Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

Location: Algeria is situated in northwest Africa, bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the east by Tunisia and Libya, to the south by Niger and Mali, and to the west by Mauritania and Morocco.

Area: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq miles). Algeria is Africa´s second largest country, with 1000km (600 miles) of coastline. Along the coastal strip are the main towns, fertile land, beach resorts and 90% of the population.

Language: The official language is Arabic, but French is still used for most business transactions and is still widely read and spoken by many educated Algerians. Berber dialects are still spoken in the south. In general, English is spoken in major business or tourist centres.

Religion: Over 90% of the Algerian population adhere to Islam, mostly the Sunni branch.

Population: The population of Algeria (2009 estimate) is about 34,178,188 .  Approximately 90 percent of the population is concentrated in the coastal Tell region.

The People: The population consists almost entirely of Berbers, Arabs, and people of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry. Until 1962 about 1 million European settlers, mainly French, and an indigenous population of 150,000 Jews lived in Algeria; 90 percent of this group, however, emigrated after Algeria became independent in 1962. Some 43 percent of the population is classified as rural, living in villages and on small farms.

Membership: Algeria is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, Union of the Arab Maghreb, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference

State of Bahrain

Location: Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 small islands in the Arabian Gulf midway between the Qatar peninsula and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain Island is pearshaped land mass 48 km. long and 16 km. wide. Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by 23-km causeway, which opened in November 1986.

Capital: Manama

Area: Bahrain has a total area of 707 sq km (273 sq mi). 676 sq. km.

Language: Although the official language is Arabic, farsi (Persian) is also much used. English is widely spoken and is the principal language of commerce.

Religion: Muslim, both Shi´tes and Sunnis. Christian, Bahai, Hindu and Parsee minorities

Population: The population of Bahrain is 727,785. The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern part of the country.

Membership: Bahrain is a member of the UN, Arab League, Gulf Co-operation Council, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

Location: The Comoro archipelago is situated in the Indian ocean northeast of Madagascar and consists of four main islands of volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs: Njazida (formerly Grande Comore), Nzwani (formerly Anjouan), Mwali (formerly Mohéli) and Mahore (Mayotte). The latter is administrated by France but is claimed by the Federal Republic of the Comoros.

Capital: Moroni

Area: The three islands of Comoros cover 1862 sq km (719 sq mi).

Language: The official languages are French and Arabic. However, the majority speak Comoran, a blend of Arabicand Swahili.

Religion: Islam is the official religion, and over 99% of the population are Sunni Moslems; there are about 1.3000 Christians.

Population: The 2009 population for the three islands was estimated to be 752,438.

Membership: Comoros is a member of the UN and Arab League, OAU, Organization of the Islamic Conference and ACP state of the EU.

The Republic of the Djibouti

Location: Djibouti is part of the African continent bounded to the northeast and east by the Red Sea, the southeast by Somalia and the south, west and north by Ethiopia. The country is a barren strip of land around the Gulf of Tadjoura, varying in width from 20km to 90 km, with a coastline of 800 km, much of it white sandy beaches.

Capital: Djibouti

Area: Djibouti has an area of 23,201 sq km (8958 sq mi).

Language: The official languages are French and Arabic. Afar and Somali are spoken locally. English is spoken by traders and hoteliers.

Religion: Muslim with Roman Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox minorities.

Population: Djibouti has a total population (2009 estimate) of 516,055.  The population of Djibouti has swelled in recent years because of an influx of refugees from neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia.

Membership: Djibouti is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference and is an ACP state of the EU.

Arab Republic of Egypt

Location: Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, a country in north-eastern Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The principal geographic feature of the country is the Nile River.

Capital: Cairo

Area: Egypt has a maximum length from north to south of about 1085 km (about 675 mi) and a maximum width, near the southern border, of about 1255 km (about 780 mi). It has a total area of 997,739 sq km (385,229 sq mi).

Language: The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in commerce and government.

Religion: Islam is the official religion, and about 90 percent of all Egyptians are Muslims, most of them members of the Sunni sect. According to official Egyptian estimates, the Coptic Orthodox church, a Christian denomination, has no more than 3 million adherents and constitutes the largest religious minority; Copts themselves claim some 7 million members. An estimated 1 million people belong to the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian, and various Protestant churches. The country has a very small Jewish community.

Population: The population of Egypt (2009 estimate) is 83,082,869. Almost 99 percent of the population lives within the Nile Valley and delta, which constitutes less than 4 percent of Egypt´s total area.

