Christians declining in the Middle East

Although there is much debate about the numbers of Christians in the Middle East, Lebanese journalist Camille Eid has dared to publish his estimate based upon years of research. According to this research, Christians made up 14.84% of the population in 1914 in seven countries in the Middle East where Christians are rooted: Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. In 2014, Christians make up 4.82%.

Lebanon:
In 1914, Christians were 57.6% of the population
In 1947, 50% of the population
In 2014, 38% of the population (1.6 million)

Turkey:
In 1914, Christians were 18.9% of the population
In 1947, 1% of the population
In 2014, 0.1% of the population (100 000)

Syria
In 1914, Christians were 10.1% of the population
In 1947, 14.2% of the population
In 2014, 4.2% of the population (840 000)

Jordan
In 1914, Christians were 9.5% of the population
In 1947, 8.3% of the population
In 2014, 1.9% of the population (120 000)

Holy Land
In 1914, Christians were 11.3% of the population
In 1947, 6.8% of the population
In 2014, 1.9% of the population (55 000 in Palestine, 144 000 in Israel)
(It is important to note that before and after 1948, the Jews became the majority in the Holy Land because of massive immigration)

Egypt
In 1914, Christians were 8.8% of the population
In 1947, 8% of the population
In 2014, 9% of the population (8.5 million)

Iraq
In 1914, Christians were 2.2% of the population
In 1947, 3.2% of the population
In 2014, 0.9% of the population (250 000)

It should be pointed out that these statistics do not include the migrant populations that have come into the area in the past decades and include only the indigenous populations of the Middle East.

Many would disagree with Eid’s estimates.

Read the article in Arabic on the Abouna.org website here