Iraqi Arab in Canada


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Iraqi Arabs descended from a people group cluster called the Levant Arabs. The Levant Arabs originally settled all over the Arabian Peninsula and later migrated to North Africa. They are spread from Israel to Kuwait and as far east as Iran. "Levant" is a broad term that includes several groups of Arabs: the Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Arabic Jewish, Chaldean, and Syrian Arabs.
Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula are the original Arabs. The Arabian culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert for many centuries. It was also from there that the Arab migrations began, eventually leading to the expansion of the Arab world. Modern day Iraq is the home of the ancient Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian empires. Iraq was occupied by Britain during World War I. In 1932, Iraq gained its independence. Today three-fourths of Iraq is Arab.
There has been war and turmoil in Iraq since the early 1990s, leading many to seek shelter and employment elsewhere. That includes Canada.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In recent years, Iraqis living in Canada have increased in numbers. The Iran-Iraq war caused many Iraqis to come to Canada. The Gulf War of 1991 caused more Iraqis to come to that peaceful country. Since 2006 more have come to Canada probably due to the situation in Iraq since 2003 Most of them have gone to live in French speaking Quebec. In addition to French, they speak Arabic and English among other languages in Canada.
Though the Iraqis in Canada are well educated, more than half are unemployed. Of those who are employed, most are professionals or office workers. A lot look at themselves as being Arabs and they like to keep the Arabic language. Many Iraqis born in Canada cannot speak Arabic but can understand it. Iraqis here prefer to marry among their own people group.
There are well known Iraqis living in Canada, some of whom were born in Canada but are descended from Iraqis.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Iraqis in Canada are Muslims or Christians. Most of the Muslims are Sunni. There is an Iraqi community center in Montreal that helps Iraqis to get used to living in Canada. Men and women among the Iraqis are treated equally here unlike in many Arab countries.


What Are Their Needs?

Iraqi Arabs in Canada need job training and language skills. They need to learn English and French to flourish in that country.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ followers to provide job training to Iraqi Arabs.
Pray that Iraqi Christians lead Iraqi Arabs in Canada to Jesus Christ.
Pray for Iraqi Arabs in Canada to disciple others.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Iraqi in Canada.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab, Iraqi
People Name in Country Arab, Iraqi
Natural Name Iraqi Arab
Pronunciation ee-RAH-kee AE-rub
Alternate Names Arab, Mesopotamian Speakers; Arab-Mesopotamian; Iraqi Arab; Iraqi Arabs; Mesopotamian Spoken; North Iraqi Arab
Population this Country 73,000
Population all Countries 21,539,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12247
ROP3 Code 104056
ROP25 Code 300404
ROP25 Name Arab, Iraqi
Country Canada
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Toronto (Vaughan), Vancouver (Surrey)   Source:  Global Gates 2021
Country Canada
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Toronto (Vaughan), Vancouver (Surrey).   Source:  Global Gates 2021
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
65.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
30.00 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (73,000 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Mesopotamian (73,000 speakers)
Language Code acm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Mesopotamian
Photo Source Christiaan Briggs - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024