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Shia Islam

Updated: 1/1/1970, 12:00:00 AM Wikipedia source

Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661) as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to have been usurped by a number of Muhammad's companions at the meeting of Saqifa, during which they appointed Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) as caliph instead. As such, Sunni Muslims believe Abu Bakr, Umar (r. 634–644), Uthman (r. 644–656) and Ali to be 'rightly-guided caliphs', whereas Shia Muslims regard only Ali as the legitimate successor. Shia Muslims believe that the imamate continued through Ali's sons, Hasan and Husayn, after which various Shia branches developed and recognized different imams. They revere the ahl al-bayt, the family of Muhammad, maintaining that they possess divine knowledge. Shia holy sites include the shrine of Ali in Najaf, the shrine of Husayn in Karbala, and other mausoleums of the ahl al-bayt. Later events, such as Husayn's martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala (680 CE), further influenced the development of Shia Islam, contributing to the formation of a distinct religious sect with its own rituals and shared collective memory. Shia Islam is followed by 10–15% of all Muslims, numbering at an estimated 200–300 million followers worldwide as of 2025. The three main Shia branches are Twelverism, Isma'ilism, and Zaydism. Shia Muslims form a majority of the population in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan, as well as about half of the citizen population of Bahrain. Significant Shia communities are also found in Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent. Iran stands as the world's only country where Shia Islam forms the foundation of both its laws and governance system.