Membership: Egypt is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Iraq

Location: Iraq shares borders with Turkey, Iran, the Gulf of Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. There is also a neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia administrated jointly by the two countries. Iraq´s portion covers 3522 sq km. The country´s main topographical features are the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, which flow from the Turkish and Syrian borders in the north to the Gulf in the south.

Capital: Baghdad

Area: Iraq has an area of 438,317 sq km (169,235 sq mi).

Language: The official language is Arabic - 80%. 15% Kurdish.

Religion: 45% Sunni Muslim, 50% Shi´ite Muslim, with Druze and Christian minorities.

Population: The population of Iraq (2009 estimate) is 28,945,657. The largest concentrations are in the area of the river systems. The population is 75 percent urban.

Membership: Iraq is a member of the UN and Arab League, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Location: Jordan is bounded in the north by Syria, east by Iraq, south-east and south by Saudi Arabia and west by Israel. It has an outlet to an arm of the Red sea at Aqaba.

Capital: Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan.

Area: The area of Jordan is 89,556 sq km (34,578 sq mi).

Language: Arabic is the official language. English and some French are also spoken.

Religion: The great majority of the Jordanian people are Sunni Muslims. Shi´ite Muslims form a small minority. Christians, about one-third of whom belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, make up about 5 percent of the population. Over 80% Sunni Muslim, with Christian and Shi´ite minorities.

Population: The population of Jordan (2009 estimate), is 6,342,948.  The population of Jordan is almost entirely Arab. The only sizable racial minorities in the country are the Circassians and the Armenians; each group accounts for less than 1 percent of the population. Jordan is 72 percent urban; nomads and seminomads make up perhaps 5 percent of the population.

Membership: Jordan is a member of the UN and Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

State of Kuwait

Location: Kuwait is situated in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, at the head of the Persian Gulf. Kuwait is bordered on the north and west by Iraq, on the south and west by Saudi Arabia, and on the east by the Persian Gulf. For many years Kuwait was a small emirate whose economy centered on sea trade and especially pearl exports. The discovery of oil in the 20th century transformed all aspects of Kuwaiti society.

Capital: Kuwait City

Area: Kuwait is one of the world's smallest countries, occupying 17,818 sq km (6880 sq mi). The greatest distance from north to south is 200 km (120 mi) and from east to west 170 km (110 mi). Kuwait also includes several offshore islands, the largest of which is Bubiyan, near the Iraqi border.

Language: Kuwait´s official language is Arabic, which is spoken by all citizens. Both Arabic and English are taught in Kuwaiti schools, and English is also used as a second language.

Religion: Islam is the official religion, 85% Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim. 15% others.

Population: In 2009 Kuwait had an estimated population of 2,691,158.  Most of the population is concentrated in cities near or along the Persian Gulf coast. Slightly fewer than 40 percent of the people are native Kuwaitis, while the remainder of the population, for the most part, are foreign workers. The majority of immigrants are from other Arab countries as well as Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

Membership: Kuwait is a member of the UN, Arab League, Gulf Co-operation Council, OPEC, Organization of the Islamic Conference and Council of Arab Economic Unity.

Republic of Lebanon

Location: Lebanon is mountainous, bounded on the north and east by Syria, on the west by the Mediterranean and on the south by Israel. Between the parallel mountains ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon lies the fertile Bekka Valley. About one-half of the country lies at an altitude of over 3,000 ft.

Capital: Beirut

Area: Lebanon is a small country of only 10,452 sq km (4036 sq mi); from north to south it extends 217 km (135 mi) and from east to west it spans 80 km (50 mi) at its widest point.

Language: Arabic is the official language. French is the second most commonly used language and English is also spoken, especially in business circles. Kurdish and Armenian are spoken by a small percentage of the population.

Religion: Unlike most other Arab countries, Lebanon is characterized by great religious and cultural diversity. At the time of independence Christians formed a slight majority of the population, the largest single community (nearly 30% of the total) being the Maronite Christians, who mostly inhabited the north of Lebanon and the capital, Beirut. Other Christian groups included Greek Orthodox communities, Greek Catholics and Armenians. The Muslim groups were the Sunnis (living mainly in the coastal towns of Tyre, Sidon and Beirut), the Shi´as (a predominantly rural community in southern Lebanon and the northern Beka´a valley) and the much smaller Druzes, an ancient community in central Lebanon.

Population: The 2009 estimated population was 4,017,095.

Membership: Lebanon is a member of the UN and Arab League, and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Great Socialist People´s Libyan Arab Republic

Location: Libya consists mostly of huge areas of desert. Libya shares borders with Tunisia and Algeria in the west, and Egypt in the east, while the Sahara extends across the southern frontiers with Niger, Chad and the Sudan.

