What is the percentage of Shias in Iraq?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on March 30, 2026
The data on the religious affiliation of Iraq’s population are uncertain. 95–99% of the population are Muslims. The CIA World Factbook reports a 2015 estimate according to which 29–34% are Sunni Muslims and 64–69% Shia Muslims.
What is the ratio of Sunni to Shia?
The present demographic breakdown between the two denominations is difficult to assess and varies by source, but a good approximation is that 90% of the world’s Muslims are Sunni and 10% are Shia, with most Shias belonging to the Twelver tradition and the rest divided between many other groups.
Which country has the most Shias?
Shia Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq and Bahrain. Approximately half of the population in Yemen and half of the Muslims in Lebanon are Shia Muslims. There is also a very large population of Shia Muslims living in the Arab Persian Gulf countries especially in Saudi Arabia.
How many Sunnis and Shias are there?
The divide originated with a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic faith he introduced. Today, about 85 percent of the approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are Sunni, while 15 percent are Shia, according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Is Jordan Sunni or Shia?
Jordan is a tolerant, Islamic state that welcomes all religions. A majority of Jordanians are Muslim, about 92% are Sunni Muslim, and 1% are Shia or Sufi. Cities in the south of Jordan, have the highest percentage of Muslims.
What percent of Afghanistan is Shia?
10%
Islam is the official state religion of Afghanistan, with approximately 99.7% of the Afghan population being Muslim. Roughly 90% practice Sunni Islam, while around 10% are Shias.
Is UAE Shia or Sunni?
Islam is the official religion of the United Arab Emirates. In the United Arab Emirates demographic, there are more Sunni than Shia Muslims. 90% of the Emirati population are Sunni Muslims. The remainder 10% are Shia, who are concentrated in the Emirates of Dubai and Sharjah.
Is Azerbaijan Shia or Sunni?
The Muslim population is approximately 85% Shi’a and 15% Sunni; differences traditionally have not been defined sharply. Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population percentage in the world after Iran. Most Shias are adherents of orthodox Ithna Ashari school of Shi’a Islam.
Is Kuwait Shia or Sunni?
Islam is the main religion of the citizens of Kuwait and the majority of Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim; it is estimated that 60%–65% are Sunni and 35%–40% are Shias.
Who are the Shia and Sunni Arabs in Iraq?
While worldwide 85 to 90 percent of Muslims are Sunni, in Iraq and neighboring Iran Shiítes are in the majority. Shiíte Arabs make up 60 to 65 percent of the Iraqi population, or about 15.6 to 17 million people. Sunni Arabs represent 32 to 37 percent, about 8.3 to 9.6 million people.
What percentage of the world’s Muslims are Sunni and Shia?
The present demographic breakdown between the two denominations is difficult to assess and varies by source, but a good approximation is that 85% of the world’s Muslims are Sunni and 15% are Shia Muslims and with most Shias belonging to the Twelver tradition and the rest divided between many other groups.
What is the difference between Sunnis and Shiites?
People who adhere to Islam are called Muslims. Almost all Muslims belong to the two major sects or branches of Islam: Sunni and Shiítes. While worldwide 85 to 90 percent of Muslims are Sunni, in Iraq and neighboring Iran Shiítes are in the majority. Shiíte Arabs make up 60 to 65 percent of the Iraqi population, or about 15.6 to 17 million people.
What is the legacy of the Shia-Sunni split?
The separation left a legacy of prejudice, hatred, and violence among Shiíte and Sunni that spanned fourteen centuries. Sunnis and Shiítes originally split over who should rightfully succeed the prophet Muhammad at his death in 632 ce.