This study examines the relationship between women’s economic participation, demographic factors, and economic growth in selected MENA countries over the period 1990–2024. The direction of causal relationships among the variables is investigated using the Dumitrescu–Hurlin (2012) panel causality test, while their effects on economic growth are estimated using the System Generalized Method of Moments. The results indicate unidirectional causality from women’s economic participation to economic growth. The System GMM estimates further show that women’s economic participation has a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth, highlighting the importance of more effective utilization of women’s labor potential and human capital in improving economic performance across the region. Fertility also has a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth, while the causality results provide evidence of unidirectional causality from fertility to growth. In contrast, no statistically significant causal relationship is detected between female life expectancy and economic growth over the study period. Overall, the findings highlight the role of women’s economic participation and fertility in explaining economic growth in selected MENA countries and underscore the importance of incorporating these dimensions into economic policymaking.