Iraqi Christians Statistics

Dec. 29, 2009

http://www.helpiraqichristians.com

* In 1987, the Iraqi census counted 1.4 million Christians in Iraq.
* At the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, there were approximately 1 million Christians in Iraq (U.S. Department of State - International Religious Freedom Report, 2006).
* Since 2003, more than 400,000 Christians have been forced to flee the country (Iraqi Christians in Need).
* Many of the approximately 600,000 Christians who remain in Iraq are internally displaced (The Coalition Provisional Authority).
* 339 Iraqi Christians were killed in from November 2006 to November 2007 according to documented reports (Hamorabi Human Rights Organization).
* More than 40% of all Iraqi refugees are Christians—a remarkable statistic given that they made up less than 4% of Iraq’s population prior to the war (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).
* As many as 50% of Iraq's Christians may already have left the country (The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2007).
* Before the liberation of Iraq, there were 20,000 Christian families living in the Dora neighborhood of Baghdad. Today, only 3,000 families remain.
* 44% of Iraqis seeking asylum in Syria are Christians. In the first four months of 2006, Christians were the largest group of new asylum seekers in Jordan. There has also been increased migration to Turkey, Sweden and Australia (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office). Iraq's Religious Demographics
* Iraq total population 27,499,638 (CIA World Factbook, 2007)
* 97% Muslim (U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report, 2006) o 60-65% are Shi'a Muslims o 32-37% are Sunni Muslims
* 3% Christian and other religious minorities (U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report, 2006) o Iraqi Christians include:
+ Armenian (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox)
+ Assyrian (Church of the East)
+ Chaldean (An eastern rite of the Catholic Church)
+ Protestant
+ Syriac (Eastern Orthodox)
o Other Iraqi religious minorities include:
+ Baha'i
+ Jewish
+ Kaka'i
+ Sabean
+ Yazidi
* Chaldean’s make up the majority of Iraq’s Christians (U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report, 2006)
Iraqi Sectarian Violence Statistics
* More than 418,392 Iraqis have been displaced due to sectarian violence and 15,240 due to military operations since the bombing of the Al Askari Shrine in Samara on Feb. 22, 2006 (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office).
* An estimated 1.6 million Iraqis have sought refuge in neighboring countries since 2003 (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office).
* More than 100 journalists and media workers were assassinated from 2003 to September 2006 (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office).
* In 2006, more than 34,000 Iraqi civilians were killed by violence, mostly gunshot wounds (UN Assistance Mission in Iraq).
* More than 4 million Iraqis of all faiths are running from the war. Only 2,000 Iraqis—less than 1/10 of 1% of all refugees—have been allowed in the United States (CBS News).