EGYPT:  Population: 54 m.; Religion: Sunni Muslim (90%), Coptic Christian (10%)

ISRAEL:  Population: 4.7 m.; Religion: Jewish (82%), Sunni Muslim (14%), Christian (2.5%), Other (1.5%)

JORDAN: Population: 3.2 m.; (East Bank only); Religion: Sunni Muslim (93%), Christian (5%), Other (2%)

IRAQ: Population: 17.9 m.; Religion: Shiite Muslim (54%), Sunni Muslim (43%), Christian (3%)

KUWAIT:  Population: 2 m.; Religion: Sunni Muslim (63%), Shiite Muslim(28%), Christian (7%), Hindu (2%)

IRAN: Population: 56.7 m.; Religion: Shiite Muslim (92%), Sunni Muslim (7%), Other (1%)

BAHRAIN:  Population: 510,000; Religion: Shiite Muslim (48%), Sunni Muslim (38%), Christian (7%), Other (7%)

YEMEN:  Population: 11.8 m.; Religion: Sunni Muslim (53%), Shiite Muslim (47%)

QATAR:  Population: 450,000; Religion: Sunni Muslim (93%), Christian (5%),   Other (2%)

U.A.E.:  Population: 1.9 m.; Religion: Sunni Muslim (74%), Shiite Muslim (21%), Christian (5%)

OMAN:  Population: 1.5 m.; Religion: Ibadi Muslim (69%), Sunni Muslim (18%), Hindu (13%)

ETHIOPIA:  Population: 54 m.; Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox (53%), Muslim (32%), Traditional (15%)

SUDAN:  Population: 28.6 m.; Religion: Sunni Muslim (74%), Traditional (16%), Christian (8%), Other (2%)