The ethnic composition of the population altered after independence and during the civil war, when many died and others left the country. The Russian percentage of the population has decreased (perhaps half have left the country).¹⁸ Tajikistan’s population is made up of the following ethnic groups: Tajik 79.9%; Uzbek 15.3%; Russian 1.1%; Kyrgyz 1.1%; other 2.6% (2000 census). The main religions are Sunni Muslim 85%; Shi'a Muslim 5%; other 10% (2003).¹⁹