People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Arab, Iraqi of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 229,309

ROP3 Code: 104056
IMB Affinity Group: North African and Middle Eastern Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Arab World
People Cluster: Arab, Levant
Language: Mesopotamian Arabic - (acm)
Religion: Islam - Shia
Country of Origin: Iraq

Majority Located Where

  Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI - 68,626

  Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - 22,987

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 17,491

  San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA - 16,591

  Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ - 12,758

Large populations of Arab, Iraqi reside in Michigan (the majority in Detroit and Dearborn metro area).

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

The vast majority of Arab, Iraqi people began migrating to North America in the past twenty years due to conflict and war in their homeland. Due to many having refugee status and a lack of helpful aide it is difficult for them to access health care or other public services, even providing school uniforms and books for children is often difficult. Due also to the brutality that has occurred in Iraq over the recent decades there are many people who are traumatized emotionally.

Generally Arab, Iraqis are employed in positions of sales, business, or construction. They are more often than not hard working and very hospitable. They also are generally devout Muslims and are tend to mingle only among themselves. Nevertheless, they are friendly and are even very willing to talk about religious things.

The various people groups from Iraq form one of the largest diasporas in the world. The Iraqi diaspora is not a sudden exodus but one that has grown rapidly through the 20th century as each generation faced some form of radical transition or political conflict.

From 1950 to 1952 Iraq saw a great exodus of roughly 120,000 - 130,000 of its Jewish population under the Israel-led "Operation Ezra and Nehemiah". There were at least two large waves of expatriation of both Christians and Muslims alike. A great number of Iraqis left the country during the regime of Saddam Hussein and large numbers have left during the Second Gulf War and its aftermath. The United Nations estimates that roughly 40% of Iraq's remaining and formerly strong middle-class have fled the country following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would give boldness to Christians to talk with the Arab, Iraqi people.
  • Pray that God would continue to provide for their material and physical needs.
  • Pray that God would send evangelical Christians into the harvest field of Arab, Iraqi.
  • Pray that God would show the Arab, Iraqi people of their need for a God who is both ultimate and intimate.
  • Take a virtual prayerwalk in the Iraqi Arab community in Chicagoland, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Detroit.


People Group Resources

Bible.is - Mardini (Mesopotamian) Arabic
Audio and written Bible in Mardini Arabic spoken by Iraqi Arabs.

Global Recordings Network - Mesopotamiam Arabic
Audio Bible stories and resources in Mesopotamian Arabic.

IndigiTube - Baghdadi Arabic
Many gospel video resources in Baghdadi Arabic.

Jesus Film in Baghdadi Arabic
The life of Jesus video in Baghdadi Arabic dialect.

Jesus Film Project - Magdalena in Standard Modern Arabic
JESUS Film adaptation with honor/shame theme. It's a great resource for sharing with women in Standard Modern Arabic dialect.

King of Glory Film - Iraqi Arabic
King of Glory goes through the ancient Scriptures of the prophets as it chronologically and unfolds their story and message in Iraqi Arabic.

The Hope Project
An 80-minute dramatic film overviews the story of God's promises for all people as revealed in the Bible. In Standard Arabic.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.


Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 31-58 of 58 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesJacksonvilleJacksonvilleFL1,682
United StatesBeavertonPortland-Vancouver-HillsboroOR1,648
United StatesUnion squareBaltimore-Columbia-TowsonMD1,537
United StatesTerrace ParkTampa-St. Petersburg-ClearwaterFL1,514
United StatesParksideOrlando-Kissimmee-SanfordFL1,503
United StatesMilwMilwaukee-Waukesha-West AllisWI1,411
United StatesKansas CityKansas CityMO1,334
United StatesAshley ParkCharlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC1,009
United StatesNorthsideAnn ArborMI1,006
United StatesPine HillsAlbany-Schenectady-TroyNY1,004
United StatesKnoxvilleKnoxvilleTN1,000
United StatesMeadowbrookPhiladelphia-Camden-WilmingtonPA788
United StatesOklahoma CityOklahoma CityOK781
United StatesDaytonDaytonOH612
United StatesTucsonTucsonAZ409
United StatesAmarilloAmarillo-DumasTX390
United StatesSt LouisSt. LouisMO379
United StatesVirginia BeachVirginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport NewsVA354
United StatesHendersonLas Vegas-Henderson-ParadiseNV336
United StatesMidlandMidland-OdessaTX300
United StatesKennerNew Orleans-MetairieLA284
United StatesIndianapolisIndianapolis-Carmel-AndersonIN275
United StatesAlbuquerqueAlbuquerqueNM255
United StatesFayettevilleFayetteville-Springdale-RogersAR209
United StatesRaleighRaleigh-Durham-Chapel HillNC181
United StatesOdessaOdessaTX92
United StatesLittle RockLittle Rock-North Little Rock-ConwayAR50
United StatesWilmingtonWilmingtonNC9