WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Today, Shia Muslims make up the majority of the Iraqi population. Iraq is the location of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, pilgrimage sites for millions of Shia Muslims. Najaf is the site of Ali’s tomb, and Karbala is the site of the tomb of Muhammad’s grandson, third Shia imam Husayn ibn Ali.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Iraqi Muslim population is particularly complex as it has large populations of followers from both the Sunni and Shi’a sect . It is estimated that 55-60% of the population is Shi’a whilst roughly 40% are Sunni Muslims. Indeed, Iraq is the only Arab state in which Shi’a Muslims constitute the majority.

Detailed explanation-3: -Shia Muslims, predominantly Arabs but also including Turkoman, Faili (Shia) Kurds, and others, constitute 55 to 60 percent of the population. Sunni Muslims are approximately 40 percent of the population, of which Arabs constitute 24 percent, Kurds 15 percent, and Turkomans the remaining 1 percent.

Detailed explanation-4: -Iraq’s Shia Muslim majority, numbering about 15 million, or 60 percent of Iraq’s population, lives mostly in the southern half of the country, centered around Najaf, Nasiriya, and Basra.

Detailed explanation-5: -Sunni and Shia Populations An overwhelming majority of Muslims are Sunnis, while an estimated 10-13% are Shias. This report estimates that there are between 154 million and 200 million Shia Muslims in the world today.