Did you know that by 2050, nearly one in three people on Earth is projected to be Muslim, marking a profound demographic shift that is quietly reshaping our world.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2020, the global Muslim population is estimated at 1.9 billion, representing 24.1% of the world's total population of 7.9 billion.
- In 2015, there were approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, making up 24% of the global population.
- The Muslim population grew from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 1.8 billion in 2015, at an annual growth rate of 1.8%.
- Asia is home to 1.2 billion Muslims, 62% of global total in 2020.
- Africa hosts 450 million Muslims, 25% of world Muslims in 2020.
- Middle East-North Africa has 300 million Muslims, 20% of global in 2015.
- Indonesia has 229 million Muslims, largest national population, 87% of country in 2023.
- Pakistan 225 million Muslims, 96.5% of population in 2023.
- India 200 million Muslims, 14.2% of population in 2023 census estimates.
- Ethiopia 34 million Muslims, 33.9% of population in 2023.
- Global Muslim fertility rate 3.1 children per woman in 1990-1995, declining to 2.9 by 2010-2015.
- 50% of global Muslims under age 24 in 2015.
- By 2050, Muslims projected to number 2.76 billion worldwide.
- Muslims to equal Christians at 2.9 billion each by 2060.
- Global Muslim share to rise from 23.2% in 2010 to 29.7% by 2050.
The world's Muslim population is young and growing rapidly, currently approaching two billion people.
By Continent/Region
- Asia is home to 1.2 billion Muslims, 62% of global total in 2020.
- Africa hosts 450 million Muslims, 25% of world Muslims in 2020.
- Middle East-North Africa has 300 million Muslims, 20% of global in 2015.
- Europe has 44 million Muslims, 5% of world Muslims in 2016.
- Latin America has 6 million Muslims, 0.3% of global in 2020.
- North America has 3.45 million Muslims in US/Canada combined, 0.2% global in 2017.
- Oceania has 800,000 Muslims, primarily in Australia/NZ, 0.04% global in 2020.
- South Asia has 600 million Muslims, 31% of world total in 2015.
- Southeast Asia has 240 million Muslims, 13% global in 2010.
- Central Asia has 71 million Muslims, 93% of regional population in 2010.
- Western Europe Muslim population projected to 7.4-14% by 2050.
- Sub-Saharan Africa Muslims 30% of 1.1 billion population in 2050 projection.
- Middle East 91% Muslim in 2010, expected to remain high.
- East Asia has 25 million Muslims, 1% of region, 1.5% global in 2010.
- Southern Europe has 8 million Muslims, 6% of region in 2010.
- Eastern Europe 6% Muslim in 2010, concentrated in Balkans/Russia.
- Northern Europe 5.9% Muslim projected by 2050 in high migration scenario.
- Caribbean has 250,000 Muslims, negligible % globally.
- South America Muslims 5 million total, 0.3% region.
- Pacific Islands 50,000 Muslims, mostly Fiji/Indonesia diaspora.
- Western Asia (Middle East) 88% Muslim, 179 million in 2010.
- North Africa 95% Muslim average across countries in 2020.
- East Africa 33% Muslim in coastal areas like Tanzania/Kenya.
- West Africa 55% Muslim average in 2020 estimates.
- Central Europe <1% Muslim, mainly immigrants.
By Continent/Region Interpretation
While Asia rightly claims the global Muslim heartland, the faith’s demographic tapestry is a sprawling, intricate mosaic where every thread—from the bustling cities of Southeast Asia to the growing communities of the West—challenges any simplistic, monolithic narrative.
By Country
- Indonesia has 229 million Muslims, largest national population, 87% of country in 2023.
- Pakistan 225 million Muslims, 96.5% of population in 2023.
- India 200 million Muslims, 14.2% of population in 2023 census estimates.
- Bangladesh 153 million Muslims, 90.4% of population in 2023.
