{{Short description|Western region of Asia}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox continent | title = West Asia | image = Western Asia (orthographic projection).svg | area = {{convert|5994935|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}{{sup|a}} | population = 313,450,000 (2018) (9th)<ref name = "UN WPP 2019">{{Cite web|title = World Population prospects – Population division|url = https://population.un.org/wpp/|access-date = 16 July 2019|publisher = United Nations|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190205234912/https://population.un.org/wpp/|archive-date = 5 February 2019|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name = "UN WPP 2019 2">{{Cite web|title = Overall total population|url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx|format = xlsx|access-date = 16 July 2019|publisher = United Nations|archive-date = 27 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210227235642/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx|url-status = dead}}</ref> | density = {{convert|50.1|/km2|abbr=on}} | GDP_nominal = $3.383{{nbs}}trillion (2019)<ref name="IMF">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2020/02/weodata/index.aspx|title=World Economic Outlook Database|publisher=IMF|website=imf.org}} Outlook Database, October 2020</ref> | GDP_PPP = $9.063{{nbs}}trillion (2019)<ref name="IMF" /> | GDP_per_capita = $10,793 (2019; nominal)<ref name="IMF"/>, $28,918 (2019; PPP)<ref name="IMF"/> | HDI = {{Increase}}0.699 (''<span style="color:orange">medium</span>'') | ethnic_groups = Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Baloch, Georgians, Greek Cypriots, Jews, Kurds, Laz people, Mandaeans, Maronites, Persians, Pontic Greeks, Talyshis, Turks, Yazidis, Zazas | religions = Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baháʼí, Druzism, Yarsanism, Yazidism, Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. | demonym = West Asian<br />Western Asian | countries = {{collapsible list | title = 20 recognized | {{flag|Armenia}} | {{flag|Azerbaijan}} (except for a small portion of territory north of the Greater Caucasus) | {{flag|Bahrain}} | {{flag|Cyprus}} | {{flag|Egypt}} (only Sinai Peninsula) | {{flag|Georgia}} (except for a small portion of territory north of the Greater Caucasus) | {{flag|Iran}} | {{flag|Iraq}} | {{flag|Israel}} | {{flag|Jordan}} | {{flag|Kuwait}} | {{flag|Lebanon}} | {{flag|Oman}} | {{flag|Palestine}} | {{flag|Qatar}} | {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} | {{flag|Syria}} | {{flag|Turkey}} (except East Thrace) | {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} | {{flag|Yemen}} (except Socotra) }}{{collapsible list | title = 3 unrecognized | ''{{flag|Abkhazia}}'' | ''{{flag|Northern Cyprus}}'' | ''{{flag|South Ossetia}}'' }} | dependencies = {{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}} | languages = {{collapsible list | title = Official languages | Arabic | Abkhaz | Armenian | Azerbaijani | English | Georgian | Greek | Hebrew | Kurdish | Ossetian | Persian | Russian | Turkish }} {{collapsible list | title = Other languages | Afroasiatic: {{hlist | Neo-Aramaic | Amharic | South Arabian | Syriac }} | Austronesian: {{hlist | Indonesian | Malay | Tagalog }} | Indo-European: {{hlist | Balochi | Domari | French | Gilaki | Hindi | Luri | Bengali | Mazanderani | Nepali | Pashto | Rohingya | Romani | Shabaki language | Spanish | Talysh | Urdu | Yiddish | Zaza }} | NE Caucasian: {{hlist | Avar | Chechen | Lezgian }} | NW Caucasian: {{hlist | Circassian | Kabardian }} | Turkic: {{hlist | Qashqai | Turkmen }} }} | time = {{collapsible list | title = 5 time zones | bullets = true | UTC+02:00: {{hlist | Standard: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Sinai, Syria }} | UTC+03:00: {{hlist | Daylight: Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria | Standard: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen }} | UTC+03:30: {{hlist | Standard: Iran }} | UTC+04:00: {{hlist | Standard: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman, UAE }} | UTC+04:30: {{hlist | Daylight savings Iran }} }} | internet = .ae, .am, .az, .bh, .cy, .eg, .ge, .il, .iq, .ir, .jo, .kw, .lb, .om, .ps, .qa, .sa, .sy, .tr, .ye | calling_code = Zone 9 except Armenia, Cyprus (Zone 3) & Sinai (Zone 2) | cities =<!-- PLEASE LIMIT THE CITIES LISTED HERE TO CITIES LISTED IN List of urban areas by population, AND LIST PER ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THANKS! --> {{collapsible list | title = List{{sup|b}} | bullets = true | {{flagicon|Jordan}} Amman | {{flagicon|Turkey}} Ankara | {{flagicon|Iraq}} Baghdad | {{flagicon|UAE}} Dubai | {{flagicon|Turkey}} Istanbul | {{flagicon|Turkey}} İzmir | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Jeddah | {{flagicon|Kuwait}} Kuwait City | {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Riyadh | {{flagicon|Iran}} Tehran }} <!-- PLEASE LIMIT THE CITIES LISTED HERE TO CITIES LISTED IN List of urban areas by population. THANKS! --> | m49 = <code>145</code> – West Asia<br /><code>142</code> – Asia<br /><code>001</code> – World | footnotes = {{longitem|{{sup|a}} Area and population figures include the Sinai}}{{longitem|{{sup|b}} Among the top 100 urban areas of the world by population}} }}
'''West Asia''' (also called '''Western Asia''' or '''Southwest Asia''') is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land Use Dynamics and Institutional Changes in West Asia |url=https://www.fao.org/3/ag266e/ag266e.pdf |first1=Lama |last1=Bashour |date=2006 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230616092754/https://www.fao.org/3/ag266e/ag266e.pdf |archive-date= 16 June 2023 }}</ref><ref name=WGSRPD/> The region is separated from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, and separated from Europe by the waterways of the Turkish Straits and the watershed of the Greater Caucasus. Central Asia lies to its northeast, while South Asia lies to its east. Twelve seas surround the region (clockwise): the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gulf of Suez, and the Mediterranean Sea. Although many use the terms synonymously, West Asia and the Middle East are not the same. The ''Middle East'' is a political term invented by Western geographers that has historically included various Asian territories depending on political and historical context, while West Asia is a geographical term with more accuracy and consistency. It excludes most of Egypt and the northwestern part of Turkey (which is included in the Middle East), and includes the southern part of the Caucasus.