Capital: Tripoli

Area: The area of Libya, one of the largest countries in Africa, is 1,757,000 sq km (678,400 sq mi).

Language: Arabic is the official language, although Berber is sometimes spoken and English and Italian are used in trade. Arabic must be used for all official purposes.

Religion: Islam is the state religion, and about 97 percent of all Libyans are Sunni Muslim. A small number are Roman Catholic.

Population: The 1997 estimated population was 6,313,434. The population, however, is unevenly distributed; more than two-thirds live in the more densely settled coastal areas. The indigenous population of Libya is mostly Berber and Arab in origin; about 17 percent of the population consists of foreign workers and their families. Some 86 percent of the people live in urban areas, although some Libyans still live in nomadic or seminomadic groups.

Membership: Libya is a member of the UN, OAU, Arab League , OPEC, Union of the Arab Maghreb and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Location: Mauritania is bounded west by the Atlantic Ocean, north by Morocco, north-east by Algeria, east and south-east by Mali, and south by Senegal. Around 40% is Sahara Desert, 30% semi-desert. There is a narrow band of fertile land along the Senegal River.

Area: The total area of Mauritania is 1,031,000 sq km (398,000 sq mi).

Capital: Nouakchott

Language: The official languages are Arabic and French. The Moors of Arab / Berber stock, speaking Hassaniya dialects of Arabic, comprise the majority of the people. Other dialects include Soninke, Pulaar and Wolof. English is rarely spoken.

Religion: Islam is the official religion. Despite ethnic and cultural differences among Mauritanians they are all bound by a common Muslim attachment to the Malekite sect.

Population: The 2009 estimated population was 3,129,486. The majority of the population consists of Moors (of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry), many of whom lead nomadic existences. More than 90 percent of the population lives in the southern quarter of the country. About 30 percent of the people are black African farmers, who are settled in the Sénégal Valley.

Membership: Mauritania is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, Union of the Arab Maghreb, Organization of the Islamic Conference and is an ACP state of the EU.

Kingdom of Morocco

Location: Kingdom of Morocco is situated in northwestern Africa with coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; it is bordered by Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south.

Area: From 1912 to 1956 Morocco itself was divided into French and Spanish protectorates. The area of Morocco is 458,730 sq km (177,120 sq mi). Since 1979 Morocco has also occupied the adjacent region known as Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara).

Capital: The Capital of Morocco is Rabat, the largest city is Casablanca

Language: The official language is Arabic but French is the dominant business language in central and southern Morocco and something you can get along with about anywhere. Spanish is often spoken in the north. English is fairly widely spoken. The Berber languages, once dominant throughout Morocco, have declined in importance, and in the early 1990s about 25 percent of the people used Berber as their first language.

Religion: Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.

Population: The estimated population of Morocco in 2009 is 34,859,364.  The original population of Morocco was Berber, and about three-quarters of all present-day Moroccans are of Berber descent. Arabs, who constitute the bulk of the inhabitants of the larger cities, form the second largest ethnic group. Considerable intermarriage among Arabs, Berbers, and the country´s small number of black Africans has broken down differences among ethnic groups. Morocco has about 100,000 Europeans, most of them French. The rural population in 1996 was 51 percent of the country´s total.

Membership: Morocco is a member of the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference, OAU, and Union of the Arab Maghreb.

Sultanate of Oman

Location: Oman is bounded in the north-east by the gulf of oman and south-east by the Arabian Sea, south-east by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. There is an enclave at the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula between the United Arab Emirates of Ras al-Khaima in the west and Fujairah in the south-east.

Area: Oman covers an area of about 309,500 sq km (about 119,500 sq mi). Until the 1990s Oman had border disputes with its three neighbors; agreements were reached with Saudi Arabia in 1990, with Yemen in 1992, and with the United Arab Emirates in 1993. The borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia were demarcated in 1995; the border with the United Arab Emirates awaits final demarcation. Oman is largely a desert land, with five distinct geographical regions.

Capital: Muscat

Language: Arabic is the official language of Oman, and English and Asian languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and Baluchi are also widely spoken. Swahili is spoken by some, a legacy of Oman´s former East African presence. English is widely used in business.

Religion: Islam is the official religion, although other religions are tolerated under the country´s Basic Law. Muslims make up 86 percent of the population. Three-fourths of the Muslims are Ibadis, a minority sect dating from the 8th century. Most of the remainder adhere to Sunni Islam and the rest to Shia Islam. Indian Hindus account for 13 percent of the population. There are also small numbers of non-Omani Christians.

Population: In 2009 Oman had an estimated population of 3,418,085. The population has grown steadily, doubling between 1960 and 1993. In 1997 the growth rate was a relatively high 3.5 percent. Oman has a very young population; two-fifths of all native Omanis are under the age of 15. Only 14 percent of Omanis live in cities and towns.

