--- title: "Resources on the Future of the Global Muslim Population" description: "Explore the Future of the Global Muslim Population report and related resources." date: "2011-02-28" authors: - name: "Joseph Liu" job_title: "Guest Contributor" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/02/28/resources-on-the-future-of-the-global-muslim-population/" categories: - "Global Religious Demographics" - "Islam" - "Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups" --- # Resources on the Future of the Global Muslim Population *The Future of the Global Muslim Population*, a recent report by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that the world’s Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030. Explore the report using the resources below. --- ### Quick Links [**Full Report**](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/01/27/the-future-of-the-global-muslim-population/) Read through the preface, executive summary, report chapters and appendices. **[Interactive Maps](http://features.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/muslim-population-graphic/)** Select a country, a region or the world – as well as a point in time – and see the size of the Muslim population in that place and time. **[Sortable Data Tables](http://features.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/muslim-population/)** View and sort countries by the size of their Muslim population and by Muslim population growth. **[Press Release](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Press-Room/Press-Releases/New-Pew-Forum-Report-Projects-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx)** Read the Jan. 27, 2011, press release. [**2009 Report**](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Muslim/Mapping-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx) An October 2009 report, *Mapping the Global Muslim Population*, offers fully sourced 2009 estimates of the size and distribution of the worldwide Muslim population, including sectarian identity. --- ### Audio and Video **Pew Forum Press Conference Call** Pew Forum experts discussed the findings from the report during a Jan. 27, 2011, conference call. **[Listen](http://features.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/multimedia/index.html#audio6)** to audio from the call. **[Read](/Muslim/md2--Event-transcript.aspx)** the written transcript. **State Department Briefing** (links takes you to State Dept. site) Alan Cooperman, associate director for research at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, gave a summary of the findings of the report at a Jan. 28, 2011, State Department briefing. [**Watch**](http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=767274673001) the video of the event. [**Read**](http://fpc.state.gov/155515.htm) the event transcript. --- ### Download [Download the full report as a PDF (11 MB, 221 pages)](/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/Muslim/FutureGlobalMuslimPopulation-WebPDF-Feb10.pdf) [Download the preface and executive summary in Arabic (2.11MB, 18 pages)](/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/Muslim/MDII-ExecSummary_ar.pdf) --- ### Graphics Download the graphics and charts created for this report in a .zip file. [Muslim-population-graphics.zip (4.07 MB 118 graphics)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/02/Muslim-population-graphics.zip) **Featured Images:** [](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-01.png)[](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-03.png)[](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-05.png) | Muslims as a Share of World Population, 1990-2030 | Annual Population Growth Rates for Muslims and Non-Muslims | Trends in Fertility | [![md2-thumb1](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-01_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-01.png) [![md2-thumb2](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-03_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-03.png) [![md2-thumb3](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-05_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-05.png) | | | | | (28 KB) | (28 KB) | (40 KB) | | | | | [](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-12.png)[](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-14.png)[](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-22.png) | Trends in Migration | Percentage of Population in Selected Age Groups | Poverty and Fertility in Muslim-Majority Countries | [![md2-thumb4](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-12_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-12.png) [![md2-thumb5](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-14_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-14.png) [![md2-thumb6](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/MDII-graphics-webready-22_thumb.png)](/files/2011/02/MDII-graphics-webready-22.png) | | | | | (44 KB) | (48 KB) | (152 KB) | --- ### Selected Press Coverage [Articles](#article) | [Videos](#video) []**Articles** ##### January 27, 2011 - *The New York Times* [NYT: Forecast sees Muslim population leveling off ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/NYT--Forecast-sees-Muslim-population-leveling-off.aspx) A new report forecasts that the number of Muslims around the world will grow over the next 20 years at twice the rate of non-Muslims, but that the rapid growth will level off. ##### January 27, 2011 - *The Washington Post* [Wash. Post: Global Muslim population will continue to grow in next 20 years](/Religion-News/Global-Muslim-population-will-continue-to-grow-in-next-20-years.aspx) The world's Muslim population will grow at double the rate of non-Muslims over the next 20 years, according to a broad new demographic analysis that is likely to spark controversy in Europe and the United States. ##### January 27, 2011 - *The Economist* [Economist: A waxing crescent: Islam is growing. But ageing and slowing. That will change the world ](/Religion-News/A-waxing-crescent%282%29.aspx) Are Muslims taking over the world, or at a minimum, transforming Europe into Eurabia? Whatever your hopes or fears for the future of the world’s religions, a report published this week has plenty to stoke them. “The Future of the Global Muslim Population”, produced by the Pew Research Centre, a non-profit outfit based in Washington, DC, reckons Muslim numbers will soar from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030. In other words, from 23.4% to 26.4% of the global total. ##### January 27, 2011 - *Slate* [Slate: Crowded, with a chance of