West Asia covers an area of {{convert|5994935|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, with a population of about 313 million.<ref name="UN WPP 2019"/><ref name="UN WPP 2019 2"/> Of the 20 UN member countries fully or partly within the region, 13 are part of the Arab world. The most populous countries in West Asia are Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.
In the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (WGSRPD), West Asia excludes the Arabian Peninsula and includes Afghanistan.<ref name=WGSRPD>{{Cite book |last = Brummitt |first = R. K. |year = 2001 |title = World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions |edition = 2nd |publisher = International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases For Plant Sciences (TDWG) |url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tdwg/wgsrpd/master/109-488-1-ED/2nd%20Edition/TDWG_geo2.pdf |access-date = 27 July 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160125135239/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/tdwg/TDWG_geo2.pdf |archive-date = 25 January 2016}}</ref> The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) excludes Egypt and includes Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 21. West Asia |url=https://www.fao.org/3/Y1997e/y1997e0q.htm |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=www.fao.org}}</ref> The United Nations Environment Programme excludes Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, and Iran<ref>{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=2023-04-14 |title=Asia and the Pacific |url=https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/networks/asia-and-pacific |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.unep.org |language=en}}</ref> from West Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=12 April 2023 |title=West Asia |url=http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/networks/west-asia |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=Ozonaction |language=en}}</ref>
== Definition == The term ''West Asia'' is used pragmatically and has no "correct" or generally accepted definition. Its typical definitions overlap substantially, but not entirely, with definitions of the terms Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Near East (which is historically familiar but widely deprecated today).<ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-near-east-and-middle-east.html What Is The Difference Between Near East and Middle East?] ''worldatlas.com''</ref> The ''National Geographic Style Manual'' as well as Maddison's ''The World Economy: Historical Statistics'' (2003) by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) include only Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine (called West Bank and Gaza in the latter), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen as West Asian countries.<ref name="ngs">{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/ngs-style-manual/home/W/west-asia |title=West Asia |last=Miller |first=David |work=National Geographic Style Manual |publisher=National Geographic Society |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531235607/https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/ngs-style-manual/home/W/west-asia |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Maddison |first=Angus |author-link=Angus Maddison |year=2004 |title=The World Economy: Historical Statistics |series=Development Centre Studies |location=Paris, France |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) |publication-date=2003 |isbn=978-92-64-10412-9 |lccn=2004371607 |oclc=53465560 |title-link=The World Economy: Historical Statistics }}</ref> By contrast, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in its 2015 yearbook includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, and excludes Israel (as Other) and Turkey (as Europe).<ref>{{cite book |author=United Nations Industrial Development Organization Vienna (UNIDO) |author-link=United Nations Industrial Development Organization |year=2005 |title=International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAKMBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |location=Cheltenham, UK |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |page=14 |isbn= 9781784715502}}</ref>
Unlike the UNIDO, the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) excludes Iran from West Asia (included as South Asia) and includes Turkey, Georgia, and Cyprus in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm |title=Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use |publisher=Millenniumindicators.un.org |quote=The UNSD notes that the "assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is merely for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories."|access-date=25 August 2012}}</ref> In the United Nations geopolitical Eastern European Group, Armenia and Georgia are included in Eastern Europe, whereas Cyprus and East Thracian Turkey are in Southern Europe. These three nations are listed in the European category of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
National members of West Asian sports governing bodies are limited to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wabsf.net/en/information.php |title=WABSF Member Countries |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035427/http://www.wabsf.net/en/information.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topendsports.com/events/games/asian-games/west-asian/index.htm |title=The West Asian Games |publisher=Topend Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-waff.com/en/championships/29.html |title=WAFF Member Associations |website=The-Waff.com |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801232057/http://www.the-waff.com/en/championships/29.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Olympic Council of Asia's multi-sport event West Asian Games are contested by athletes representing these 13 countries. Among the region's sports organisations are the West Asia Basketball Association, West Asian Billiards and Snooker Federation, West Asian Football Federation, and the West Asian Tennis Federation.
