People group profile · PG050028
The Iraqi Arabs of the Netherlands
The Iraqi Arabs of the Netherlands, numbering about 63,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Arabic-speaking people of Iraq descended from Arab and indigenous Mesopotamian populations, distinguished by their Mesopotamian Arabic language and the cultural traditions of historic Mesopotamia.
They are a diaspora people in the Arab, Levant people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Levantine Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Netherlands
- Population
- 63,500
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Levant
- Primary language
- Levantine Arabic (apc)
- Primary religion
- Sunni 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 Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Iraqi 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 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
90% adherents
Primary language
Levantine Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
83% speak Levantine Arabic
Gospel resources in Levantine Arabic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Sabeel Media · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Iraqi Arabs
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 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.
Arab, Iraqi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 104056) is reported in 16 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraqi Shia Arabs | Iraq | 19,730,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| 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 | 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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