Investing in Reproductive Health to Achieve Development Goals: The Middle East and North Africa

 This PRB policy brief outlines who prioritizing women's reproductive health at a national level would help accelerate progress in the MENA region toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. (January 2006)

Marriage in the Arab World

 Universal, early marriage is no longer the standard it once was in Arab countries: The average age at marriage for both men and women is generally rising, and more Arab women are staying single longer or not marrying at all. These trends are introducing new issues into Arab societies that confront deeply rooted cultural values and raise legal and policy challenges. This policy brief is also available in Arabic. (December 2005)

Global Demographic Divide

 Birth and death rates differ dramatically among the nation's countries, often reflecting a gulf between have and have-not nations. This Population Bulletin looks at the factors fueling the differential growth causing the demographic divide, at the countries in between the two extremes, which contain the majority of the world's populations in 2005. (BUL60.4, December 2005)

Achieving the MDGs in the Middle East: Why Improved Reproductive Health is Key
Overall progress toward attaining the goal in the region is mixed at best, while unmet need for quality family planning and reproductive health care there remains high. (September 2005)

2005 World Population Data Sheet

 Extreme poverty and environmental and health disparities still plague many countries. The Data Sheet provides up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for all the countries and major regions of the world. (August 2005)

Women of Our World 2005 (PDF: 255KB)

 The situation of women around the world is gaining prominence in national and international policy debates. The last half-century has seen major gains in women's health, education, and rights, but progress has been slow or uneven in many areas. Disparities between men and women are still pronounced in the poorest regions and countries of the world. This data sheet presents indicators of women's status and progress in nearly 180 countries, with a focus on demography, reproductive health, education, work, and public life. (March 2005)

The Palestinian Territories: Signs of Change Amidst Ongoing Suffering
Over the last four years, plans for staunching the bloodshed and bringing Palestinians and Israelis back to a defunct peace process have come and gone without lasting effect. Supporting one's family, accessing health care, and pursuing an education in the territories remain fraught with difficulties. (February 2005)

Iran Faces Pressure to Provide Jobs, Address Health Disparities
Amid increasing international pressure to curb its nuclear program, Iran also faces significant population pressures at home: from creating jobs for a massive pool of young baby boomers to resolving provincial disparities in the availability of reproductive health services. (September 2004)

Islam and Family Planning

 This policy brief gives an overview of Muslim countries' policies on and support for family planning and modern contraception. It reviews Islamic jurisprudence and justifications for sanctioning family planning. This policy brief is also available in Arabic. (September 2004)

2004 World Population Data Sheet (PDF: 371KB)
PRB's 2004 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, land area, and population per square mile. (August 2006)