=== Map === {{center|{{West Asia}}}}
== Countries ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;width:100%;" |- style="background:#ececec;" !scope="col"| Country !scope="col"| Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>) !scope="col"| Population{{UN_Population|ref}}<br />({{UN_Population|Year}}) !scope="col"| Density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>) !scope="col"| Capital !scope="col"| Nominal GDP<ref>{{cite web|title=GDP|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=93&pr.y=3&sy=2012&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDP_R&grp=0&a=|publisher=IMF|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref><br />(2012) !scope="col"| Per capita<ref>{{cite web|title=GDP per capita|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=28&pr.y=10&sy=2012&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a=|publisher=IMF|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref><br />(2012) !scope="col"| Currency !scope="col"| Government !scope="col"| Official languages |- !scope="row"| {{nowrap|{{flag|Turkey}}}}{{efn|The figures for Turkey includes East Thrace, which is not a part of Anatolia.}} | style="text-align:right;" | 783,562 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Turkey}} | style="text-align:right;" | 94.1 | Ankara | $788.042 billion | $10,523 | Turkish lira | Presidential republic | Turkish |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Bahrain}} | style="text-align:right;" | 780 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Bahrain}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1,646.1 | Manama | $30.355 billion | $26,368 | Bahraini dinar | Constitutional monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Kuwait}} | style="text-align:right;" | 17,820 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Kuwait}} | style="text-align:right;" | 167.5 | Kuwait City | $184.540 billion | $48,761 | Kuwaiti dinar | Constitutional monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Oman}} | style="text-align:right;" | 212,460 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Oman}} | style="text-align:right;" | 9.2 | Muscat | $78.290 billion | $25,356 | Omani rial | Absolute monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Qatar}} | style="text-align:right;" | 11,437 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Qatar}} | style="text-align:right;" | 123.2 | Doha | $192.402 billion | $104,756 | Qatari riyal | Absolute monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 2,149,690 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Saudi Arabia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | Riyadh | $733.956 billion | $25,139 | Saudi riyal | Absolute monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} | style="text-align:right;" | 82,880 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|United Arab Emirates}} | style="text-align:right;" | 97 | Abu Dhabi | $383.799 billion | $43,774 | UAE dirham | Federal constitutional monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Yemen}} | style="text-align:right;" | 527,970 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Yemen}} | style="text-align:right;" | 44.7 | Sanaa {{efn|A rebel group, the Houthis, have their government at Aden (Seat of government)}} | $35.05 billion | $1,354 | Yemeni rial | Provisional presidential republic | Arabic |- !scope="row"| ''{{flag|Abkhazia}}''{{efn|unrecognized}} | style="text-align:right;" | 8,660 | style="text-align:right;" | 242,862 | style="text-align:right;" | 28 | Sokhumi | $500 million | N/A | Georgian lari | Semi-presidential republic | Abkhaz, Russian |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Armenia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 29,800 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Armenia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 108.4 | Yerevan | $9.950 billion | $3,033 | Armenian dram | Semi-presidential republic | Armenian |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Azerbaijan}} | style="text-align:right;" | 86,600 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Azerbaijan}} | style="text-align:right;" | 105.8 | Baku | $68.700 billion | $7,439 | Azerbaijani manat | Presidential republic | Azerbaijani |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Georgia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 69,700 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Georgia}} | style="text-align:right;" | 68.1 | Tbilisi | $15.847 billion | $3,523 | Georgian lari | Semi-presidential republic | Georgian |- !scope="row"| ''{{flag|South Ossetia}}''{{efn|unrecognized}} | style="text-align:right;" | 3,900 | style="text-align:right;" | 53,532 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | Tskhinvali | $500 million | N/A | Georgian lari | Semi-presidential republic | Ossetian, Russian |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Iraq}} | style="text-align:right;" | 438,317 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Iraq}} | style="text-align:right;" | 73.5 | Baghdad | $216.044 billion | $6,410 | Iraqi dinar | Parliamentary republic | Arabic, Kurdish |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Israel}} | style="text-align:right;" | 20,770 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Israel}} | style="text-align:right;" | 365.3 | Jerusalem{{efn|Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital of Israel and the actual location of the Knesset, Israeli Supreme Court, etc. Due to its disputed status, most embassies are in Tel Aviv.