Unintended Pregnancies in the Middle East and North Africa
Unintended pregnancies are widespread in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and are a burden on women's health and their families, as well as on countries' health systems and social and economic development. The UN estimates that the number of women of reproductive age in the MENA region will exceed 120 million in 2010, with more than half between the ages of 15 and 29. A new analysis presented at the IUSSP Conference in Marrakech shows that unintended pregnancies in the MENA region are widespread across countries and across different socioeconomic groups within countries. (November 2009)

The Fight Against 'Honor Killings': Interview With Investigative Journalist Rana Husseini
It is estimated that 5,000 women worldwide are killed every year in so-called "honor killings"—committed by a woman's relatives in order to cleanse the family of acts the woman has engaged in that they consider "immoral." In this interview, journalist Rana Husseni describes her investigation of this practice, the varied countries and cultures in which honor killings take place, and what types of policy and grassroots efforts are needed to address this abuse. (November 2009)

2009 World Population Data Sheet Webcast: As World Population Approaches 7 Billion, the Youth Population Is More and More Concentrated in Africa and Asia
PRB's 2009 World Population Data Sheet was released at a press briefing at the National Press Club, in Washington, DC, on Aug. 12, 2009. This year's theme is children and youth. (August 2009)

2009 World Population Data Sheet
 Global population numbers are on track to reach 7 billion in 2011, just 12 years after reaching 6 billion in 1999. Virtually all of the growth is in developing countries. And the growth of the world’s youth population (ages 15 to 24) is shifting into the poorest of those countries. The Population Reference Bureau's 2009 World Population Data Sheet and its summary report offer detailed information about country, regional, and global population patterns. (August 2009)

World Population Highlights: Key Findings From PRB's 2009 World Population Data Sheet
Population change will shape the prospects of regions and countries over the next half century. Future population growth will be almost entirely in the developing world, with the fastest growth in the poorest countries and regions. This Population Bulletin is a companion to PRB's 2009 World Population Data Sheet and provides data and analysis on world population trends, youth, gender, and the environment. (August 2009)

Youth, Women's Rights, and Political Change in Iran
Recent political developments in Iran highlight the country's demographic and social shifts over the past 20 years. One in three Iranians is between the ages of 15 and 29. Furthermore, 60 percent of the Iranian population is under 30, born around the 1979 Islamic revolution or after. This youth bulge, along with changes in women's fertility and reproductive health, provide a backdrop for understanding Iran's current political instability. (July 2009)

Egypt's Fertility Decline Slows
A new demographic and health survey (DHS) from Egypt shows that the number of children per woman has declined, from 3.5 in 2000 to about 3.0 in 2008. But most of Egypt's decline occurred before 2005. The 2008 numbers are just slightly below those measured in 2003 and 2005 surveys. This raises the question: Will Egypt's fertility fall much further or are couples now having the number of children they want? The answer is important because it will determine the future population of the Middle East and North Africa. (February 2009)

10 Years After Introducing Mobile Clinics in Assuit, Egypt
This research paper examines patterns of contraceptive use among rural women in Assuit Governorate, in Egypt, and explores the underlying reasons that prevent women from visiting mobile clinics. The analysis was done by Ghada Salah-ElDeen T. Al-Attar, Assuit University, Egypt. This paper was published as part of PRB's MENA Working Paper Series (January 2009)

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)