In a survey conducted between 2022 and 2024, ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, explored the views of young Iraqi Christians — mostly Catholics — across various towns, cities, and church communities. The findings show that half of respondents feel the Church meets their spiritual needs and that a majority of them want to leave the country.

The poll targeted young women and men between the ages of 18 and 40, with 70 per cent of them falling in the 18- to 25-year-old category. The results showed that 66.7 per cent of participants feel they receive adequate support from the Church while 9.1 per cent do not and 24.2 per cent are uncertain.

Many participants said the Church provides opportunities for active roles throughout its institutions and activities. When asked to evaluate their engagement in Church activities on a scale of 1 to 5, approximately 77 per cent chose a score between 3 and 5, while only 23 per cent gave a lower score. Notably, about 75 per cent of survey participants reported being active in the Church’s preparations for the synodal process regardless of their varying perspectives.

Regarding faith aspirations, nearly half of Catholic participants (about 50 per cent) felt that the local Catholic Church meets their spiritual needs, at a rate of 80 per cent to 100 per cent. Roughly one-third rated it on a scale of 60 per cent to 80 per cent, while the remaining group believed the Church meets their aspirations only moderately or poorly.

Youth and migration

The survey highlighted the issue of migration, unveiling that a large proportion of young Iraqi Christians are inclined to leave the country in search of a new life abroad. While 47 per cent of respondents opposed the idea of migration, 13 per cent remained indecisive, and 40 per cent openly expressed their desire to emigrate. Those who are hesitant or determined to leave the country collectively comprise approximately 53 per cent of the total participants.

Economic challenges and political obstacles were cited as the primary drivers for the desire to emigrate. Other reasons included religious concerns, family circumstances, and educational opportunities.

Despite the concerning numbers of youth looking to leave, an almost equal percentage remains firmly rooted in their homeland. More than 68 per cent of participants denied experiencing religious discrimination, while 31.3 per cent said they had faced it.