{{efn|name=Jerusalem}}}} | $353.65 billion | $39,106 | Israeli new shekel | Parliamentary republic | Hebrew |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Jordan}} | style="text-align:right;" | 92,300 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Jordan}} | style="text-align:right;" | 68.4 | Amman | $30.98 billion | $4,843 | Jordanian dinar | Constitutional monarchy | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Lebanon}} | style="text-align:right;" | 10,452 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Lebanon}} | style="text-align:right;" | 404 | Beirut | $42.519 billion | $10,425 | Lebanese pound | Parliamentary republic | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flagcountry|Palestine}}{{efn|UN observer state.}} | style="text-align:right;" | 6,220 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|State of Palestine}} | style="text-align:right;" | 667 | Ramallah{{efn|Ramallah is the actual location of the government, whereas the proclaimed capital of Palestine is Jerusalem, which is disputed.{{efn|name=Jerusalem|Jerusalem is Israel's ''de jure'' capital under Israeli law, as well as its ''de facto'' capital by the location of the presidential residence, government offices, supreme court and parliament (Knesset). Jerusalem is the State of Palestine's ''de jure'' capital under its {{cite web |ref=BasicLawPal-T1A3 |url=http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/basic-law/2003-amended-basic-law |title=2003 Amended Basic Law |date=17 February 2008 |postscript=none}}, but not its ''de facto'' capital as its government branches are based in Ramallah. The UN and most sovereign states do not recognize Jerusalem as either state's ''de jure'' capital under the position that Jerusalem's status is pending future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In practice, therefore, most maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv and its suburbs, or else in suburbs such as Mevaseret Zion outside Jerusalem proper. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20260118073834/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel/ CIA Factbook], {{cite web|url= https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/israel.pdf |title=Map of Israel |postscript=none}} and Status of Jerusalem for more information.}}}} | $6.6 billion | $1,600 | Egyptian pound, Jordanian dinar, Israeli new shekel | Semi-presidential republic | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Syria}} | style="text-align:right;" | 185,180 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Syrian Arab Republic}} | style="text-align:right;" | 118.3 | Damascus | N/A | N/A | Syrian pound | Transitional government | Arabic |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Iran}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1,648,195 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Iran (Islamic Republic of)}} | style="text-align:right;" | 45 | Tehran | $548.590 billion | $7,207 | Iranian rial | Islamic republic | Persian |- !scope="row"| ''{{flag|Akrotiri and Dhekelia}}''{{efn| British Overseas Territory}} | style="text-align:right;" | 254 | style="text-align:right;" | 15,700 | style="text-align:right;" | N/A | Episkopi | N/A | N/A | Euro | Stratocratic dependency under a constitutional monarchy | English |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Cyprus}} | style="text-align:right;" | 9,250 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Cyprus}} | style="text-align:right;" | 117 | Nicosia | $22.995 billion | $26,377 | Euro | Presidential republic | Greek, Turkish |- !scope="row"| ''{{flag|Northern Cyprus}}''{{efn|unrecognized}} | style="text-align:right;" | 3,355 | style="text-align:right;" | 313,626 | style="text-align:right;" | 93 | North Nicosia | $4.032 billion | $15,109 | Turkish lira | Semi-presidential republic | Turkish |- !scope="row"| {{flag|Egypt}}{{efn|The area and population figures for Egypt only include the Sinai Peninsula.}} | style="text-align:right;" | 60,000 | style="text-align:right;" | {{UN_Population|Egypt}} | style="text-align:right;" | 82 | Cairo | $262.26 billion | $3,179 | Egyptian pound | Presidential republic | Arabic |}
== History == {{See also|History of the Middle East|Ancient Near East|History of the Ottoman Empire|Treaty of Gulistan|Treaty of Turkmenchay|Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire}}
