View source for Ethnic groups in the Middle East

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{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}
[[File:Ethnolinguisticswasiacia.jpg|thumb|350px|Ethnolinguistic distribution in Central and Southwest Asia of the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]], [[Caucasian languages|Caucasian]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] (Hamito-Semitic) and [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] families.]]
'''Ethnic groups in the Middle East''' are [[Ethnolinguistic group|ethnolinguistic]] groupings in the "transcontinental" region that is commonly a [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] term designating the intercontinental region comprising [[West Asia]] (including Cyprus) without the [[South Caucasus]],<ref name=Britannica>{{citation|title=The Middle East|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Middle-East|website=britannica.com|date=21 September 2023 }}</ref> and also comprising Egypt in [[North Africa]]. The [[Middle East]] has historically been a crossroad of different cultures and [[language]]s.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.su.se/english/education/all-subjects/middle-eastern-languages-and-cultures-1.426272?expEduItemPacks=&expEduItems=&open-collapse-boxes=|title=Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures|website=su.se}}</ref> Since the 1960s, the changes in political and economic factors (especially the enormous [[Energy in the Middle East#Oil|oil wealth]] in the region and conflicts) have significantly altered the ethnic composition of groups in the region. While some ethnic groups have been present in the region for millennia, others have arrived fairly recently through [[immigration]]. The largest socioethnic groups in the region are [[Egyptians]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt (12/01) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/egypt/10845.htm |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> [[Arabs]], [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Persians]], [[Kurds]], and [[Azerbaijanis]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPBfnT_E1mgC&pg=PA16 |title=Ethnic Groups of Africa and the Middle East: An Encyclopedia|isbn=9781598843620 |access-date=26 May 2014 |last1=Shoup |first1=John A. |date=17 October 2011 |publisher=Abc-Clio }}</ref> but there are dozens of other ethnic groups that have hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions of members.

Other [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]], [[Ethnoreligious group|religious]], or [[Minority group|minority]] [[ethnic group]]s include: [[Antiochian Greek Christians|Antiochians]], [[Armenians]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], [[Terms for Syriac Christians#Aramean identity|Arameans]] in the [[Qalamoun Mountains]],<ref>{{cite book |title=اثرنا في الايقليم السوري |date=1960 |page=56 |language=Arabic |quote=السريان في معلولا وجبعدين ولا يزال الأهلون فيها يتكلمون (The Syriacs in Maaloula and Jubb'adin still speak their language.…)}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Western Neo-Aramaic The Dialect of Jubaadin |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |page=2 |language=English, Arabic |quote=Jubaadinis are very proud of their language and their Aramean identity and they have no trouble at all balancing their religious and ethnic identities.…}}</ref><ref>"…The city of Jubaadin in Syria, which is close to Maaloula, is inhabited by Aramaic-speaking people who are Syriac Arameans…", translated quote from the Arabic book (Atlas of Religions) معلولا السريان</ref><ref>The Semitic Heritage of Northwest Syria, p. 271</ref><ref>"…Maaloula Syriacs have maintained their Syriac identity since ancient times, and there is ample evidence of their Syriac heritage, especially in Maaloula, Ain Tineh, Bakhah, and Jubaadin…", translated quote from the book إلياس أنطون نصر الله في معلولا, p. 45</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://friendsofmaaloula.de/en/ | title=Hilfe für das Aramäerdorf Maaloula e.V. &#124; an aid project in Syria }}</ref> [[Baloch people|Baloch]], [[Copts]], [[Druze]], [[Gilaks]], [[Greeks]] (including [[Greek Cypriots|Cypriots]] and [[Pontic Greeks|Pontians]]), [[Jews]], [[Doms in Iraq|Kawliya]], [[Laz people|Laz]], [[Lurs]], [[Mandaeans]], [[Maronites]], [[Mazanderani people|Mazanderanis]], [[Mhallami]], [[Nawar people|Nawar]], [[Samaritans]], [[Shabaks]], [[Talysh people|Talysh]], [[Tat people (Iran)|Tats]], [[Yazidis]] and [[Zazas]].

