People group profile · PG046790
The Iraqi Shia Arabs of Iraq
The Iraqi Shia Arabs of Iraq, numbering about 19,730,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Arab people of Lower Mesopotamia centered in southern Iraq and the shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala, organized through tribal networks and identified with the Twelver Shia tradition.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Levant people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Mesopotamian Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iraq
- Population
- 19,730,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Levant
- Primary language
- Mesopotamian Arabic (acm)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Iraqi Shia Arabs are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Iraqi Shia Arabs
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Shia Islam · Islam
80% adherents
Primary language
Mesopotamian Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Mesopotamian Arabic
Gospel resources in Mesopotamian Arabic
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Iraqi Shia Arabs
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Arab, Iraqi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 104056) is reported in 16 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraqi Arabs | Jordan | 1,595,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Sweden | 182,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Germany | 178,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | United States | 156,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Canada | 85,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Netherlands | 63,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Syria | 60,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | United Arab Emirates | 59,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Lebanon | 25,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Belgium | 22,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Greece | 17,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Kuwait | 14,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Yemen | 10,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Algeria | 8,700 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | France | 6,800 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Iraqi Arabs | Italy | 4,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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