"Western Asia" was in use as a geographical term in the late 18th and early 19th centuries,<ref name="Ouseley">{{cite book|last=Ouseley|first=William|authorlink=William Ouseley|year=1795|title=Persian Miscellanies: An Essay to Facilitate the Reading of Persian Manuscripts|location=London|pp=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.42305/page/n159/mode/1up 105–106]|quote={{smallcaps|The}} celebrated current of the Euphrates, was divided, according to the Arabian geographer, whom ''Bochart'' follows, into five channels or branches, one of which led to ''Cufa'' in Chaldea; and on the banks of another, was ſeated the “Golden Babylon” once the proud miſtreſs of the eaſtern world, being the capital of the Aſſyrian monarchy, which comprehended Syria, Meſopotamia, Chaldea, Perſia; in short, except India, all the great nations of weſtern Aſia.}}</ref><ref>e.g. James Rennell, ''A treatise on the comparative geography of western Asia'', 1831.</ref> before "Near East" became current as a geopolitical concept. For example, William Ouseley used the phrase in 1795 in ''Persian Miscellanies'' to refer to a region including Syria, Mesopotamia, Chaldea and Persia.<ref name="Ouseley"/> In the context of the history of classical antiquity, "Western Asia" could mean the part of Asia known in classical antiquity, as opposed to the reaches of "interior Asia", i.e. Scythia, and "Eastern Asia" the easternmost reaches of geographical knowledge in classical authors, i.e. Transoxania and India.<ref>James Rennell, ''The Geographical System of Herodotus Examined and Explained'', 1800, [https://archive.org/details/geographicalsys00renn/page/210 p. 210].</ref><ref>Hugh Murray, ''Historical Account of Discoveries and Travels in Asia'' (1820).</ref><ref>Samuel Whelpley, ''A compend of history, from the earliest times'', 1808, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6jkNAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9 p. 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120055307/https://books.google.ch/books?id=6jkNAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9 |date=20 November 2022 }}.</ref> In the 20th century, "Western Asia" was used to denote a rough geographical era in the fields of archaeology and ancient history, especially as a shorthand for "the Fertile Crescent, excluding Ancient Egypt" for the purposes of comparing the early civilizations of Egypt and the former.<ref>e.g. Petrus Van Der Meer, ''The Chronology of Ancient Western Asia and Egypt'', 1955. Karl W. Butzer, ''Physical Conditions in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Egypt Before the Period of Agricultural and Urban Settlement'', 1965.</ref>
Use of the term in the context of contemporary geopolitics or world economy appears to date from at least the mid-1960s.<ref>''The Tobacco Industry of Western Asia'', U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 1964.</ref>
== Geography == {{See also|Geography of Asia}} The region is surrounded by eight major seas; the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
To the northwest and north, the region is delimited from Europe by the Turkish Straits and drainage divide of the Greater Caucasus, to the southwest, it is delimited from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez, while to the northeast and east, the region adjoins Central Asia and South Asia. The region is located east of Southern Europe and south of Eastern Europe.
The Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in eastern Iran naturally delimit the region from Balochistan and South Asia.
=== Geology === ==== Plate tectonics ==== Three major tectonic plates converge on West Asia, including the African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates. The boundaries between the tectonic plates make up the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge, extending across North Africa, the Red Sea, and into Iran.<ref name="beaumont-pg22">Beaumont (1988), p. 22</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2021}} The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the Anatolian plate (Turkey) at the East Anatolian Fault,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/handbooks/arabianpages/mainframe.htm |title=The Arabian Plate |author-last1=Muehlberger|author-first1= Bill |publisher=NASA, Johnson Space Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706103125/http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/handbooks/arabianpages/mainframe.htm |archive-date=6 July 2007 }}</ref> and the boundary between the Aegean and Anatolian plate in eastern Turkey is also seismically active.<ref name="beaumont-pg22"/>
==== Water resources ==== Several major aquifers provide water to large portions of West Asia. In Saudi Arabia, two large aquifers of Palaeozoic and Triassic origins are located beneath the Jabal Tuwayq mountains and areas west to the Red Sea.<ref name="beaumont-86">Beaumont (1988), p. 86</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2021}} Cretaceous and Eocene-origin aquifers are located beneath large portions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia, including Wasia and Biyadh which contain amounts of both fresh water and saline water.<ref name="beaumont-86"/> Flood or furrow irrigation, as well as sprinkler methods, are extensively used for irrigation, covering nearly {{cvt|90,000|km2}} across West Asia for agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/land-water/en/|title=Land & Water|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref> Also, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers contribute very well.
