Iraqi Arabs of Canada (PGID: PG047414)

PEOPLE GROUP PROFILE

The Iraqi Arabs of Canada

The Iraqi Arabs of Canada, numbering approximately 85,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Arabic-speaking people of Iraq descended from Arab and indigenous Mesopotamian populations, distinguished by their Mesopotamian Arabic language and the cultural traditions of historic Mesopotamia. They mostly adhere to Shia Islam and Mesopotamian Arabic is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Arab, Iraqi

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Arab Peoples
Country: Canada
People Cluster: Arab, Levant
Primary Language(s): Mesopotamian Arabic (acm)
Primary Religion(s): Shia Islam
Population: 85,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG047414
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Pray for the Iraqi Arabs of Canada

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Shia Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

95%

Shia Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Mesopotamian Arabic
Language Family: Afro-Asiatic

100%

Arabic, Mesopotamian Speakers

Media Resources in Mesopotamian Arabic:

Films:

Title	Link
JESUS	View Film

1 film

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Mesopotamian Arabic:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Mesopotamian Arabic bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Iraqi Arabs are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Iraqi Arabs:

Continue prayer and fasting for this group

Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group

Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Iraqi Arabs of Canada

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Psalm 67:3

Pray that those who are lost and unaware of God's blessings will come to know Him as the one true God, put their trust in Him, and join in praising Him among the nations.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:11

Pray that the good news will advance and people will recognize and worship the One who created all things by His will, giving glory and honor to Him alone.

And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 16:17

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will abide in Him and have assurance that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
2 Corinthians 12:28

Ask God to raise up believers who will faithfully proclaim the good news and equip others to do the same.

Arab, Iraqi Across Countries (ROP3 - 104056) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

Engaged yet Unreached UUPG No Longer Unreached

CountryReligion

17 people groups

People Group ID	Name	Country	Population ▼	Strategic Progress Index	Language	Religion
PG046790	Iraqi Shia Arabs	Iraq	19,740,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Shia Islam
PG011777	Iraqi Arabs	Jordan	1,600,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Levantine Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG050210	Iraqi Arabs	Sweden	182,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG042436	Iraqi Arabs	Germany	178,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG046490	Iraqi Arabs	United States	156,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Shia Islam
PG047414	Iraqi Arabs	Canada	85,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Shia Islam
PG050028	Iraqi Arabs	Netherlands	63,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Levantine Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG012188	Iraqi Arabs	Syria	60,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Shia Islam
PG042882	Iraqi Arabs	United Arab Emirates	59,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG011816	Iraqi Arabs	Lebanon	25,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Standard Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG042374	Iraqi Arabs	Belgium	22,000	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG049968	Iraqi Arabs	Greece	17,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG011798	Iraqi Arabs	Kuwait	14,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG042889	Iraqi Arabs	Yemen	10,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG011264	Iraqi Arabs	Algeria	8,700	Unengaged and Unreached	Standard Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG011667	Iraqi Arabs	France	6,800	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam
PG042328	Iraqi Arabs	Italy	4,300	Unengaged and Unreached	Mesopotamian Arabic	Sunni Islam

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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