Islam in Iraq: history and Muslim population data

History of Islam in Iraq

The Republic of Iraq has an area of 438,317 sq km and its map ispresented in Figure 2.3.2. It was taken by the British from the Ottomansin 1920 and gained its independence from the UK in 1932. The west partwas conquered by Muslims during the reign of Caliph Abu Bakr in 12Hor 633AD. The Muslim troops were under the leadership of the Prophet’scompanion Khalid bnul Walid al Makhzomi. In this year they conqueredBasra, Kofa, and the Anbar province. Their fight was with Persians whowere in control of Iraq. The Muslim attacks continued under CaliphOmar. The decisive battle in the conquest of Iraq was the battle ofQadissiya, in the middle of Iraq, south of Bagdad, in 14H or 635AD.Muslim troops were led by the Prophet’s companion Saad bnu AbiWaqqas. The conquest of Iraq was culminated in 16H or 637AD whenMosul, in north Iraq, was conquered.

The Muslim population increased from 0.42 million or 94.8% in 1580, to 0.79 millionor 93.0% in 1881, to 1.35 million or 91.7% in 1894, to 1.38 million or 91.7%in 1914, to 2.6 million or 92.7% in 1920, to 3.1 million or 93.1% in 1935, to4.5 million or 93.6% in 1947, to 6.1 million or 95.6% in 1957, to 7.7 millionor 96.0% in 1965, to 11.5 million or 96.7% in 1977

According to the World Values Survey (WVS), the percentage ofMuslims was 99.15% in 2006, then 99.00% in 2013 and 99.8% in 2018.Thus, assuming that the percentage of Muslims remains at 99.8%; thenthe Muslim population is projected to exceed 73 million by 2050 and 111million by 2100.

Historical Muslim population dataset for Iraq

The figures below are from the CoMPS historical dataset. Population values are expressed in thousands; 2100 is a modelled projection, not a present-day count.

For the full time series and visualisation, use the interactive map above.