=== Climate === {{See also|Climate of Asia}} [[File:Cedars in Lebanon.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|A Lebanese Cedar Forest in winter]] [[File:West Asia Köppen Map.png|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Köppen climate classification map of West Asia]]
West Asia is primarily arid and semi-arid, and can be subject to drought, but it also contains vast expanses of forest and fertile valleys. The region consists of grasslands, rangelands, deserts, and mountains. Water shortages are a problem in many parts of West Asia, with rapidly growing populations increasing demands for water, while salinization and pollution threaten water supplies.<ref name="ipcc-1997">{{cite web|url=http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=/climate/ipcc/regional/index.htm|title=Chapter 7: Middle East and Arid Asia|work=IPCC Special Report on The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability|publisher=United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)|year=2001|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201222/http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=%2Fclimate%2Fipcc%2Fregional%2Findex.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Major rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates, provide sources for irrigation water to support agriculture.
There are two wind phenomena in West Asia: the ''sharqi'' and the ''shamal''. The ''sharqi'' (or ''sharki'') is a wind that comes from the south and southeast. It is seasonal, lasting from April to early June, and comes again between late September and November. The winds are dry and dusty, with occasional gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour) and often kick up violent sand and dust storms that can carry sand a few thousand meters high, and can close down airports for short periods of time. These winds can last for a full day at the beginning and end of the season, and for several days during the middle of the season. The ''shamal'' is a summer northwesterly wind blowing over Iraq and the Persian Gulf states (including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), often strong during the day, but decreasing at night. This weather effect occurs anywhere from once to several times a year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World|editor-first=Taru|editor-last=Bahl| editor2=M H Syed| publisher=Anmol Publications|location=New Delhi|year=2003|page=20|isbn=978-81-261-1419-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2x4jq4bXrq0C&q=%22Sharqi%22+wind&pg=PA20|access-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>
=== Topography === West Asia contains large areas of mountainous terrain. The Anatolian Plateau is sandwiched between the Pontus Mountains and Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Mount Ararat in Turkey rises to {{convert|5,137|meters|abbr=on}}. The Zagros Mountains are located in Iran, in areas along its border with Iraq. The Central Plateau of Iran is divided into two drainage basins. The northern basin is Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert), and Dasht-e-Lut is the southern basin.
In Yemen, elevations exceed {{convert|3,700|meters|abbr=on}} in many areas, and highland areas extend north along the Red Sea coast and north into Lebanon. A fault zone also exists along the Red Sea, with continental rifting creating trough-like topography with areas located well below sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/235042.pdf|title=Region #4 — Red Sea Continental Rift Zone|work=Preliminary Definition of Geophysical Regions for the Middle East and North Africa|author-last1=Sweeney|author-first1= Jerry J.|first2=William R.|last2=Walter|publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|date=1 December 1998|page=8|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=27 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127184404/http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/235042.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dead Sea, located on the border between the West Bank, Israel, and Jordan, is situated at {{convert|418|meters|abbr=on}} below sea level, making it the lowest point on the surface of the Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=deadsea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830064747/http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=deadsea|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2006|title=ASTER Image Gallery: The Dead Sea|publisher=NASA}}</ref>
Rub' al Khali, one of the world's largest sand deserts, spans the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia, parts of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Jebel al Akhdar is a small range of mountains located in northeastern Oman, bordering the Gulf of Oman.
== Economy == {{See also|Economy of the Middle East}}
The economy of West Asia is diverse and the region experiences high economic growth. Turkey has the largest economy in the region, followed by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Petroleum is the major industry in the regional economy, as more than half of the world's oil reserves and around 40 percent of the world's natural gas reserves are located in the region.
== Demographics == {{Further|Demographics of the Middle East}} {{See also|Ethnic groups in the Middle East}} The population of West Asia was estimated at 272 million as of 2008, projected to reach 370 million by 2030 by Maddison (2007; the estimate excludes the Caucasus and Cyprus). This corresponds to an annual growth rate of 1.4% (or a doubling time of 50 years), well above the world average of 0.9% (doubling time 75 years). The population of West Asia is estimated at 4% of world population, up from about 39 million at the beginning of the 20th century, or about 2% of world population at the time.<ref>Data for "15 West Asian countries", from Maddison (2003, 2007).Angus Maddison, 2003, ''The World Economy: Historical Statistics'', Vol. 2, OECD, Paris, {{ISBN|92-64-10412-7}}. ''Statistical Appendix'' (2007, ggdc.net) "The historical data were originally developed in three books: Monitoring the World Economy 1820–1992, OECD, Paris 1995; The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective, OECD Development Centre, Paris 2001; The World Economy: Historical Statistics, OECD Development Centre, Paris 2003. All these contain detailed source notes." Estimates for 2008 by country (in millions): Turkey (71.9), Iran (70.2), Iraq (28.2), Saudi Arabia (28.1), Yemen (23.0), Syria (19.7), Israel (6.5), Jordan (6.2), Palestine (4.1), Lebanon (4.0), Oman (3.3), United Arab Emirates (2.7), Kuwait (2.6), Qatar (0.9), Bahrain (0.7). </ref>
The most populous countries in the region are Turkey and Iran, each with around 79 million people, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia with around 33 million people each, and Yemen with around 29 million people.