- Nigeria 107 million Muslims, 53.5% of population in 2023.
- Egypt 95.1 million Muslims, 90% of population in 2023.
- Turkey 84.3 million Muslims, 99% of population in 2023.
- Iran 82.5 million Muslims, 99.4% Shia majority in 2023.
- Algeria 44.1 million Muslims, 99% of population in 2023.
- Iraq 41.2 million Muslims, 97% of population, 60-65% Shia in 2023.
- Sudan 40.0 million Muslims, 97% of population in 2023.
- Afghanistan 38.0 million Muslims, 99.7% of population in 2023.
- Morocco 36.7 million Muslims, 99% of population in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia 34.8 million Muslims, 93% of population including migrants in 2023.
- Uzbekistan 34.2 million Muslims, 96.7% of population in 2023.
- Yemen 33.0 million Muslims, 99.1% of population in 2023.
- Malaysia 22.6 million Muslims, 63.5% of population in 2023.
- Niger 24.5 million Muslims, 99% of population in 2023.
- Mali 22.5 million Muslims, 95% of population in 2023.
- Syria 21.4 million Muslims, 87% of population in 2023.
- Kazakhstan 19.0 million Muslims, 70.2% of population in 2023.
- Burkina Faso 18.5 million Muslims, 63.8% of population in 2023.
- Senegal 17.6 million Muslims, 97.2% of population in 2023.
- United States 3.45 million Muslims, 1.1% of population in 2017.
By Country Interpretation
Despite Indonesia's demographic supremacy, the heart of the Muslim world beats across a remarkably diverse and often politically pivotal landscape, from Nigeria's evenly split populace to India's immense minority and the near-unanimous majorities stretching from Morocco to Afghanistan.
Demographics
- Ethiopia 34 million Muslims, 33.9% of population in 2023.
- Global Muslim fertility rate 3.1 children per woman in 1990-1995, declining to 2.9 by 2010-2015.
- 50% of global Muslims under age 24 in 2015.
- Female Muslims worldwide have a literacy rate of 67% as of 2010.
- Urbanization rate among Muslims rose to 52% by 2020 globally.
- Median age for Muslims in MENA is 25.7 years in 2020.
- In Europe, Muslim median age is 30.4 years vs 43.8 for non-Muslims in 2016.
- Global Shia Muslims have higher fertility rate of 3.0 vs Sunni 2.8 in 2010.
- 62% of Muslim women aged 15-49 married by age 18 in South Asia.
- Life expectancy for Muslims globally averages 67 years in 2015.
- Youth bulge: 20% of Muslims aged 15-24 globally in 2015.
- Gender ratio among Muslims 102 males/100 females in 2010.
- Higher education among Muslim adults: 10% globally in 2010.
- Polygamy practiced by 2-3% of Muslim men in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Obesity rate among Muslim women higher in Gulf states at 35%.
- Unemployment rate for young Muslims 25% in MENA 2020.
- Divorce rate low among Muslims at 1.6 per 1000 globally.
- Interfaith marriage rare, 7% of Muslims married non-Muslims in US.
- Disability prevalence 12% among Muslim populations in Pakistan.
- Elderly Muslims (65+) only 5% of global Muslim pop in 2015.
Demographics Interpretation
The global Muslim community is both youthful and rapidly urbanizing, yet its progress is unevenly distributed, marked by resilient family structures but challenged by significant gaps in female literacy and economic opportunity.
Future Projections
- By 2050, Muslims projected to number 2.76 billion worldwide.
- Muslims to equal Christians at 2.9 billion each by 2060.
- Global Muslim share to rise from 23.2% in 2010 to 29.7% by 2050.
- Asia Muslims to grow to 1.5 billion by 2050.
- Sub-Saharan Africa Muslims to 670 million by 2050.
- Europe Muslims to 7.4% (58 million) by 2050 zero migration scenario.
