Most Arabs are Muslim (mainly Sunni, with significant Shia communities), but Arabs also include millions of Christians, as well as smaller groups like Druze, Baháʼís, and non‑religious people.

Key point: Arab ≠ Muslim

  • “Arab” is an ethnic–linguistic identity , usually defined by Arabic as a native language and a shared history and culture, not a specific religion.
  • “Muslim” is a religious identity (someone who follows Islam).
  • There are many Muslims who are not Arab (for example in Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey), and many Arabs who are not Muslim.

What religion are most Arabs?

  • Around 93% of Arabs are Muslims , making Islam the majority religion among Arabs.
  • Within Islam, most Arab Muslims are Sunni , with important Shia populations in places like Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon, and other currents like Sufism.

Other religions among Arabs

Even though Islam is dominant, the Arab world is religiously diverse.

  • Arab Christians : Present across the region (notably in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq) and belonging to churches such as Greek Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Maronite, various Catholic and some Protestant churches.
  • Smaller religious communities :
    • Druze , mainly in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel/Palestine.
* **Bahåʟís** and **Yazidis** , especially in and around Iraq.
  • Non‑religious / atheist / agnostic Arabs : A growing but often discreet minority, because social or legal pressures exist in some countries.

Why people get this mixed up

  • The Arab world is where Islam began and today most countries with Arabic as an official language have Muslim majorities.
  • This leads many outsiders to assume “Arab = Muslim,” even though Christianity and Judaism also have deep historical roots in the same region.

Simple way to remember

Arab = language/culture
Muslim = religion

So when you ask “what religion are Arabs,” the accurate answer is: mostly Muslim, but not only Muslim —Arabs belong to several religions, including Christianity and smaller faiths, and some are non‑religious.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.