Iraqis

Iraqis are the citizens of Iraq or people who identify with the Iraqi nation. The population is multiethnic and multireligious, with major communities including Arabs and Kurds, and significant minorities such as Turkmen, Assyrians/Chaldeans, Syriac-speaking communities, Yazidis, and Shabaks. The concept of Iraqi identity encompasses these diverse groups within the borders of the modern state.

Most Iraqis speak Arabic as their day-to-day language, with Kurdish recognized as an official language in the Kurdistan Region. Other languages spoken by minority communities include Turkmen, Syriac languages, Armenian, and Mandaic. The majority of the population is Muslim, with communities of Shia and Sunni Muslims, alongside minorities such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandaeans.

Geographically, Iraqis are concentrated in Iraq’s governorates, with major urban centers including Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah. A sizable diaspora exists in neighboring countries and in Europe, North America, and Australia. Iraqi culture reflects a long historical heritage connected to Mesopotamia, contributing to fields such as literature, music, cuisine, and the arts, while contemporary Iraqi society continues to navigate political, social, and economic challenges.