ABSTRACT
Demographic Development Onn Winckler is an associate professor in the Department of Middle Eastern History, University of Haifa. This chapter examines the causes and the process of the intensified rapid population growth in the Middle East region since the early twentieth century, but particularly since the 1950s, when the population growth rates sharply intensified. It also examines the fundamental socioeconomic consequences of the extremely high natural increase rates that are characteristic of all the Middle Eastern countries without exception. The chapter looks at the natalist policies of the Middle Eastern countries since the mid-twentieth century. The high natural increase rates also dictate a low labor force participation rate. In addition to the wide-based age pyramid, another factor that prevents high labor force participation in Middle Eastern countries, oil-based and nonoil alike is the very low female labor force participation rate—a consequence of high fertility rates combined with traditional limitations on female employment.
