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Saudi Arabia: Religions & Peoples
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History
| RELIGIONS |
Islam
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22,400,000 |
90% |
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Sunni
|
19,000,000 |
76% |
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Shi'i
|
3,400,000 |
13.5% |
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Twelver
|
2,000,000 |
8% |
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Zaydis
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1,400,000 |
5.5% |
Isma'ilism *)
|
600,000 |
2.5% |
Christianity
|
880,000 |
3.5% |
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Roman Catholics
|
500,000 |
2.0% |
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Protestants
|
350,000 |
1.5% |
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Greek Orthodox
|
30,000 |
0.1% |
Hinduism
|
150,000 |
0.6% |
Baha'i
|
4,000 |
<0.1% |
Other religions
|
850,000 |
4% |
*) Isma'ilism is usually classified as part of Shi'i Islam, but is best considered an independent religion.
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Officially Muslims make up 99% of the population of Saudi Arabia, but based upon the size of the expatriate community, an estimate of 96% is probably correct.
Today 80% of Saudi Arabians live in urban zones. The population is divided into Arabs and Bedouins.
The division lines between the peoples of Saudi Arabia are more cultural than ethnical. There are division between "native" Arabs (56%), other Arabs and Bedouins (27%), while these groups in other Arab countries are counted as one people. "Native" Arabs are the people of central and western Arabia (Najd and Hijaz), while other Arabs are people originating from the fringes of today's Saudi Arabia, as well as immigrants from other Arab countries.
Bedouins are both the people keeping up nomadic lifestyles, and those with close origin to ancestors living as nomads. Foreign workers are making up 18%, and consists of "other" Arabs, Africans and Asians, as well as a minor group of Europeans and Americans.
While there are some Shi'is living in the east of the country (about 15%) Saudi Arabia is principally Sunni Muslim, keeping up the Hanbali school of Sharia, as this was understood by the Wahhabis, the religiously dominant group of central Arabia from the 18th century, but which today is no longer a force. A clear majority of the foreign workers are also Muslims, coming from Asia and other Arab countries.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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