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Iraq: Religions & Peoples
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Defence
3. Economy
4. Health & Education
5. Human rights
6. Religions & Peoples
7. History
| RELIGIONS |
Islam
|
23,00,000 |
92% |
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Shi'i
|
14,000,000 |
56% |
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Sunni
|
9,000,000 |
36% |
Christianity
|
1,300,000 |
5.2% |
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Nestorians
|
750,000 |
3% |
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Chaldean Catholics
|
420,000 |
1.7% |
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Syrian Catholics
|
100,000 |
0.4% |
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Armenian Orthodox
|
20,000 |
0.08% |
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Other Christians
|
10,000 |
0.04% |
Yazidis
|
500,000 |
2% |
Ahl-e Haqq
|
200,000 |
0.8% |
Mandeans
|
30,000 |
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Shabak
|
70,000 |
<0.1% |
Baha'i
|
3,000 |
<0.1% |
Judaism
|
2,500 |
<0.1% |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Arabs
|
18,000,000 |
71% |
Kurds
|
6,000,000 |
24% |
Assyrians
|
1,300,000 |
5% |
Shabak
|
100,000 |
0.4% |
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There are two large peoples in Iraq, Arabs and Kurds. 97% are Muslims, of which more than 50% are Shi'is, the rest are Sunnis.
Arabs and arabized peoples constitute about 70% of the population. Kurds make up about 25% of the population. Other small groups are Iranian peoples living along the border to Iran.
The recent decades have seen many serious problems problems in the relationship between the Arab majority and the Kurds, who makes up the majority of the north. The Kurds have for a long time fought for their own independence, and they have an identity of their own, and speak Kurdish. However, tensions between Kurdish groups made it possible for Iraq to regain control over the region in 1996.
The second line of division run between Sunnis and Shi'is. The Shi'is constitute the clear majority in the south, and they did try to cut themselves off from Baghdad after the Gulf War of 1991.
There are other religious groups in Iraq, where Christians of various sects make up about 3%. Small, but important in the understanding of history of religions, are the Yazidis with about 500,000 members, and Mandeans with about 30,000 adherents. There are also about 2,500 Jews living in Baghdad.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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