overcrowded](/Religion-News/Crowded,-With-a-Chance-of-Overcrowded.aspx) The global Muslim population will grow twice as fast as the non-Muslim population over the next 20 years, according to a report from the Pew Research Center and the John Templeton Foundation published on Thursday. During the same time period, the American Muslim population will more than double. How do demographers come up with these numbers? ##### January 27, 2011 - CNN [CNN: World Muslim population doubling, report projects ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/CNN-World-Muslim-population-doubling-report-projects.aspx) (Video in the middle of the page) Twenty years ago, the world had about 1.1 billion Muslims. Twenty years from now, it will have about twice as many - and they'll represent more than a quarter of all people on earth, according to a new study released Thursday. ##### January 27, 2011 - Reuters [Reuters: Muslim birth rate falls, population to grow more slowly ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/Reuters--Muslim-birth-rate-falls,-population-to-grow-more-slowly.aspx) Falling birth rates will slow the world's Muslim population growth over the next two decades, reducing it on average from 2.2 percent a year in 1990-2010 to 1.5 percent a year from now until 2030, a new study says. ##### January 27, 2011 - AOL News [AOL News: World Muslim population grows twice as fast as others](/Religion-News/World-Muslim-Population-Grows-Twice-as-Fast-as-Others.aspx) The global number of Muslims is expected to jump 35 percent in the next 20 years, growing twice as fast as the non-Muslim population, according to a study published today. But Muslims are multiplying at a slower pace than before, and their numbers are expected to level out in the coming decades. ##### January 27, 2011 - Voice of America [VOA: Study: Muslims to make up fourth of world's population by 2030](/Religion-News/Study--Muslims-to-Make-Up-Fourth-of-World-s-Population-by-2030.aspx) A major research institute in Washington, DC, is predicting that the global Muslim population will grow by more than a third over the next two decades - with significant increases in Europe and the United States. However, it also expects that the overall rate of growth will begin to slow down. ##### January 27, 2011 - Reuters Faith World [Reuters: Will Pew Muslim birth rate study finally silence the “Eurabia” claim? ](/Religion-News/Will-Pew-Muslim-birth-rate-study-finally-silence-the-%E2%80%9CEurabia%E2%80%9D-claim-.aspx) One of the most wrong-headed arguments in the debate about Muslims in Europe is the shrill “Eurabia” claim that high birth rates and immigration will make Muslims the majority on the continent within a few decades. Based on sleight-of-hand statistics, this scaremongering (as *The Economist* called it back in 2006) paints a picture of a triumphant Islam dominating a Europe that has lost its Christian roots and is blind to its looming cultural demise. ##### January 28, 2011 - *Los Angeles Times* [LA Times: American Muslim population projected to double by 2030](/Religion-News/American-Muslim-population-projected-to-double-by-2030.aspx) A Pew Research Center projection sees the American Muslim population doubling from 2.6 million to 6.2 million in 20 years. Globally, the Muslim population will rise to 2.2 billion, more than a quarter of the world's population. ##### January 28, 2011 - Religion News Service [RNS: Muslim growth fears called overblown ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/RNS-Muslim-growth-fears-called-overblown.aspx) The U.S. Muslim population is expected to double over the next 20 years, fueled by immigration and higher-than-average fertility rates, according to a new report released Thursday. ##### January 28, 2011 - *The Denver Post* [Denver Post: CU-Boulder team to research Rocky Mtn. Muslims ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/Denver-Post-CU-Boulder-Team-To-Research-Rocky-Mtn--Muslims.aspx) Assistant journalism professor Nabil Echchaibi knew he was a pioneering researcher, but he didn't realize just how virgin the territory was until he and a team of University of Colorado students began exploring Rocky Mountain Muslim communities. ##### January 31, 2011 - *Business World* [Business World: Nigerian Muslim population to hit 117 million in 2030- study ](/Press-Room/Pew-Forum-in-the-News/Business-World-Nigerian-Muslim-population-to-hit-117-million-in-2030-Study.aspx) A study carried out in the United States shows that the Muslim population in Nigeria is projected to increase by more than 50 per cent in the next 20 years, from about 76 million in 2010 to about 117 million in 2030. []**Videos** (links are directly to media sources' websites) ##### January 27, 2011 - CNN [CNN: Global Muslim population to double](http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/01/27/greene.muslim.religion.future.cnn) CNN's Richard Greene takes a look at how the global Muslim population is expected to nearly double by 2030. ##### January 27, 2011 - *USA Today* [USA Today: Number of U.S. Muslims to double ](http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-01-27-1Amuslim27_ST_N.htm?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29) Muslims will be more than one-quarter of the Earth's population by 2030, according to a study released today. ##### January 27, 2011 - CNN *American Morning* [CNN: Dean Obeidallah on CNN re: Muslim population growing ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW78MweTsvU) Comedian Dean Obeidallah speaks on CNN about the growing worldwide Muslim population. ##### January 27, 2011 - *Chicago Tribune* [Chicago Tribune: U.S. Muslim population to double in next twenty years ](http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/83f5deab-fe9d-4376-aa7b-bcd860a954f9/News/U-S-Muslim-population-to-double-in-next-twenty-years) The U.S. Muslim population will more than double in the next two decades, and Muslims will make up more than one-fourth of all people worldwide by the year 2030. ##### January 28, 2011 - Christian Broadcasting Network [CBN: U.S. Muslim population expected to at least double](http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/January/US-Muslim-Population-Expected-to-at-least-Double/) A new Pew Research study claims the Muslim population in the U.S. will more than double over the next two decades. ##### February 7, 2011 - Russian Television [Russian TV: CrossTalk: Al-world](http://rt.com/programs/crosstalk/crosstalk-west-muslims-multiculturalism/) Should the West cry foul over a growing number of Muslims? Recent data show that in the U.S. alone, the Muslim population will double by 2030. [Back to the top](#)