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Iran: Religions & Peoples
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History
| RELIGIONS |
Islam
|
63,000,000 |
95% |
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Shi'i
|
56,000,000 |
85% |
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Sunni
|
7,000,000 |
10% |
Ahl-e Haqq
|
2,000,000 |
3% |
Alevism
|
1,000,000 |
1.5% |
Christianity
|
500,000 |
0.7% |
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Armenian Orthodox
|
500,000 |
0.7% |
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Chaldeans
|
7,000 |
<0.1% |
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Roman Catholics
|
4,000 |
<0.1% |
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Armenian Catholics
|
2,500 |
<0.1% |
Baha'i
|
470,000 |
0.7% |
Zoroastr.
|
60,000 |
0.1% |
Judaism
|
30,000 |
<0.1% |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Persian
|
33,000,000 |
49% |
Azeri
|
12,000,000 |
18% |
Kurd
|
6,600,000 |
10% |
Gilaki
|
3,700,000 |
6% |
Lor
|
3,000,000 |
4% |
Mazandarani
|
2,700,000 |
4% |
Baluchi
|
1,600,000 |
2.4% |
Arab
|
1,600,000 |
2.4% |
Bakhtiari
|
1,300,000 |
1.9% |
Turkmen
|
1,100,000 |
1.6% |
Armenian
|
500,000 |
0.7% |
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Shi'i Islam is totally dominating the Iranian society, not only as creed, but also with its impact on the political system. About 88% of all Iranians are Shi'is (this applies to all peoples of the country). About 8% are Sunni Muslims, 2% Baha'is, and more than 1% are Christians.
There are also small communities (around 50,000 each) of Jews and Parsians (followers of the lore of Zarathustra).
Christians, Jews and Parsians are considered belonging to the same traditions as Islam, and little oppression is reported. All three communities are guaranteed a place in Majlis, the Iranian national assembly. The Baha'is have been faced with harsh oppression, as they are considered heretics by the Iranian ulama.
Less than half of the people of Iran are Persians (46%), but they are culturally and structurally dominating the Iranian society. Other large peoples of Iran are s, 17% and Kurds, 9%. Kurds live along the border areas close to Iraq, and in a territory close to Turkey. The Azeris live north and east of the Kurds, and the two peoples are divided by Lake Urmiye. Both Kurds and Azeris make up a large part of the population of the capital Teheran.
Other groups making up the population of Iran are Gilaki, living at the western coast of the Caspian sea; Mazandarani, living at the eastern coastal area of the Caspian Sea; Lur, who live in the mountainous areas in western Iran, east of the Kurds, and south of the Azeris; Bakhtiari, who live in southwestern Iran, south of the Lur; Arabs, who live in southern Iran, close to the border to Iraq, south of the Kurds and the Bakhtiari; Baloch, who live in southeastern Iran, in the areas close to Pakistan. Each of these peoples make up between 1 and 5% of the population of Iran.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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