Shiamajority

Shiamajority, also written Shia-majority, is a term used in demography and political analysis to describe a population, region, or polity in which Shia Muslims constitute the majority. It is most commonly applied at national or subnational levels and is used to discuss questions of representation, governance, and religious influence in public life.

Shia Islam is grouped mainly into Twelver, Ismaili, and Zaidi branches, with Twelvers forming the overwhelming majority in many Shiamajority contexts. The concept is most clearly illustrated by Iran, where Twelver Shia Islam shapes state ideology and political institutions. Iraq is another major Shiamajority country with power-sharing arrangements that elevate Shia parties in government. Azerbaijan has a Shia-majority population alongside a secular state framework. Bahrain features a Shia-majority population and a ruling Sunni-dominated government, a dynamic that has at times prompted political tensions. Lebanon’s Shia communities are substantial and politically influential within a consociational system, though the country is not nationwide Shia-majority.

Implications of Shiamajority status include potential for concentrated religious authority in governance, as seen in Iran, as well as diverse political outcomes in mixed or plural societies. The term also intersects with regional geopolitics, sectarian identities, and demographic trends that affect representation and policy in affected regions.

See also: Shia Islam, Demography of Islam, Sectarianism.