresponds to an annual growth rate of 1.4% (or a doubling time of 50 years), well above the 001 – World
world average of 0.9% (doubling time 75 years). The population of West Asia is estimated at a
Area and population figures include the Sinai
4% of world population, up from about 39 million at the beginning of the 20th century, or b
Among the top 100 urban areas of the world
about 2% of world population at the time.[32] by population

The most populous countries in the region are Turkey and Iran, each with around 79 million people,
followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia with around 33 million people each, and Yemen with around 29
million people.

Numerically, West Asia is predominantly Arab, Persian, Turkish, and the dominating languages are
correspondingly Arabic, Persian and Turkish, each with of the order of 70 million speakers, followed by
smaller communities of Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Hebrew, Armenian and Neo-Aramaic. The dominance of
Arabic and Turkish is the result of the medieval Arab and Turkic invasions beginning with the Islamic
conquests of the 7th century AD, which displaced the formerly dominant Aramaic in the region of
Syria, and Greek in Anatolia, although Hebrew became the dominant language in Israel in the second A Lebanese Cedar Forest in winter
half of the 20th century, and Neo-Aramaic (spoken by modern Arameans, Assyrians, and Chaldeans)
and Greek both remain present in their respective territories as minority languages.

Significant native minorities include, in alphabetical order: Arameans, Assyrians,[33] Chaldeans,[34]

Druze,[35] Jews, Lurs, Mandeans, Maronites, Shabaks and Yezidis.

Religion
Four major religious groups (i.e. the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam, plus
Judaism and Druze faith) originated in West Asia.[37][38][39] Islam is the largest religion in West Asia,
but other faiths that originated there, such as Judaism and Christianity,[40] are also well represented.

In Armenia and Georgia, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy respectively are the predominant
religions,[41] and there are still different ancient communities of Eastern Christians in Azerbaijan.[41]
There are still large ancient communities of Eastern Christians (such as Assyrians, Middle Eastern
Christians and Arab Christians) in Lebanon,[41] Iraq,[41] Iran,[42] Turkey,[43][41] Syria,[41] Jordan,[41] Köppen climate classification map of
Israel and Palestine numbering more than 3 million in West Asia.[41] There are also large populations of West Asia
expatriate workers which include sizeable Christian communities living in the Arabian Peninsula
numbering more than 3 million.[44] Christian communities have played a vital role in West Asia.[45]
Judaism is the predominant religion in Israel, and there are small ancient Jewish communities in West Asia
such as in Turkey (14,300),[46] Azerbaijan (9,100),[47] and Iran (8,756).[48]

The Druze Faith or Druzism originated in West Asia. It is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of
figures like Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad and Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah and Greek philosophers such as Plato
and Aristotle. The number of Druze people worldwide is around one million, with about 45% to 50% living in
Syria, 35% to 40% living in Lebanon, and less than 10% living in Israel; recently there has been a growing
Druze diaspora.[49]

There are also important minority religions like the Baháʼí Faith, Yarsanism, Yazidism,[50] Zoroastrianism,
Mandaeism, and Shabakism.
Religion in West Asia
Religions in West Asia (2020)[36]

Islam (92.59%)
Christianity (3.87%)
Judaism (2.02%)
No religion (1.16%)
Hinduism (0.32%)
Other religions (0.25%)
Buddhism (0.15%)

Pilgrims in the annual Hajj Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Monastery of Saint Folk religions (0.06%)
at the Kaaba in Mecca. first cathedral in the world, Anthony of Qozhaya in
the mother church of all Lebanon.
Armenians

Cathedral of Saint Elijah, Jews praying at the Druze dignitaries Yazidi pilgrims celebrating
Aleppo. Western Wall. celebrating the Ziyarat al- the Yazidi new year
Nabi Shu'ayb festival at festival at the ancient holy
the tomb of the prophet in temple of Lalish, Iraq
Hittin

Economy
The economy of West Asia is diverse and the region experiences high economic growth. Turkey has the largest economy in the region, followed
by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Petroleum is the major industry in the regional economy, as more than half of the world's oil reserves and around 40
percent of the world's natural gas reserves are located in the region.

Statistical data

Density Nominal Per

Country, with Area Population[51][52] Official
(per Capital GDP[53] capita[54] Currency Government
flag (km2) (2021) languages
km2) (2012) (2012)
Anatolia:

$788.042 Presidential
783,562 84,775,404 94.1 Ankara $10,523 Turkish lira Turkish
Turkey[note 1] billion republic

Arabian Peninsula:
$30.355 Bahraini Constitutional
Bahrain 780 1,463,265 1,646.1 Manama $26,368 Arabic
billion dinar monarchy

$184.540 Kuwaiti Constitutional

Kuwait 17,820 4,250,114 167.5 Kuwait City $48,761 Arabic
billion dinar monarchy
$78.290 Absolute
Oman 212,460 4,520,471 9.2 Muscat $25,356 Omani rial Arabic
billion monarchy

$192.402 Absolute
Qatar 11,437 2,688,235 123.2 Doha $104,756 Qatari riyal Arabic
billion monarchy
Saudi $733.956 Absolute
2,149,690 35,950,396 12 Riyadh $25,139 Saudi riyal Arabic
Arabia billion monarchy

