The global Muslim population was estimated to be approximately 2 billion people, or about 25.6% of the world’s population, as of 2020. By 2023, this number had grown to around 2.45 billion.
In the world today, Islam is the second largest religion. More than 1.8 billion people are Muslims.
Pew Research and the CIA World Factbook identify the top 10 countries with the largest number of Muslims population in the world. These populations are spread across every continent. Asia and Africa have the largest numbers of Muslims.
1. Indonesia
Muslim Population: 242 Million
Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia. It has the largest Muslim population in the world. The country’s Muslim population is much larger than any other.
Islam came to Indonesia through a peaceful process. Traders and Sufi scholars from different parts of the world, like India and Arabia, brought Islam to the islands.
The religion did not arrive all at once. It spread slowly from coastal trading towns into the inland areas. It became the main religion from the 13th to the 16th centuries.
2. Pakistan
Muslim Population: 235 Million
Pakistan is a country in South Asia. It was created in 1947. Its creation came from the partition of British India. The main reason for creating Pakistan was to establish a separate nation for Muslims in the region. This gives Islam a central role in the country’s history and identity.
Islam’s history in the region goes back much further. Arab traders and conquerors brought Islam to the Indian subcontinent in the 8th century. Over many centuries, Islam grew in influence. It shaped the culture, laws, and social structures. Many large empires in the region were Muslim.
Today, Pakistan is an Islamic republic. Its constitution is based on Islamic principles. The majority of people are Sunni Muslims. Islam affects all parts of life, including law, education, and politics.
3. India
Muslim Population: 213 Million
India has the third largest Muslim population in the world. This is a unique fact. It means that India has a very large Muslim population even though the country itself is not a Muslim majority nation. Islam is the second largest religion in India.
Islam first arrived in southern India through Arab traders. This happened not long after the religion began. Later, it spread to the north. This happened through invasions and the establishment of Muslim empires, like the Mughal Empire. These empires ruled large parts of India for hundreds of years.
Indian Muslims are a very diverse group. They come from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
4. Bangladesh
Muslim Population: 150 Million
Bangladesh is in South Asia. It has the fourth largest Muslim population in the world. Islam is the state religion here. More than 90% of the population are Muslims.
Islam came to this region through trade and missionaries. Arab merchants first brought Islam to coastal areas around the 7th century. Later, in the 13th century, Muslim kingdoms were established. This made it easier for Sufi saints and scholars to spread the religion to more people.
5. Nigeria
Muslim Population: 124 Million
Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It has the largest Muslim population in sub Saharan Africa. The population is spread out.
Islam is the main religion in the northern part of the country. It also has a strong presence in the southwest.
Islam first came to Nigeria through two main routes. It came from North Africa through the trans Saharan trade routes. It also came from the Senegalese Basin in the west. This happened as early as the 11th century. By the 19th century, a major Islamic state, the Sokoto Caliphate, was established in the north.
Today, Islam is a key part of Nigerian society. It influences many things including law, culture, and politics, especially in the north where Islamic traditions are strong.
6. Egypt
Muslim Population: 104 Million
Egypt is a country in North Africa. It has the sixth largest Muslim population in the world. Islam became the main religion in Egypt after the Muslim conquest in the 7th century. Arab armies took control from the Byzantine Empire.
Over time, most Egyptians converted to Islam. Arabic also became the main language. The city of Cairo became a major center for Islamic learning and culture. It was the seat of important Islamic empires and has many famous mosques and universities.
Today, Egypt is a center of Islamic thought and culture. AlAzhar University is one of the world’s oldest and most respected Islamic universities. It is a major source of Islamic knowledge for Muslims worldwide.
7. Iran
Muslim Population: 88 Million
Iran is a country in West Asia. Its Muslim population is different because a large majority are Shia Muslims. This makes it different from most other Muslim majority nations, which are Sunni.
Islam came to Iran in the 7th century. It came after the Arab conquest of the Sasanian Empire. For hundreds of years, both Sunni and Shia Islam existed in Iran. In the 16th century, the Safavid dynasty made Shia Islam the official state religion. This shaped the country’s national identity.
Iran is an Islamic republic. Its government and legal system are based on Islamic principles. Islamic culture is a core part of life in Iran.
8. Turkey
Muslim Population: 84 Million
Turkey is a country that connects Europe and Asia. The history of Islam in Turkey is very long. It began with the arrival of Turkic tribes from Central Asia. They came to the region in the 11th century. The religion grew with the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman Empire was a powerful Muslim empire. It ruled for over 600 years. The Ottoman sultans also held the title of Caliph, the leader of the worldwide Muslim community. This made Istanbul, the capital, a center of Islamic power and culture.
Today, Turkey is officially a secular country. This means religion is separate from the state. However, the majority of the population is Muslim. The culture of the country has a strong Islamic heritage.
9. Sudan
Muslim Population: 46 Million
Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa. Islam is the main religion there. It first came to the region through trade and peaceful relations with Arab communities in Egypt. This happened as early as the 7th century. Over time, Muslim kingdoms rose in power.
Sudan’s history with Islam includes a famous religious movement. The Mahdist War in the 19th century was a major religious and political rebellion. It was a key event in the country’s history. It was a fight to create a purely Islamic state.
The majority of Muslims in Sudan follow the Sunni branch of Islam while many people follow Sufi traditions, which are a mystical form of Islam.
10. Algeria
Muslim Population: 43 Million
Algeria is a country in North Africa. Islam is the state religion. It came to Algeria after the Arab conquest in the 7th century. Over many years, Islam spread throughout the region which it became deeply rooted in the culture.
During the French colonial period, Islam became a key part of the fight for independence. It united the people against foreign rule. The fighters were called “moudjahidine,” which means “holy warriors.” Islam became a strong symbol of Algerian national identity.
Today, the majority of Algerians are Sunni Muslims. Islam is part of daily life and social traditions. The government controls religious activities for national unity. The culture of the country is strongly shaped by its Islamic history and traditions.
