Iraqi diaspora

Countries with a significant population of Iraqis and their descendants.
  Iraq
  ≥1,000,000
  ≥100,000
  ≥10,000
  ≥1,000

The Iraqi diaspora refers to native Iraqis who have left for other countries as emigrants or refugees, and is now[when?] one of the largest in modern times, being described by the UN as a "humanitarian crisis" caused by the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 invasion of Iraq and by the ensuing war.[1]

The diaspora is formed of various ethnic and religious groups from Iraq, including: Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmens, and Circassians who are mostly Muslims (practicing Sunni or Shia Islam). In addition, there are also Christians communities within the diaspora, such as the Assyrians and Armenians as well as some Jews. There are also Yazidis within the Iraqi diaspora.

  1. ^ Moszynski, Peter (2007). "Growing displacement of refugees causes new problems in Iraq". British Medical Journal. 335 (7617): 418–419. doi:10.1136/bmj.39317.608900.db. PMC 1962848. PMID 17762020.