Iraqi Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Iraq lies in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the ancient Mesopotamia where writing, cities and law first developed. Its people include Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians. Iraqis have come to Britain over many decades, many as doctors and students, and others seeking safety during years of conflict.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 3,599 people living in the city had been born in Iraq.

Working for Birmingham

Iraqi doctors have been part of the NHS for generations, and today Iraqi-heritage consultants, GPs, pharmacists and dentists serve patients across Birmingham. The community also includes engineers, academics, business owners and tradespeople, and Iraqi bakeries, grills and grocery shops are found in several neighbourhoods.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Iraqi community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Eid and Nowruz, celebrated by Kurdish Iraqis, are highlights of the year, alongside Christian festivals for Assyrian and Chaldean families. Iraqi cooking is famous for masgouf, grilled fish, and dolma, and the country's great tradition of music and poetry, including the maqam, is proudly kept alive.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Iraqi community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.