While most of the rest are settled in villages, a few Bedouins still practice their nomadic ways. Much of Oman´s urban population resides in the Greater Capital Area, which includes Masqat proper, the capital; Mattrah, a major port; and Ruwi, the commercial hub of Oman.

The port of Mina´ Qaboos is also in this metropolitan area, as is Mina´ al Fahl, a loading terminal for oil supertankers. Other important cities include Nizwá, the historic seat of the Ibadi imamate (Muslim community headed by an imam) in interior Oman; Sur, an important fishing port located south of Masqat, and Salalah, the largest city and principal port of Dhofar.

Membership: Oman is a member of the UN, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Gulf Co-operation Council.

State of Qatar

Location: Qatar is a peninsula running north into the Persian / Arabian Gulf. Qatar is bounded in the south by the United Arab Emirates. The territory includes a number of islands in the coastal waters of the peninsula, the most important of which is Halul, the storage and export terminal for the offshore oilfields.

Area: Qatar has an area of 11,427 sq km (4412 sq mi).

Capital: The capital and leading port is Doha, with a population (1986) of 217,294.

Language: Arabic is the national official language. English is widely used.

Religion: The population is almost entirely Muslim. Most native Qataris belong to the Islamic Wahhabi sect.

Population: The population of Qatar (2009 estimate) is 833,285. This figure includes a large number of migrant laborers from neighboring states.

Membership: Qatar is a member of the UN, Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council and Organization of the Islamic Conference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Location: Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered to the northwest by Jordan, to the north by Iraq and Kuwait, to the west by the Red sea and to the east Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and to the south by Yemen.

Area: Saudi Arabia has an area of about 2,240,000 sq km (about 865,000 sq mi).

Capital: Riyadh

Language: The national language is Arabic. English is spoken in business circles.

Religion: The majority of Saudi Arabians are Sunni Muslim, but Shi´ites predominate in the Eastern Province. The Wahhabi sect, comprised of reformers who settled in Arabia during the 18th century and who have sought to purify and simplify the practice of Islam, has greatly influenced the Sunnites of Saudi Arabia.

Population: The 2009estimate is 28,686,633

Membership: Saudi Arabia is a member of the UN, the Arab League, the Gulf Co-operation Council and OPEC.

Somali Democratic Republic

Location: Somalia is bounded to the north by the gulf of Aden, to the south and east by Kenya, to the west by Ethiopia and to the northwest by Djibouti. To the east lies the Indian Ocean.

Area: The total area of Somalia is 637,700 sq km (246,200 sq mi).

Capital: Mogadishu

Language: Somali and Arabic are the official languages. Swahili is spoken, particulary in south. Some English and Italian are also spoken.

Religion: Islam is the state religion in Somalia, and most of the people are Sunni Muslims. 90% Muslim, with a Christian ( Mostly Roman Catholic) minoritiy.

Population: Somalia has a population (2009 estimate) of 9,832,017. The principal cities are Mogadishu, the capital, Hargeysa, Kismaayo, and Marka.

Membership: Somalia is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference and is an ACP state of the EU.

Republic of Sudan

Location: Sudan is bounded to the north by Egypt, north-east by the Red Sea, east by Eritrea and Ethiopia, south by Kenya, Uganda and Zaire, west by the central African Republic and Tchad, and north-west by Libya.

Area: Africa´s largest country, Sudan is divided on ethnic, religious and ideological grounds. Sudan has a total area of 2,505,800 sq km (967,500 sq mi).

Capital: Khartoum

Language: The official language of Sudan is Arabic. English and many local dialects are widely spoken, and African languages are used in the south. A program of Arabization is in place to encourage greater use of Arabic in the south.

Religion: About 70 percent of the people of Sudan are Muslim, some 25 percent follow traditional religions, and most of the remainder are Christian. The people of northern Sudan are predominantly Sunni Muslims. Most of the people in the south either practice traditional religions or are Christian.

Population: The 2009 estimated population of Sudan was 41,087,825.  The most densely settled area is at the juncture of the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

Membership: Sudan is a member of the UN, OAU, the Arab League, is an ACP state of the EU and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Syrian Arab Republic

Location: Syria is bounded by the Mediterranean and Lebanon on the west, by Israel and Jordan on the south, by Iraq on the east and by Turkey on the north. The frontier between Syria and Turkey was settled by the Franco-Turkish agreement of 22 June 1929.

