The Statistical Abstract of the Arab Region presents time series statistics and indicators on core areas of economic and social development in ESCWA member countries. This issue consists of twelve chapters, each focusing on one of the following topics: population, labour force, education and illiteracy, health, gender equality, air pollution, energy, national accounts, industry, foreign trade, financial statistics and prices, and information and communications technology.

2012 Annual report focuses on ESCWA activities that meet the priority needs of member countries. In addition to undertaking specific projects, ESCWA mobilized a regional knowledge base and prepared country plans upon request. Through those efforts, ESCWA supported member countries in economic development, food security, gender, information and communication technology, the Millennium Development Goals, national dialogue, social development, trade, transport, water and environment, and statistics.

While 2010 was, for ESCWA member countries, a year of recovery from the effects of the global financial crisis, in 2011 the continued global economic recession and the popular movements in some Arab countries led to a downturn in economic growth rates in most member countries. These challenges and changes have placed added pressure on member countries to implement the commitments set out in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development and reaffirmed in 2008.