Western Asia

• Poverty rates in the region have more than doubled between 1990 and 2004. Western Asia is the only region in the developing world where the poverty gap ratio has increased

• Since 1999, there has been almost no progress in moving towards universal primary education in Western Asia. The situation may be even worse, since data is missing for many post-conflict and conflict situations.

• The gender gap in education also persists in this region. Women continue to be excluded from paid jobs outside the agricultural sector (Women have secured only 21% of paid labor in non-agricultural jobs).

• The gender gap is also visible in political decision-making: only 8% of the seats in national parliaments are held by women.

• Average child mortality levels have declined at a very slow pace, however, this slow surge is entirely a reflection of a dramatic surge in child mortality in Iraq