The Most Persecuted Religion in the World

[JDPriestly]

74. Actually,

The number of Middle Eastern Christians is dropping due to such factors as low birth rates compared with Muslims, extensive emigration and ethnic and religious persecution. It is estimated that at the present rate, the Middle East's 12 million Christians will likely drop to 6 million by the year 2020.[11]

The largest Christian group in the Middle East is the now Arabic-speaking Egyptian ethnoreligious community of Copts, who number 6–11 million people,[2] although Coptic sources claim the figure is closer to 12–16 million.[12][13] Copts reside in mainly Egypt, with tiny communities in Israel, Cyprus and Jordan.

Arabic-speaking Lebanese Maronites number some 1.1–1.2 million across the Middle East, and often eschew an Arabic identity in favour of a Phoenician-Canaanite heritage.

. . . .

Middle Eastern Christians are relatively wealthy, well educated, and politically moderate,[15] as they have today an active role in various social, economical, sporting and political aspects in the Middle East.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_Middle_East