Religion in Syria

Religion In Syria

Membership of a religious community in Syria is ordinarily determined by birth. Based on statistical analyses from 2006, Muslims were estimated as constituting 87% to 90% (depending on whether Druze were included or not) of the total population, although their proportion was possibly greater and was certainly growing. The Muslim birthrate reportedly was higher than that of the minorities, and proportionately fewer Muslims were emigrates. Of the Syrian population, 74% were Sunnis (including Sufis), whereas 13% were Shias, either Alawites (11.0%), Twelvers (1.0%), Ismailis(0.5%), or Zaydis (0.5%). 3% were Druze, while the remaining 10-12% were Christians. Not all the Sunnis are Arabs. Most of the Kurds, who make up 10% of the population are officially Sunni, as are the Turkmens who encompass 3-5%. Thus Syria is at most 59-61% Sunni Arab.

A striking feature of religious life in Syria is the geographic distribution of the religious minorities. Most Christians live in Damascus and Aleppo, although significant numbers live in Al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, Tartus and Latakia. Nearly 90 percent of the Alawis live in Latakia Governorate in the rural areas of the Jabal an Nusayriyah; they constitute over 80 percent of the rural population of the governorate. The Jabal al-Arab/Jabal al-Druze, a rugged and mountainous region in the southwest of the country, is more than 90 percent Druze inhabited; some 120 villages are exclusively so. The Twelvers Shia's are concentrated between Homs and Aleppo; they constitute nearly 15 percent of Hamah Governorate. The Ismaili Shia's are concentrated in the Salamiyah region of Hamah Governorate; approximately 10,000 more inhabit the mountains of Latakia Governorate. Most of the remaining Shia live in the Aleppo Governorate. The Jewish community is also centered in the Aleppo area, as are the Yazidis, many of whom inhabit the Jabal Sam'an and about half of whom live in the vicinity of Amuda in the Al-Jazira.