List of countries by Zoroastrian population
A 2012 study featured in the FEZANA Journal, a quarterly publication of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), published a demographic picture of Zoroastrians around the world and a comparison with a similar study done in 2004.[1] The study gives a global estimate of 111,691-121,962 Zoroastrians,[1] roughly half of them in India (made up of the Parsi and Irani subgroups) and Iran.
As of 2019, it has been estimated that there are 100,000 to 200,000 Zoroastrians worldwide, with around 60,000 Parsis in India and 1,400 in Pakistan.[2]
Zoroastrianism gained official recognition in the Kurdistan Region in 2015 and three Zoroastrian temples have opened in the region, and the Zoroastrian community has claimed that thousands of people have recently converted to Zoroastrianism in the region.[3][4] In 2020, The Yasna association, a Zoroastrian advocacy group in the Kurdistan Region, which also functions as a representative of the faith within the Iraqi Kurdish government, claims that since 2014, about 15,000 people have registered with the organisation so far.[5]
Country | Population (2012)[1] |
---|---|
India | 61,000 |
Iran | 15,000-25,271 |
Kurdistan Region | 15,000 (in 2020, according to the community)[5] |
United States | 14,405 |
Canada | 6,442 |
United Kingdom | 5,500 |
Australia | 2,577 |
Arab states of the Persian Gulf | 1,900 |
Pakistan | 1,675 |
New Zealand | 1,231 |
Other European countries & Central Asia | 1,000 |
World | 111,691-121,962 |
Millions of Yazidis, Shabakis and Yarsanis live in Iraq and Iran who follow pre-islamic Mithraic and syncretic religions similar to and influenced by Zoroastrianism as well, and have been included as Zoroastrian under some research methods and population studies due to their similarities.
Currently, Zoroastrianism is an officially recognized religion in Iraqi Kurdistan,[4] Iran,[6] and India.
A Zoroastrian advocacy group has claimed that there are more than 7,000 Zoroastrians in Uzbekistan, however this has not been confirmed by independent sources.[7]
See also
References
- Rivetna, Roshan. "The Zoroastrian World A 2012 Demographic Picture" (PDF). Fezana.org.
- History.com - Zoroastrianism
- "Zoroastrian faith returns to Kurdistan in response to ISIL violence". Rudaw. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- "Iraqi Kurds turn to Zoroastrianism as faith, identity entwine". France 24. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- Reuters - Zoroastrians make a comeback in northern Iraq, but still face stigma
- Colin Brock, Lila Zia Levers. Aspects of Education in the Middle East and Africa Symposium Books Ltd., 7 mei 2007 ISBN 1-873927-21-5 p. 99
- Uzbekistan Zoroastrian Anjuman Registered