Hawza Najaf

[5] The number of students studying there has waxed and waned in modern times, from 15,000-20,000 in the mid-20th century, down to 3000 during the repressive reign of Saddam Hussein, to around 13,000 as of 2014.

After 12 years, he was forced to leave Baghdad and go to Najaf for sectarian differences.

[3][4] In the mid-20th century, the Hawza "witnessed huge developments in its educational program"[6] and the student population grew to 15,000-20,000.

During the repression of the Baath party era it declined to around 3000 as the Shiite political awakening (Sahwa) was attacked by the regime and attendance by foreign students fell off because of the Iran-Iraq war.

[9] Their number then commenced to grow again, and as of 2014 there are 13,000 students, according to a census by Al-Monitor news service,[6] including approximately 50 from foreign countries — Iran, India, Thailand, France, the United States, Canada, etc.