Christian Population in the Arab World - Syria

SYRIA

Syria has for much of the century had a sizeable Christian minority, making up at least 10% of the population. The proportion is thought to be declining due to emigration, conflict and low birth rates, although there are few reliable statistics.

• Total pop: 22.5m
• Christians: 1m-2.3m
• 4.4-10.2% of total pop
• Main Churches: Greek Orthodox; Catholic
• Main issues: Declining numbers; political instability
• Sources: World Christian Database; CIA World Factbook; UN

In recent years Syria has been considered one of the easier Middle Eastern countries for Christians to live in. Power is concentrated in the hands of the Alawite minority - a Shia sect considered heretical by many Muslims - which has clamped down hard on extreme forms of Islam. This all changed once ISIS and many other Sunni extremist groups decided to wage war against the secular Assad regime. Today, the plight of Christians in Syria is very dire. Many are hunted down by Islamists, either forced to convert or face death. We have seen horrific videos of beheading of Christians by ISIS. 

It should be noted that Saudi Arabia, Gulf States, Israel, Turkey and America did support in some form or fashion ISIS and the so called "Free Syrian Army". The fact that today we, along with some "Arab coalition partners" are bombing ISIS only highlights the insanity of our foreign policy there. Prior to the conflict, some Christians have been successful in professions and business - with a few rising relatively high in the administration. Still, some have followed relatives to the West for economic reasons, to escape the general repression of the regime and more recently left to escape war.

The largest Churches are the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic. There are also Syrian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Assyrian and Chaldean (see Iran and Iraq) Christians.

Christian Population in the Arab world - West Bank and Gaza

WEST BANK AND GAZA

Christian communities in the West Bank and Gaza have been declining for several decades because of  Israeli occupation, conflict, economic decline and low birth rates.

• Total pop: 3.8m-4.4m
• Christians: 40,000-75,000
• 0.9-1.7% of total pop
• Main Churches: Greek Orthodox; Catholic
• Issues: Declining numbers; Israeli-Palestinian conflict; radical Islam
• Sources: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics; UN; World Christian Database

The World Christian Database says they accounted for 5.3% of the population in 1970 and have dropped to less than half that now.

Some Christian leaders also cite the rise of radical Islam in the area as a growing pressure on Christian communities.

Christians are concentrated in and around the towns of Bethlehem and Ramallah.

A pastor in Gaza City estimates there are a mere 2,000 Christians among the Gaza Strip's 1.3 million inhabitants.

The two largest Churches are Greek Orthodox and Catholic, although the Assyrian, Armenian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox Churches, as well as many Protestant denominations, are also represented.

Christian-Muslim relationships are largely peaceful and Christians have reached senior positions in the Palestinian Authority, although some Palestinian Christians complain of harassment and discrimination.

Christian Population in the Arab World - Egypt

EGYPT

Most Christians in Egypt are Copts - Christians descended from the ancient Egyptians.

• Total pop: 84.5m
• Christians: 8.9m (est)
• 10.5% of total pop
• Main Church: Coptic Orthodox
• Issues: Anti-Christian violence; political instability
• Sources: World Christian Database; UN

Their Church split from the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in 451AD because of a theological dispute over the nature of Christ, but is now, on most issues, doctrinally similar to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Coptic language - a derivative of the ancient Egyptian language, written mainly in the Greek alphabet - is still used for small parts of services.

Christian-Muslim relations have deteriorated in recent years, with outbreaks of violence by radical Islamists against Christians and their places of worship.

Egyptian Christians have accused the post-Mubarak governing military council of being too lenient on the perpetrators of the attacks.

Copts also complain of discrimination, including a law requiring presidential permission for churches to be built.

A plethora of other Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Armenian Churches are present in smaller numbers in Egypt.

Christian Population in the Arab World - Lebanon

Lebanon is the only Middle Eastern country where Christians were once dominant and retain considerable political power.

Total pop: 4.3m Christians: 1.35m-1.5m
31-35% of total pop
Main Churches: Maronite; Greek Orthodox; Greek Catholic; Armenian Orthodox; Armenian Catholic
Issues: Political instability
Sources: CIA World Factbook; World Christian Database; UN

The country fought a civil war from 1975-1989 largely along religious lines, and relations between the patchwork of Lebanon's religious communities remain delicate. The last official census was conducted in 1932, but current estimates suggest there are slightly more Muslims than Christians. There is a widespread perception among Christians that their numbers and influence are declining. The constitution dictates that the president is always Christian, the prime minister Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker Shia Muslim. The largest Church is the Maronite Church, which traces its origins to a 4th Century Syrian hermit, St Maron. The Church united with the Catholic Church in 1736, although it retains its own traditions and practices. The Greek Orthodox Church is also strong in Lebanon, and there is a wide range of other denominations. Most religious groups operate freely. Muslim-Christian relations have generally been calm in recent years. However, tensions increased in 2005 with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the withdrawal of Syrian troops and a wave of bombings in Christian areas.

 Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-15239529