- High migration: Europe Muslims 14% (75 million) by 2050.
- US Muslims to 2.1% (8.1 million) by 2050.
- India Muslims to surpass Indonesia by 2050 at 311 million.
- Pakistan Muslims to 403 million by 2050, largest then.
- Nigeria Muslims to 235 million by 2050.
- Muslim fertility to converge to 2.3 by 2045-2050.
- Life expectancy for Muslims to rise to 71 years by 2030-2035.
- Switching into Islam net gain of 420,000 annually to 2050.
- MENA Muslims to grow 73% by 2050 to 517 million.
- Indonesia Muslims to 239 million by 2030, stable %.
- Global Muslim growth rate to slow to 1.5% annually by 2030-2035.
- By 2100, Muslims could be 35% of world population.
- Africa to have more Muslims than Asia by 2070 projection.
- Europe's Muslim % from 4.9% in 2016 to 11.2% medium migration by 2050.
Future Projections Interpretation
Projections suggest the global religious landscape is in for a dramatic, multi-generational remix, with Muslim populations poised to reshape demographic and cultural majorities from Karachi to Lagos, all while their growth rate gradually decelerates and the world collectively ages.
Global Overview
- As of 2020, the global Muslim population is estimated at 1.9 billion, representing 24.1% of the world's total population of 7.9 billion.
- In 2015, there were approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, making up 24% of the global population.
- The Muslim population grew from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 1.8 billion in 2015, at an annual growth rate of 1.8%.
- Between 2010 and 2015, Islam was the fastest-growing major religion, with a 73% increase in adherents since 1970.
- Muslims accounted for 26% of the global newborn population in 2015.
- The median age of Muslims worldwide in 2015 was 24 years, compared to the global median of 28 years.
- In 2020, Islam is projected to have grown by 347 million adherents since 2010.
- Muslims represent 73% of the population in the Middle East-North Africa region as of 2010.
- The global fertility rate for Muslim women was 2.9 children per woman in 2010-2015.
- By 2050, Muslims are projected to make up 30% of the world's population.
- In 1950, there were 231 million Muslims worldwide, growing to 1.6 billion by 2010.
- Asia-Pacific hosts 62% of the world's Muslims as of 2015.
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 248 million Muslims in 2010, 30% of the region's population.
- Europe had 44.1 million Muslims in 2010, 6% of its population.
- The Americas had 5.2 million Muslims in 2010, 0.4% of the population.
- Oceania had 385,000 Muslims in 2010, 1% of the population.
- Muslims in Asia numbered 1.0 billion in 2010, 24% of the region's population.
- The global Muslim population growth rate from 1990-2000 was 2.9% annually.
- In 2010, 317 million Muslims lived in countries where they form less than 10% of the population.
- 87% of the world's Muslims live in countries where Islam is the majority religion.
- The 50 Muslim-majority countries house 75% of the global Muslim population as of 2010.
- In 2023, the world Muslim population reached 2 billion.
- Muslims comprise 25% of the global population in 2023 estimates.
- From 2015-2020, Muslim population growth averaged 1.84% per year globally.
- In 2010, the global Muslim sex ratio was 103 males per 100 females.
- Urban Muslims worldwide increased from 29% in 1990 to 40% in 2010.
- Literacy rate among Muslim adults was 71% in 2010 globally.
- 80% of global Muslims are Sunni, 15-20% Shia as of 2020.
- Ahmadiyya Muslims number about 10-20 million worldwide in 2020.
Global Overview Interpretation
While the world graises a collective brow at its own aging, the consistently young and growing Muslim population is politely but firmly reserving more seats at the global table, projected to claim nearly a third by 2050.
Sources & References
- Reference 1PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 2WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 3MUSLIMPOPULATIONmuslimpopulation.comVisit source
- Reference 4ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 5ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 6CIAcia.govVisit source
- Reference 7UNun.orgVisit source
- Reference 8WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 9WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source