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THE KURDS

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Image by Daniel Leone
“No friends but the mountains."
(Ji çiyan pê ve tu heval nînin)

A renowned Kurdish proverb

Background

Who are the Kurds? 

The Kurds are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the world, native to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Armenia. They speak Kurdish, preserve a rich cultural and historical heritage, and remain a resilient, stateless people, proud of their identity across northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran.

Facts

  • Ethnicity: Kurdish

  • Region: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia

  • Population: Around 60 million

  • Languages: Kurdish dialects (Kurmanji, Sorani, Zazaki, Gorani)

  • Religions: Mostly Sunni Islam (Shafi’i), with minorities of Shia, Alevi, Yazidis, and Christians.

  • Status: Stateless, one of the largest ethnic groups without an independent country

  • Key areas: Northern Iraq (Kurdistan Region), northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran.

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Map: Kurdish Institute Brussels.

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