New
New
Population of the Middle East
I can describe population patterns in the Middle East.
Lesson 6 of 12
New
New
- Year 9
Population of the Middle East
I can describe population patterns in the Middle East.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Most people live near rivers or coasts.
- Some countries have high birth rates and growth.
- Cities are expanding due to urban migration.
- Population growth puts pressure on resources.
Keywords
Population density - the number of people living in a defined area, e.g. 300 people per km2
Distribution - the way something is spread out
Migration - moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there
Natural increase - when birth rates are higher than death rates
Common misconception
Everyone in the Middle East lives in the desert.
Although deserts cover a vast amount of land, people tend to cluster around water sources like rivers and coasts. That’s why cities like Cairo (near the Nile) are densely populated.
Get students to overlay topographical and biome maps with population density maps to help explain why the population is distributed in the way it is.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which term describes an area in the Middle East that is very dry and gets little rainfall?
Which term describes an area in the Middle East that is very dry and gets little rainfall?
Plateau
River valley
Wetland
Q2.What natural resource has most changed the Middle East’s economy?
What natural resource has most changed the Middle East’s economy?
Coal
Timber
Gold
Q3.Why is it wrong to say all Middle Eastern countries are rich because of oil?
Why is it wrong to say all Middle Eastern countries are rich because of oil?
All countries have the same wealth
Oil is not valuable
Only oil makes countries poor
Q4.How do natural resources affect trade in the Middle East?
How do natural resources affect trade in the Middle East?
They stop all trade
They only affect farming
They cause less need for roads
Q5.What does ‘distribution’ refer to in natural resources?
What does ‘distribution’ refer to in natural resources?
How resources disappear
How resources are wasted
How resources are used
Q6.What is a common physical feature found in the Middle East?
What is a common physical feature found in the Middle East?
Rainforests
Glaciers
Tundra
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match these keywords with their meanings:
Match these keywords with their meanings:
Q2.Which area in the Middle East has the highest population density?
Which area in the Middle East has the highest population density?
Desert regions
Mountainous areas
Uninhabited plateaus
Q3.Which river is closely linked to high population in the Middle East?
Which river is closely linked to high population in the Middle East?
Amazon
Thames
Mississippi
Q4.Which factor most affects where people live in the Middle East?
Which factor most affects where people live in the Middle East?
Availability of deserts
Number of cities
Mountain height
