Christians Are Leaving the Middle East

There are between 12 and 15 million Christians in the Middle East, almost half of them living in Egypt.

Demographers say the Christian population has declined noticeably in most Middle Eastern countries since the beginning of the 20th century.

Fred Strickert, professor of religion at Wartburg College, says there also appears to be a decline in Christian populations in Iraq and territories under Palestinian control.

A 2003 Israeli study shows that about 12,000 Christians have fled historically Christian Palestinian towns such as Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala since 2000.