Demographics of Iraq
97% of Iraqis follow Islam: 61% Shia and 34% Sunni. 1% of these describe themselves as "Just a Muslim". According to the CIA Factbook, Shias make up 60% of population, while Sunnis 35%. Christianity accounts for 5%, and the rest practice Mandaeism, Yazidism and other religions.
Mahmudiya District
Mahmudiya District has approximately 550,000 inhabitants, about over 88 percent of them Shia and the rest Sunni. This ratio is the result of the Iraqi Civil War of 2006-2007, when the Shias of Yusufiya and Iskandariya moved to Mahmudiya, and the Sunnis of Mahmudiya sought refuge in the other two cities. Most of the inhabitants live in rural areas.