Area: Syria has an area of 185,180 sq km (71,498 sq mi). 185,180 sq km

Capital: Damascus

Language: Arabic is the official language, spoken by 89% of the population, while 6% speak Kurdish, 3% Armenian and 2% other language. English and French are spoken in business circles.

Religion: The overwhelming majority of the Syrian population is Sunni Muslim. Other Muslims include Ismailis, Shiites, and Alawites (a schism of the Shiite branch). Of the non-Muslims in Syria, most are Christians, primarily Greek and Armenian Orthodox. Religious minorities include Druze, who follow a religion related to Islam, and a community of approximately 1000 Jews. 70% Sunni Muslim, 12% Christians (mostly Orthodox and Greek Catholic) and 18% other minority groups including Jews and Druzes.

Population: The population of Syria (2009estimate) is 20,178,485.  Syria is populated chiefly by Arabs, who constitute about 90 percent of the population. The largest non-Arab minorities are Kurds, most of whom are pastoral people concentrated along the Turkish border, and Armenians, who dwell chiefly in the larger cities. The Syrian Desert is the most sparsely populated part of Syria. The most densely settled area of the country is in the west.

Membership: Syria is a member of the UN and Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Republic of Tunisia

Location: Situated on the North African coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya and just south of Italy, Tunisia represents an intriguing cross-cultural blend of Europe and Africa. Tunisia is situated on the fringe of the Sahara, and while it has an arid land it is not a stereotypically desert country.

Area: The total area of Tunisia is 164,418 sq km (63,482 sq mi).

Capital: The capital and largest city of Tunisia is Tunis (1.7 million).

Language: Arabic, is the official language, and while some businessmen speak English, Italian or German, French is usually the language of commerce. French is less apt to be understood in the far south. English and German are also spoken in major cities.

Religion: Islam is the state religion and allmost all inhabitants are Moslems, but there are small numbers of Roman Catholics, Jews, Greek Orthodox, and Protestants.

Population:Tunisia has a population (2009 estimate) of 10,486,339. About three-quarters of the population lived in the coastal region. The arid central and southern parts make up 70 percent of the total land area, but contain less than 30 percent of the population. Throughout history, many peoples, including Romans, Vandals, black Africans, and Arabs, have invaded or settled in the region that is now Tunisia. Tunisians, however, are essentially of Berber stock, although fewer than 2 percent speak the Berber language. As a result of Arabization, Arabic has become the language of the Tunisian people, who have come to regard themselves as Arabs.

Membership: Tunisia is a member of the UN, OAU, Arab League, the Islamic Conference and Union of the Arab Maghreb.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE), federation of seven independent states located in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the north, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman and the Gulf of Oman to the east. Its seven member states are Abu Dhabi (Abu Zaby), ´Ajman, Dubay, Al Fujayrah, Ra´s al Khaymah, Ash Shariqah, and Umm al Qaywayn.

Area: The total land area of the United Arab Emirates, including its islands, is 83,600 sq km (32,300 sq mi).

Capital: The city of Abu Dhabi, located in the emirate of the same name, is the federal capital and the largest city.

Language: Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates. English is also widely spoken, as are Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.

Religion: Islam is the official religion of the country and all Emiris and a majority of the expatriates are Muslims. 96% Sunni Muslim.The constitution guarantees religious freedom and there are some Christian churches in the United Arab Emirates.

Population: The UAE had an estimated population of 4,798,471 in 2009. The emirate of Abu Dhabi contains nearly 40 percent of the total United Arab Emirates population.

Membership: United Arab Emirates is a member of the UN, Arab League the Gulf Cooperation Council, OPEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Republic of Yemen

Location: Yemen is bounded in the north by Saudi Arabia, east by Oman, south by the Gulf of Aden and west by the Red Sea. The territory includes 112 islands including Kamaran (181 sq. km) and Perim (300 sq. km) in the Red Sea and Socotra (3,500 sq. km) in the Gulf of Aden.

Area: Yemen covers about 527,970 sq km (about 203,850 sq mi). Most of the Saudi-Yemeni border is undemarcated and currently under dispute.

Capital: Sana´a (Sanaa) is Yemen´s capital and largest city.

Language: Arabic is the official language. English is spoken in some urban areas.

Religion: Sunni Muslim (especially in the north) and Shia Muslim, small Christian and Hindu communities.

Population: The total population of Yemen (2009 estimate) is 23,822,783. Although more than one and a half times its size in land area, the former South Yemen had less than one-third the population of the former North Yemen in the late 1980s. The population of southern Yemen is concentrated in a few areas, including Al Mukalla and the other towns of Hadhramaut, the highlands north and east of Aden, and above all, in Aden proper and its metropolitan area.

Membership: Yemen is a member of the UN and Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference.