LocationFlagReligionsContext
IranIranShia IslamMuslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
PakistanPakistanShia IslamMuslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%
AfghanistanAfghanistanShia IslamSunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
YemenYemenShia IslamMuslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
IraqIraqShia IslamMuslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
OmanOmanShia IslamIbadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
TajikistanTajikistanShia IslamSunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
JordanJordanDruze faith, Shia IslamSunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
EmiratesEmiratesShia IslamMuslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
KuwaitKuwaitShia IslamMuslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
LebanonLebanonAlawi faith, Druze faith, Ismaili faith, Shia IslamMuslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
BahrainBahrainShia IslamMuslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
SyriaSyriaAlawi faith, Druze faithSunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
IsraelIsraelDruze faithJewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Occurrences

  • Description
    • represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible, divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as "Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the righteous.

Names