Changes

*Population (July 2007 est.): 27,499,638.  

*Population (July 2007 est.): 27,499,638.  

*Population growth rate (2007 est.): 2.618%.  

*Population growth rate (2007 est.): 2.618%.  

*Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurd 15%-20%, Turcoman, Chaldean, Assyrian, or others less than 5%.  

*Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurd 15%-20%, Assyrian 3%, Turcoman, Chaldean, or others less than 5%.  

*Religions: Muslim 97%, Christian 3%, others less than 1%.  

*Religions: Muslim 97%, Christian 3%, others less than 1%.  

*Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Assyrian, Armenian.  

*Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Assyrian, Armenian.  

==Christianity==

==Christianity==

Iraq has a had a long history of Christianity in its nation dating back before the conquest of Islam in the 7th century.  The Chaldean Christians have come under increasing persecution since the recent [[Iraq War]] as the insurgency after the war has targeted Christian churches and communities on more than one occasion.  Many Christians have been forced to flee the country.  Approximately three-quarters of a million remain.  The United States will not recognize them as political refugees since they consider the country to have been 'liberated'.  Many of these Christians have fled to Syria, an area not exactly known for its friendliness to Christians either, but at least they don't bomb them.

Iraq has a had a long history of Christianity in its nation dating back before the conquest of Islam in the 7th century.  The Chaldean Christians have come under increasing persecution since the recent [[Iraq War]] as the insurgency after the war has targeted Christian churches and communities on more than one occasion.  Many Christians have been forced to flee the country.  Approximately three-quarters of a million remain.  The United States will not recognize them as political refugees since they consider the country to have been 'liberated'.  Many of these Christians have fled to Syria, where Christians account for more than 10% of the population.

The U.S. government set up a proposal that 12 of Iraq's 440 government seats be set aside for Christians.  The Iraqi government decided to half this to 6, far underrepresenting the percentage of the Christian community by population.<ref>The San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, Nov. 9th, 2008</ref>  While it is possible for Christians to win seats on their own, Iraq's strongly sectarian voting based upon religion makes this a virtual impossibility.

The U.S. government set up a proposal that 12 of Iraq's 440 government seats be set aside for Christians.  The Iraqi government decided to half this to 6, far underrepresenting the percentage of the Christian community by population.<ref>The San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, Nov. 9th, 2008</ref>  While it is possible for Christians to win seats on their own, Iraq's strongly sectarian voting based upon religion makes this a virtual impossibility.