Tables

Nations with over 100,000 Shia[94][95] · Demographics › Significant populations worldwide
Iran
Iran
Country
Iran
Article
Islam in Iran
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
66,000,000–69,500,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
90–95
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
37–40
Pakistan
Pakistan
Country
Pakistan
Article
Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
25,272,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
15
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
15
Population estimate ranges and notes
A 2023 census estimate was that Shia made up about 15-20% of Pakistan's population.
Iraq
Iraq
Country
Iraq
Article
Shi'a Islam in Iraq
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
19,000,000–24,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
55–65
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
10–11
India
India
Country
India
Article
Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
12,300,000–18,500,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
1.3–2
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
9–14
Yemen
Yemen
Country
Yemen
Article
Shia Islam in Yemen
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
7,000,000–8,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
35–40
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~5
Population estimate ranges and notes
Majority following Zaydi Shia sect.
Turkey
Turkey
Country
Turkey
Article
Shi'a Islam in Turkey
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
6,000,000–9,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~10–15
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~3–4
Population estimate ranges and notes
Majority following Alevi Shia sect.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Country
Azerbaijan
Article
Islam in Azerbaijan
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
4,575,000–5,590,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
45–55
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
2–3
Population estimate ranges and notes
Azerbaijan is majority Shia. A 2012 work noted that in Azerbaijan, among believers of all faiths, 10% identified as Sunni, 30% identified as Shia, and the remainder of followers of Islam simply identified as Muslim.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Country
Afghanistan
Article
Shi'a Islam in Afghanistan
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
3,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
15
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~2
Population estimate ranges and notes
A reliable census has not been taken in Afghanistan in decades, but about 20% of Afghan population is Shia, mostly among ethnic Tajik and Hazara minorities.
Syria
Syria
Country
Syria
Article
Islam in Syria
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
2,400,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
13
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~2
Population estimate ranges and notes
Majority following Alawites Shia sect.
Lebanon
Lebanon
Country
Lebanon
Article
Shi'a Islam in Lebanon
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
2,100,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
31.2
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
In 2020, the CIA World Factbook stated that Shia Muslims constitute 31.2% of Lebanon's population.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Country
Saudi Arabia
Article
Shi'a Islam in Saudi Arabia
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
2,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~6
Nigeria
Nigeria
Country
Nigeria
Article
Shi'a Islam in Nigeria
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<2,000,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
Estimates range from as low as 2% of Nigeria's Muslim population to as high as 17% of Nigeria's Muslim population. Some, but not all, Nigerian Shia are affiliated with the banned Islamic Movement in Nigeria, an Iranian-inspired Shia organization led by Ibrahim Zakzaky.
Tanzania
Tanzania
Country
Tanzania
Article
Islam in Tanzania
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~1,500,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~2.5
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Kuwait
Kuwait
Country
Kuwait
Article
Shi'a Islam in Kuwait
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
500,000–700,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
20–25
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
Among Kuwait's estimated 1.4 million citizens, about 30% are Shia (including Ismaili and Ahmadi, whom the Kuwaiti government count as Shia). Among Kuwait's large expatriate community of 3.3 million noncitizens, about 64% are Muslim, and among expatriate Muslims, about 5% are Shia.
Bahrain
Bahrain
Country
Bahrain
Article
Islam in Bahrain
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
400,000–500,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
65–70
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Country
Tajikistan
Article
Shi'a Islam in Tajikistan
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~400,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~4
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
Shi'a Muslims in Tajikistan are predominantly Nizari Ismaili
Germany
Germany
Country
Germany
Article
Islam in Germany
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~400,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~0.5
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Country
United Arab Emirates
Article
Islam in the United Arab Emirates
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~300,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~3
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
United States
United States
Country
United States
Article
Islam in the United StatesShia Islam in the Americas
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~225,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~0.07
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
Shi'a form a majority amongst Arab Muslims in many American cities, e.g. Lebanese Shi'a forming the majority in Detroit.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Country
United Kingdom
Article
Islam in the United Kingdom
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~125,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~0.2
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Qatar
Qatar
Country
Qatar
Article
Islam in Qatar
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~100,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~3.5
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Oman
Oman
Country
Oman
Article
Islam in Oman
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
~100,000
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
~2
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
<1
Population estimate ranges and notes
As of 2015, about 5% of Omanis are Shia (compared to about 50% Ibadi and 45% Sunni).
Country
Article
Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
Percent of population that is Shia in 2009 (Pew)
Percent of global Shia population in 2009 (Pew)
Population estimate ranges and notes
Iran
Islam in Iran
66,000,000–69,500,000
90–95
37–40
Pakistan
Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent
25,272,000
15
15
A 2023 census estimate was that Shia made up about 15-20% of Pakistan's population.
Iraq
Shi'a Islam in Iraq
19,000,000–24,000,000
55–65
10–11
India
Shia Islam in the Indian subcontinent
12,300,000–18,500,000
1.3–2
9–14
Yemen
Shia Islam in Yemen
7,000,000–8,000,000
35–40
~5
Majority following Zaydi Shia sect.
Turkey
Shi'a Islam in Turkey
6,000,000–9,000,000
~10–15
~3–4
Majority following Alevi Shia sect.
Azerbaijan
Islam in Azerbaijan
4,575,000–5,590,000
45–55
2–3
Azerbaijan is majority Shia. A 2012 work noted that in Azerbaijan, among believers of all faiths, 10% identified as Sunni, 30% identified as Shia, and the remainder of followers of Islam simply identified as Muslim.
Afghanistan
Shi'a Islam in Afghanistan
3,000,000
15
~2
A reliable census has not been taken in Afghanistan in decades, but about 20% of Afghan population is Shia, mostly among ethnic Tajik and Hazara minorities.
Syria
Islam in Syria
2,400,000
13
~2
Majority following Alawites Shia sect.
Lebanon
Shi'a Islam in Lebanon
2,100,000
31.2
<1
In 2020, the CIA World Factbook stated that Shia Muslims constitute 31.2% of Lebanon's population.
Saudi Arabia
Shi'a Islam in Saudi Arabia
2,000,000
~6
Nigeria
Shi'a Islam in Nigeria
<2,000,000
<1
<1
Estimates range from as low as 2% of Nigeria's Muslim population to as high as 17% of Nigeria's Muslim population. Some, but not all, Nigerian Shia are affiliated with the banned Islamic Movement in Nigeria, an Iranian-inspired Shia organization led by Ibrahim Zakzaky.
Tanzania
Islam in Tanzania
~1,500,000
~2.5
<1
Kuwait
Shi'a Islam in Kuwait
500,000–700,000
20–25
<1
Among Kuwait's estimated 1.4 million citizens, about 30% are Shia (including Ismaili and Ahmadi, whom the Kuwaiti government count as Shia). Among Kuwait's large expatriate community of 3.3 million noncitizens, about 64% are Muslim, and among expatriate Muslims, about 5% are Shia.
Bahrain
Islam in Bahrain
400,000–500,000
65–70
<1
Tajikistan
Shi'a Islam in Tajikistan
~400,000
~4
<1
Shi'a Muslims in Tajikistan are predominantly Nizari Ismaili
Germany
Islam in Germany
~400,000
~0.5
<1
United Arab Emirates
Islam in the United Arab Emirates
~300,000
~3
<1
United States
Islam in the United StatesShia Islam in the Americas
~225,000
~0.07
<1
Shi'a form a majority amongst Arab Muslims in many American cities, e.g. Lebanese Shi'a forming the majority in Detroit.
United Kingdom
Islam in the United Kingdom
~125,000
~0.2
<1
Qatar
Islam in Qatar
~100,000
~3.5
<1
Oman
Islam in Oman
~100,000
~2
<1
As of 2015, about 5% of Omanis are Shia (compared to about 50% Ibadi and 45% Sunni).

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