Diaspora ethnic groups living in the region include: [[Albanians]], [[Bengalis]], [[British people|Britons]], [[Bosniaks]], [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]], [[Circassians]], [[Crimean Tatars]], [[Filipinos]], [[French people]], [[Georgians]], [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indians]], [[Native Indonesians|Indonesians]], [[Italians]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]], [[Malayali]], [[Overseas Pakistani|Pakistanis]], [[Pashtuns]], [[Punjabis]], [[Romanians]], [[Romani people|Romani]], [[Serbs]], [[Sikhs]], [[Sindhis]], [[Somalis]], [[Demographics of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankans]], [[Turkmens]], and [[sub-Saharan Africa]]ns.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of the Middle East}}
{| {{Table}}
! Countries !! Demographics
|-
! {{flag|Bahrain}}
| [[Demographics of Bahrain#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Bahrain]]
|- 
! {{flag|Cyprus}}
| [[Demographics of Cyprus|Ethnic groups in Cyprus]]
|-
! {{flag|Egypt}}
| [[Demographics of Egypt#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Egypt]]
|-
! {{flag|Iran}}
| [[Demographics of Iran#Languages and ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Iran]]
|-
! {{flag|Iraq}}
| [[Demographics of Iraq#Ethnicity|Ethnic groups in Iraq]]
|-
! {{flag|Israel}}
| [[Demographics of Israel#Ethnic and religious groups|Ethnic groups in Israel]]
|-
! {{flag|Jordan}}
| [[Demographics of Jordan#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Jordan]]
|-
! {{flag|Kuwait}}
| [[Ethnic groups in Kuwait]]
|-
! {{flag|Lebanon}}
| [[Demographics of Lebanon#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Lebanon]]
|-
! {{flag|Oman}}
| [[Demographics of Oman#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Oman]]
|-
! {{flag|Palestine}}
| [[Demographics of the Palestinian territories#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Palestine]]
|-
! {{flag|Qatar}}
| [[Demographics of Qatar#Ethnicity|Ethnic groups in Qatar]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-05-29|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Demographics of Qatar#Ethnicity|reason= The anchor (Ethnicity) [[Special:Diff/1226301426|has been deleted]].}}
|-
! {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| [[Demographics of Saudi Arabia#Ethnicity|Ethnic groups in Saudi Arabia]]
|-
! {{flag|Syria}}
| [[Demographics of Syria#Race and ethnicity|Ethnic groups in Syria]]
|-
! {{flag|Turkey}}
| [[Demographics of Turkey#Languages|Ethnic groups in Turkey]]
|-
! {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| [[Ethnic groups in the United Arab Emirates]]
|-
! {{flag|Yemen}}
| [[Demographics of Yemen#Ethnic groups|Ethnic groups in Yemen]]
|-
|}

==Middle East==
;[[Egyptians]]

* [[Copts]]
;'''[[Arabs]]'''

* [[Arabs in Turkey]]
* [[Iranian Arabs]]
;[[Sub-Saharan Africa]]ns
*[[Nubians]]
*[[Afro-Iraqis]]
*[[Afro-Jordanians]]
*[[Sudanese in Israel]]

;[[Jews]]
*[[Israeli Jews]]
*[[Ashkenazi Jews]]
*[[Ethiopian Jews]]
*[[Mizrahi Jews]]
*[[Sephardi Jews]]

;[[Samaritans]]

;[[Aramaic language|Aramaic-speaking peoples]]
*[[Terms for Syriac Christians#Aramean identity|Arameans]]
**[[Arameans in Israel]]
*[[Assyrian people|Assyrians]]
**[[Assyrians in Armenia]]
**[[Assyrians in Georgia]]
**[[Assyrians in Iran]]
**[[Assyrians in Iraq]]
**[[Assyrians in Israel]]
**[[Assyrians in Jordan]]
**[[Assyrians in Lebanon]]
**[[Assyrians in Syria]]
**[[Assyrians in Turkey]]
*[[Mandaeans]]

;[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European peoples]]
*[[Albanians]]
**[[Albanians in Egypt]]
**[[Albanians in Syria]]
*[[Armenians]]
**[[Armenians in the Middle East]]
**[[Armenians in Egypt]]
**[[Iranian Armenians|Armenians in Iran]]
**[[Armenians in Iraq]]
**[[Armenians in Israel]]
**[[Armenians in Lebanon]]
**[[Armenians in Syria]]
**[[Armenians in Turkey]]
*[[Greeks]]
**[[Greek Cypriots]]
**[[Greeks in Egypt]]
**[[Greeks in Israel]]
**[[Greeks in Lebanon]]
**[[Greeks in Syria]]
*[[Iranian peoples]]
**[[Ajam of Bahrain]]
**[[Ajam of Iraq]]
*[[Kurds]]
**[[Shabaks]]
**[[Yazidis]]
*[[Italians]]
**[[Latin Church in the Middle East|Levantines]]
**[[Italian Egyptians]]
**[[Italians in Lebanon]]
*[[Romani people|Romani]]
**[[Dom people|Dom]]
**[[Romani people in Iraq|Kawliya]]
**[[Nawar people|Nawar]]–[[Romani people in Syria]]
**[[Romani people in Egypt]]

;[[Turkic peoples]]
*[[Azerbaijanis]]
*[[Iraqi Turkmen]]
*[[Syrian Turkmen]]
*[[Turks in Egypt]]
*[[Turks in Israel]]
*[[Turks in Jordan]]
*[[Turks in Lebanon]]