Numerically, West Asia is predominantly Arab, Persian, Turkish, and the dominating languages are correspondingly Arabic, Persian and Turkish, each with of the order of 70 million speakers, followed by smaller communities of Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Hebrew, Armenian and Neo-Aramaic. The dominance of Arabic and Turkish is the result of the medieval Arab and Turkic invasions beginning with the Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD, which displaced the formerly dominant Aramaic in the region of Syria, and Greek in Anatolia, although Hebrew became the dominant language in Israel in the second half of the 20th century, and Neo-Aramaic (spoken by modern Arameans and Assyrians) and Greek both remain present in their respective territories as minority languages.
Significant native minorities include, in alphabetical order: Arameans, Assyrians,{{sfn|Laing-Marshall|2005|p=149–150}} Druze,<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Patterns: Places, People, and Politics| first=Colbert|last= C. Held|year= 2008| isbn= 9780429962004| page =109|publisher=Routledge|quote= Worldwide, they number 1 million or so, with about 45 to 50 percent in Syria, 35 to 40 percent in Lebanon, and less than 10 percent in Israel. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.}}</ref> Jews, Lurs, Mandeans, Maronites, Shabaks and Yezidis.
=== Religion === {{Pie chart | thumb = right | caption = Religion in West Asia (2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010–2050|website=www.pewforum.org|date=2 April 2015|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221014350/https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | label1 = Islam | value1 = 92.59 | color1 = Green | label2 = Christianity | value2 = 3.87 | color2 = DodgerBlue | label3 = Judaism | value3 = 2.02 | color3 = DarkBlue | label4 = No religion | value4 = 1.16 | color4 = Grey | label5 = Hinduism | value5 = 0.32 | color5 = Darkorange | label6 = Other religions | value6 = 0.25 | color6 = Chartreuse | label7 = Buddhism | value7 = 0.15 | color7 = Gold | label8 = Folk religions | value8 = 0.06 | color8 = Red }} Four major religious groups (i.e. the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam, plus Judaism and Druze faith) originated in West Asia.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Middle East (region, Asia)|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/381192/Middle-East|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=9 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=An Introduction to Middle East Politics: Continuity, Change, Conflict and Co-operation|first=Benjamin |last=MacQueen|year= 2013| isbn=9781446289761| page =5|publisher=SAGE|quote=The Middle East is the cradle of the three monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Modern World: Civilizations of Africa, Civilizations of Europe, Civilizations of the Americas, Civilizations of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Civilizations of Asia and the Pacific| first=Sarolta |last=Takacs|year= 2015| isbn= 9781317455721| page =552|publisher=Routledge|quote=}}</ref> Islam is the largest religion in West Asia, but other faiths that originated there, such as Judaism and Christianity,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Christianity in the Middle East|first=Philip |last=Jenkins|year= 2020| isbn=9781538124185| page =XLVIII|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote=The Middle East still stands at the heart of the Christian world. After all, it is the birthplace, and the death place, of Christ, and the cradle of the Christian tradition.}}</ref> are also well represented.
