Marriage Patterns in Palestine
This research paper outlines policies that should be geared toward discouraging early marriage in Palestine. Although most countries in the Middle East and North Africa are experiencing an increase in the age at marriage, early marriage in Palestine continues to be relatively high. The survey of 26 women was conducted by Yara Jarallah, a research and teaching assistant at the Institute of Community and Public Health of Birzeit University, Palestine. This paper was published as part of PRB's MENA Working Paper Series (October 2008)

Africa Faces Mixed Progress, Daunting Challenges, in Improving Population Well-Being
Fertility has declined in many African countries from highs of six or seven children per woman down to about five children on average. But although African women use family planning more and bear fewer children, the continent's youthful population will fuel the continent's growth for many decades to come. Africa's 2008 population of 967 million is projected to grow to 1.9 billion by 2050, according to the 2008 Africa Population Data Sheet, published by the Population Reference Bureau and the African Population and Health Research Center. (October 2008)

Unintended Pregnancies Remain High in Jordan
This research paper intends to help policymakers and program managers in Jordan understand the extent and nature of unintended pregnancies and their implications for women and their families. The analysis was done by Rozzet Jurdi, a Ph.D. candidate in social demography at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. This paper was published as part of PRB's MENA Working Paper Series (September 2008)

Abortion in the Middle East and North Africa
Unsafe abortion is one of the most neglected public health challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where an estimated one in four pregnancies are unintended—wanting to have a child later or wanting no more children. Many women with unintended pregnancies resort to clandestine abortions that are not safe. According to the World Health Organization, around 1.5 million abortions in MENA in 2003 were performed in unsanitary settings, by unskilled providers, or both. Complications from those abortions accounted for 11 percent of maternal deaths in the region. This PRB policy brief explores the public health concerns surrounding abortion in MENA and discusses ways to make it both rarer and safer. (September 2008)

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting poses serious physical and mental health risks for women and young girls, especially for women who have undergone extreme forms of the procedure. According to a Population Reference Bureau data sheet, an estimated 100 million to 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting and more than 3 million girls are at risk for cutting each year on the African continent alone. (September 2008)

2008 World Population Data Sheet Webcast
PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet was released at a press briefing at the National Press Club, in Washington, DC, on Aug. 19, 2008. This year's theme: "Global Demographic Divide Widens." (August 2008)

2008 World Population Data Sheet

  PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet contains the latest population estimates, projections, and other key indicators for more than 200 countries, including births, deaths, natural increase, infant mortality, life expectancy, urban population, HIV/AIDS prevalence, contraceptive use, GNI PPP per capita, and population per square kilometer. New for the 2008 Data Sheet are data on percent of population in urban areas of 750,000 or more; lifetime risk of maternal death; percent of population undernourished; number of vehicles per 1,000 population; and percent of population with access to an improved drinking water source. (August 2008) 

World Population Highlights: Key Findings From PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet (PDF: 854KB)

 This Population Bulletin is the companion report to PRB's 2008 World Population Data Sheet. The Bulletin highlights key findings from the data sheet on: world population trends, nutrition, environment, HIV/AIDS, urbanization, and migration. (BUL63.3, September 2008)

Advancing Research to Inform Reproductive Health Policies in the Middle East and North Africa
This policy brief discusses current research needs in the MENA region, drawing in part from a 2007 report produced by the Global Health Forum for Health Research and the World Health Organization, Research Issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Low- and Middle-Income Countries. It also presents a framework that illustrates how scientific evidence can be used in the policymaking process to change policies and improve programs that will ultimately improve people's sexual and reproductive health. (July 2008)

PRB Discuss Online: "The Middle East Youth Bulge: Causes and Consequences"
Recent demographic trends have created a youth bulge in the Middle East and North Africa, with nearly one in every five people age 15 to 24. Despite its oil wealth and improved health and education systems, the region's political, social, and economic systems still do not meet the needs of this rapidly growing young population. What are the prospects for young people in this region? Are young men putting off marriage because of limited job opportunities? Ragui Assaad, regional director for West Asia and North Africa at the Population Council, answered participants questions on this topic. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (May 2008)