The Copts are an ethno-religious[23][24] group situated in North Africa and the Middle East, mainly in the area of modern Egypt, where they are the largest Christian denomination. They are also the largest Christian denomination in Sudan andLibya. Christianity was the religion of the vast majority of Egyptians from 400–800 A.D. and the majority after the Muslim conquest until the mid-10th century[25] and remains the faith of a significant minority population. Historically they spoke the Coptic language, a direct descendant of theDemotic Egyptian spoken in the Roman era, but it has been near-extinct and mostly limited to liturgical use since the 18th century. They now speak Arabic.
Copts in Egypt constitute the largest Christian community in the Middle East, as well as the largest ethno-religious minority in the region, accounting for an estimated 10% of the Egyptian population.[26] Copts in Sudan constitute the largestChristian community in Sudan, accounting for an estimated 1% of the Sudanese population.[4] Copts in Libya constitute the largestChristian community in Libya, accounting for an estimated 1% of the Libyan population.[5] Most Copts adhere to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.[27][28][29] TheCoptic Catholic Church, which is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Catholic Church, claims 163,000 members.
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