==Anatolia==
{{main|Ethnic groups of Turkey}}
[[File:Ethnic map of Asia Minor and Caucasus in 1914.jpg|thumb|250px|Ethnic map of Asia Minor and Caucasus in 1914]]

;[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European peoples]]
*[[Armenians in Turkey]]
*[[Greeks in Turkey]]
*[[Cappadocian Greeks]]
*[[Pontic Greeks]]
*[[Latin Church in Turkey|Levantines]]
*[[Iranian peoples]]
*[[Kurds in Turkey]]
*[[Romani people|Romani]]
**[[Dom people|Dom]]
**[[Romani people in Turkey]]
*[[Zaza people|Zazas]]
;[[Kartvelian peoples]]
*[[Georgians in Turkey]]
*[[Laz people in Turkey]]
;[[Semitic people|Semites]]
*[[Arabs in Turkey]]
*[[Assyrians in Turkey]]
*[[History of the Jews in Turkey|Jews in Turkey]]
;[[Turkic peoples]]
*[[Azerbaijanis in Turkey]]
*[[Crimean Tatars in Turkey]]
*[[Turkish people|Turks]]
;[[Muhacir]]
*[[Muslims]] from the [[Caucasus]] (Peoples of the Caucasus in Turkey)
*Muslims from the [[Balkans]] (mainly [[Albanians in Turkey|Albanians]], [[Bosniaks in Turkey|Bosniaks]], and [[Pomaks in Turkey|Pomaks]])

==Cyprus==
{{further|Ethnic groups of Cyprus}}
*[[Armenians in Cyprus]]
*[[Greek Cypriots]]
*[[Maronite Cypriots]]
*[[Turkish Cypriots]]

==Iranian Plateau==
{{main|Ethnicities in Iran}}
[[File:Distribution of Iranian Languages.png|thumb|300px|Geographic distribution of modern [[Iranian languages]]]]

;[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European peoples]]:
*[[Iranian Armenians|Armenians in Iran]]
*[[Iranian peoples]]
**[[Persians]]
*[[Baloch people|Baloch]]
*[[Kurds in Iran]]
**[[Feylis]]
**[[Yarsanism|Kaka'is]]
**[[Kurds of Khorasan]]
**[[Laks (Iran)|Laks]]
*[[Gilaks]]
*[[Lurs]]
*[[Mazanderani people|Mazanderanis]]
*[[Talysh people|Talysh]]
*[[Tat people (Iran)|Tats]]
;[[Kartvelian peoples]]:
*[[Iranian Georgians|Georgians in Iran]]
;[[Semitic people|Semites]]:
*[[Iranian Arabs|Arabs in Iran]]
*[[Assyrians in Iran]]
*[[History of the Jews in Iran|Jews in Iran]]
**[[Persian Jews]]
*[[Mandaeans]]
;[[Turkic peoples]]:
*[[Iranian Azerbaijanis|Azerbaijanis in Iran]]
*[[Qashqai people|Qashqai]]
*[[Iranian Turkmen|Turkmen in Iran]]

==Diaspora populations==
{{Further|Foreign worker#Middle East}}

Because of the low population of many of the [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf]] and the demand for labor created by the large discoveries of oil in these countries there has been a steady stream of immigration to the region (mainly from South Asia). Ethnic groups which comprise the largest portions of this immigration include [[Afghan diaspora|Afghans]], [[Albanian diaspora|Albanians]], [[Armenian diaspora|Armenians]], [[Bengalis]], [[Bosnian diaspora|Bosniaks]], [[British diaspora|Britons]], [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]], [[Overseas Filipinos|Filipinos]], [[Greek diaspora|Greeks]], [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indians]], [[Native Indonesians|Indonesians]], [[Italian diaspora|Italians]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]], [[Nepalis]], [[Overseas Pakistani|Pakistanis]], [[Punjabis]], [[Sikhs]], [[Sindhis]], [[Somalis]], [[Demographics of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankans]], and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]ns. Many of these people are denied certain political and legal rights in the countries in which they live and frequently face mistreatment by the native-born citizens of the host countries.

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Arab diaspora]]
*[[Arab world]]
*[[Armenian diaspora]]
*[[Assyrian diaspora]]
*[[Demographics of the Arab League]]
*[[Demographics of the Middle East]]
*[[Ethnic groups in Asia]]
*[[Ethnic groups in the Caucasus]]
*[[Ethnic groups in Europe]]
*[[Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
*[[Genetic history of the Middle East]]
*[[Iranian diaspora]]
*[[Iranian peoples]]
*[[Jewish diaspora]]
*[[Jews]]
*[[Semitic people]]
*[[Turkic peoples]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Middle East topic|Ethnic groups in|title=Ethnic groups in the Middle East}}
{{Ethnicity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Middle East| ]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups by region]]