Federal
United $383.799 UAE
82,880 9,365,145 97 Abu Dhabi $43,774 constitutional Arabic
Arab Emirates billion dirham
monarchy
Sana'a
(Houthi-led
Provisional
government) $35.05
Yemen 527,970 32,981,641 44.7 $1,354 Yemeni rial presidential Arabic
Aden (Seat billion
republic
of
government)

South Caucasus:
Semi-
Abkhazia $500 Georgian Abkhaz
8,660 242,862 28 Sukhumi N/A presidential
(unrecognized) million lari Russian
republic

Semi-
$9.950 Armenian
Armenia 29,800 2,790,974 108.4 Yerevan $3,033 presidential Armenian
billion dram
republic
$68.700 Azerbaijani Presidential
Azerbaijan 86,600 10,312,992 105.8 Baku $7,439 Azerbaijani
billion manat republic

Semi-
Georgia $15.847 Georgian
69,700 3,757,980 68.1 Tbilisi $3,523 presidential Georgian
billion lari
republic
South Semi-
$500 Georgian Ossetian
Ossetia 3,900 53,532 13 Tskhinvali N/A presidential
million lari Russian
(unrecognized) republic

Fertile Crescent:
$216.044 Parliamentary Arabic
Iraq 438,317 43,533,592 73.5 Baghdad $6,410 Iraqi dinar
billion republic Kurdish

$353.65 Israeli new Parliamentary

Israel 20,770 8,900,059 365.3 Jerusalem1 $39,106 Hebrew
billion shekel republic
$30.98 Jordanian Constitutional
Jordan 92,300 11,148,278 68.4 Amman $4,843 Arabic
billion dinar monarchy

Lebanon $42.519 Lebanese Parliamentary

10,452 5,592,631 404 Beirut $10,425 Arabic
billion pound republic
Egyptian
pound,
Semi-
$6.6 Jordanian
6,220 5,133,392 667 Ramallah2 $1,600 presidential Arabic
Palestine[note 2] billion dinar,
republic
Israeli new
shekel
 Syrian Presidential
Syria 185,180 21,324,367 118.3 Damascus N/A N/A Arabic
pound republic

Iranian Plateau:
$548.590 Islamic
Iran 1,648,195 87,923,432 45 Tehran $7,207 Iranian rial Persian
billion republic

Mediterranean Sea:
Stratocratic
Akrotiri and dependency
254 15,700 N/A Episkopi N/A N/A Euro under a English
Dhekelia3 constitutional
monarchy

Cyprus $22.995 Presidential Greek

9,250 1,244,188 117 Nicosia $26,377 Euro
billion republic Turkish
Northern Semi-
North $4.032
Cyprus 3,355 313,626 93 $15,109 Turkish lira presidential Turkish
Nicosia billion
(unrecognized) republic
Sinai Peninsula:

$262.26 Egyptian Presidential

60,000 109,262,178 82 Cairo $3,179 Arabic
Egypt[note 3] billion pound republic

Notes:
1
Ramallah is the actual location of the government, whereas the proclaimed capital of Palestine is Jerusalem, which is disputed.[note 4]
2
Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital of Israel and the actual location of the Knesset, Israeli Supreme Court, etc. Due to its disputed status, most embassies are in Tel
Aviv.[note 4]
3
British Overseas Territory

Sports
The West Asian Tennis Federation regulates the championships and leagues in the region.
The West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation regulates the championships related to billiards and snooker, amongst which an
annual tournament.
The West Asian Games have been held in 1997, 2002 and 2005.
The West Asian Football Federation was founded in 2001 and is one of the regional federations of the Asian Football Federation.
They organize the WAFF Championship.
 The West Asia Basketball Association organizes the WABA Championship since 1999.

Map

EUROPE
Sea of Azov
Aral Sea
Black Sea
Georgia Caspian Sea
[Link]
Turkey (Az.)
ASIA
Aegean Sea

Cyprus Syria
Mediterranean Sea Leb. Iraq
Isr. Iran
[Link].
Jordan
Kuwait

Egypt Persian Gulf

Bah.
Qatar
Saudi Arabia Gulf of Oman
UAE

Red Sea Oman

AFRICA

Yemen Arabian Sea

Gulf of Aden

See also
Middle East
Cinema of West Asia
List of World Heritage Sites in Western Asia
West Asian Games
West Asian Basketball League
West Asia Basketball Association
West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation
West Asian Tennis Federation
West Asian Football Federation

References

Notes
1. The figures for Turkey includes East Thrace, which is not a part of Anatolia.
2. UN observer state.
3. The area and population figures for Egypt only include the Sinai Peninsula.
4. Jerusalem is Israel's de jure capital under Israeli law, as well as its de facto capital by the location of the presidential residence,
government offices, supreme court and parliament (Knesset). Jerusalem is the State of Palestine's de jure capital under its "2003
Amended Basic Law" ([Link] 17 February 2008, but not its de
facto capital as its government branches are based in Ramallah. The UN and most sovereign states do not recognize Jerusalem
as either state's de jure capital under the position that Jerusalem's status is pending future negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. In practice, therefore, most maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv and its suburbs, or else in suburbs such as
Mevaseret Zion outside Jerusalem proper. See CIA Factbook ([Link] "Map of
Israel" ([Link] (PDF) and Status of Jerusalem for more information.

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Further reading

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