In Armenia and Georgia, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Orthodoxy respectively are the predominant religions.<ref name="Global Christianity" /> Eastern Orthodoxy is also the majority religion in Cyprus. There are still large ancient communities of Eastern Christians (such as Assyrians, Middle Eastern Christians and Arab Christians) in Lebanon,<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web|url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf|title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> Iraq,<ref name="Global Christianity" /> Iran,<ref name="Farsinet">{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Massoume|date=December 2002|title=History of Christians and Christianity in Iran|url=http://www.farsinet.com/iranbibl/christians_in_iran_history.html|access-date=1 December 2009|work=Christianity in Iran|publisher=FarsiNet Inc.}}</ref> Turkey,<ref>{{cite web|title=Christianity in Turkey|url=http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hristiyan.htm|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Global Christianity" /> Azerbaijan, Syria,<ref name="Global Christianity" /> Jordan,<ref name="Global Christianity" /> Israel and Palestine numbering more than 3 million in West Asia.<ref name="Global Christianity" /> There are also large populations of expatriate workers which include sizeable Christian communities living in the Arabian Peninsula numbering more than 3 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC News – Guide: Christians in the Middle East|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-15239529|access-date=13 March 2015|work=BBC News|date=11 October 2011 }}</ref> Christian communities have played a vital role in West Asia.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jews, Antisemitism, and the Middle East|first=Michael |last=Curtis|year= 2017| isbn=9781351510721| page =173|publisher=Routledge|quote=}}</ref>
Judaism is the predominant religion in Israel, and there are small ancient Jewish communities in West Asia such as in Turkey (14,300),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpr.org.uk/countries/how-many-jews-in-turkey |title= How many Jews live in Turkey?|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 10 May 2022|website= |publisher= Institute for Jewish Policy Research|access-date= 14 November 2023|quote=}} </ref> Azerbaijan (9,100),<ref name="mashke2">{{cite web |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009 |publisher=Pop-stat.mashke.org |date=7 April 1971 |access-date=22 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207161726/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref> and Iran (8,756).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw |title=Jewish woman brutally murdered in Iran over property dispute |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=16 August 2014 |quote=A government census published earlier this year indicated there were a mere 8,756 Jews left in Iran |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102713/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw |archive-date=19 August 2014}} See</ref>
The Druze Faith or Druzism originated in West Asia. It is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of figures like Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad and Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah and Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. The number of Druze people worldwide is around one million, with about 45% to 50% living in Syria, 35% to 40% living in Lebanon, and less than 10% living in Israel; recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Patterns: Places, People, and Politics| first=Colbert|last=C. Held|year= 2008| isbn= 9780429962004| page =109|publisher=Routledge|quote= Worldwide, they number 1 million or so, with about 45 to 50 percent in Syria, 35 to 40 percent in Lebanon, and less than 10 percent in Israel. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.}}</ref>
There are also important minority religions like the Baháʼí Faith, Yarsanism, Yazidism,<ref name="Fuccaro" >{{cite book |first1=Nelida |last1=Fuccaro |title=The Other Kurds: Yazidis in Colonial Iraq |date=1999 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |location=London & New York |isbn=1860641709 |page=9}}</ref> Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, and Shabakism.
<div align="center"><gallery widths="150" caption="Religions in West Asia"> File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|Pilgrims in the annual Hajj at the Kaaba in Mecca. File:Էջմիածնի Մայր Տաճար.jpg|Etchmiadzin Cathedral, first cathedral in the world, the mother church of all Armenians File:Qozhaya01072003.jpg|Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya in Lebanon. File:Saint Elijah Maronite Cathedral, Aleppo (4).jpg|Cathedral of Saint Elijah, Aleppo. File:Western Wall, Jerusalem, (16037897867).jpg|Jews praying at the Western Wall. Image:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Nebi Shueib Festival.jpg|Druze dignitaries celebrating the Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu'ayb festival at the tomb of the prophet in Hittin File:Pilgrims and festival at Lalish on the day of the Yezidi New Year in 2017 06 (cropped).jpg|Yazidi pilgrims celebrating the Yazidi new year festival at the ancient holy temple of Lalish, Iraq </gallery> </div>
== Culture == === Sports === * The West Asian Tennis Federation regulates the championships and leagues in the region. * The West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation regulates the championships related to billiards and snooker, amongst which an annual tournament. * The West Asian Games have been held in 1997, 2002 and 2005. * The West Asian Football Federation was founded in 2001 and is one of the regional federations of the Asian Football Federation. They organize the WAFF Championship. * The West Asia Basketball Association organizes the WABA Championship since 1999.
== See also == {{columns-list| <!-- {{main|Outline of West Asia|Index of West Asia-related articles}} --> * Middle East * Cinema of West Asia * List of World Heritage Sites in Western Asia * West Asian Games * West Asian Basketball League * West Asia Basketball Association * West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation * West Asian Tennis Federation * West Asian Football Federation }} {{Portalbar|Geography<!-- |Eurasia -->|Asia<!-- |West Asia -->}}
==Notes== {{efnlist}}
== References ==
=== Citations === {{Reflist}}
=== Sources === * {{Cite book|last=Laing-Marshall|first=Andrea|chapter=Assyrians|title=Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities|year=2005|volume=1|location=New York-London|publisher=Routledge|pages=149–150|isbn=978-1-135-19388-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXYKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA149}}
== Further reading == {{Sister project links|voy=Western Asia}}
{{Middle East}} {{Asia topics}} {{Regions of Asia}} {{Authority control}}
Category:West Asia Category:Regions of Asia Category:Geography of West Asia