Western Asia


Indicator 1990 2000

Population

    Number (thousands) 149 126 188 277
    Rate of natural increase per 1,000 populationa 23.8 22.2
    Rate of growth per 1,000 populationa 23.8 22.8

Migration stock

    Number (thousands) 16 190 19 647
    Per cent of population 10.9 10.4

Refugeesb

    Number (thousands) 2 512.0 4 306.0
    Per cent of migrant stock 15.5 21.9

Net migrationa

    Number (thousands) -4 109
    Rate per 1,000 population 0.6
    Number per 100 births 2

Workers' remittancesc

    Total (millions of US dollars) .. ..
    Per cent of gross domestic product .. ..
    Per capita (US dollars) .. ..

Government positions concerning migration

    Immigration levels
        View : Too low; satisfactory; too high (percent) 8 ; 54 ; 38 0 ; 35 ; 65
        Policy : Raise; maintain; lower; no intervention (percent) 8 ; 23 ; 69 ; 0 6 ; 24 ; 65 ; 6

    Emigration levels

        View : Too low; satisfactory; too high (percent) 8 ; 69 ; 23 6 ; 65 ; 29
        Policy : Raise; maintain; lower; no intervention (percent) 15 ; 31 ; 31 ; 23 18 ; 6 ; 41 ; 35

Parties to United Nations Instruments (year ratified)

    1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 7 (41%)
    1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees 7 (41%)
    1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All
      Migrant Workers and Members of their Families
1 (6%)
    2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
      Especially Women and Childrend
0 (0%)
    2000 Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Aird 0 (0%)

Projected population in 2050 (thousands)e

423 888

Projected population in 2050 assuming zero migration after 2000f

424 944

a  Estimates represent annual averages for 1990-1995 and 1995-2000.

b  Data are compiled by UNHCR and UNRWA and refer to the end of the year.

c  Based on data compiled by IMF.

d  Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

e  United Nations medium variant projection.

f  United Nations medium variant projection modified with zero migration after 2000.