In 2022, Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims worldwide with around 241.5 million. This was followed with around 225.6 million Muslims in Pakistan and 211.16 million Muslims in India.

Islam is the major religion in many African countries, especially in the north of the continent. In Comoros, Libya, Western Sahara, at least 99 percent of the population was Muslim as of 202. These were the highest percentages on the continent. However, also in many other African nations, the majority of the population was Muslim. In Egypt, for instance, Islam was the religion of 79 percent of the people. Islam and other religions in Africa Africa accounts for an important share of the world’s Muslim population. As of 2019, 16 percent of the Muslims worldwide lived in Sub-Saharan Africa, while 20 percent of them lived in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Together with Christianity, Islam is the most common religious affiliation in Africa, followed by several traditional African religions. Although to a smaller extent, numerous other religions are practiced on the continent: these include Judaism, the Baha’i Faith, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Number of Muslims worldwide Islam is one of the most widespread religions in the world. There are approximately 1.9 billion Muslims globally, with the largest Muslim communities living in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, Indonesia hosts the highest number of Muslims worldwide, amounting to over 200 million, followed by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Islam is also present in Europe and America. The largest Islamic communities in Europe are in France (5.72 million), Germany (4.95 million), and the United Kingdom (4.13 million). In the United States, there is an estimated number of around 3.45 million Muslims.

Associated with manuscript titled: Fifty Muslim-majority countries have fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths than the 50 richest non-Muslim countriesThe objective of this research was to determine the difference in the total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths between Muslim-majority and non-Muslim countries, and investigate reasons for the disparities. Methods: The 50 Muslim-majority countries had more than 50.0% Muslims with an average of 87.5%. The non-Muslim country sample consisted of 50 countries with the highest GDP while omitting any Muslim-majority countries listed. The non-Muslim countries’ average percentage of Muslims was 4.7%. Data pulled on September 18, 2020 included the percentage of Muslim population per country by World Population Review15 and GDP per country, population count, and total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths by Worldometers.16 The data set was transferred via an Excel spreadsheet on September 23, 2020 and analyzed. To measure COVID-19’s incidence in the countries, three different Average Treatment Methods (ATE) were used to validate the results. Results published as a preprint at https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/84zq5(15) Muslim Majority Countries 2020 [Internet]. Walnut (CA): World Population Review. 2020- [Cited 2020 Sept 28]. Available from: http://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/muslim-majority-countries (16) Worldometers.info. Worldometer. Dover (DE): Worldometer; 2020 [cited 2020 Sept 28]. Available from: http://worldometers.info

This statistic shows the estimated number of Muslims living in different European countries as of 2016. Approximately 5.72 million Muslims were estimated to live in France, the most of any country listed. Germany and the United Kingdom also have large muslim populations with 4.95 million and 4.13 million respectively.

In 2024, Nigeria had the largest Muslim population in Africa, with around 105 million people who belonged to an Islamic denomination. Egypt and Algeria followed with 90.4 million and 39.4 million Muslims, respectively. Muslims have a significant presence in Africa, with an estimated 50 percent of the continent's population identifying as Muslim. The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th century with the arrival of Arab traders, and it continued through Islamic scholars and missionaries.

In 2023, it was estimated that approximately 87 percent of the Indonesian population were Muslim, accounting for the highest share of Muslims in any Southeast Asian country. Indonesia also has the world's largest Muslim population, with an estimated 229 million Muslims.

Demographics of Indonesia

The total population of Indonesia was estimated to reach around 290 million in 2028. The median age of the population in the country was at an all-time high in 2020 and was projected to increase continuously until the end of the century. In 2020, the population density in Indonesia reached its highest value recorded at about 145.7 people per square kilometer.

Shopping behavior during Ramadan in Indonesia

Nearly all Muslims in Indonesia celebrated Ramadan in 2022. During the month of Ramadan, 60 percent of Indonesian users utilized online applications to order food. Many Indonesians planned to shop online or offline during Ramadan, with around 76 percent of online users planning to purchase fashion wear and accessories. Shopee was the most used app for shopping purposes during that period.

This statistic shows the estimated Muslim share of the population in different European countries as of 2016. With a Muslim population that makes up around a quarter of it's population, Cyprus has the highest estimated share of Muslims living in its borders. The Muslim share of the Bulgarian and French populations is also quite high with 11.1 and 8.8 percent shares respectively. Portugal, Romania, Czechia and Poland have the lowest Muslim shares of the population at under one percent.

In 2024, Nigeria accounted for 7.08 percent of the global Muslim population, the highest share among African countries. Egypt and Algeria followed, with shares of 6.12 percent and 2.67 percent, respectively. Islam has a significant presence in Africa, with an estimated 50 percent of the continent's population identifying as Muslim. The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th century with the arrival of Arab traders, and later continued through Islamic scholars and missionaries.

This statistic displays the projected Muslim population proportions in selected European countries in 2050, by scenario. In 2010 the proportion of Muslims in the population of Germany was 4.1 percent, compared with 6.3 percent in the UK and 7.5 percent in France. Depending on the different migration scenarios estimated here, Germany's share of Muslims in the population could rise up to 19.7 percent of it's population by 2050, higher than both the UK and France, with projected Muslim populations of 17.2 and 18 percent respectively.

Mali is a predominantly Muslim country with 94.84 percent of the population belonging to Islam. Of that 94.84 percent, only 0.8 percent is Shi’a versus the greater majority of Sunni Muslims in the country. While most of the population is Muslim, a small minority practice other religions as well; 2.37 percent Christianity, 2.02 percent Animist, 0.04 percent Other, 0.45 percent Atheist/Agnostic, and 0.28 percent Undeclared. Of the 2.37 percent of Christians in Mali, the majority of those are Roman Catholic. The Catholic Church has six dioceses that make up less than two percent of Mali’s population. Mali is typically defined as a secular state, with a constitution and code of laws that protect the public’s right for religious freedom and practice.

While the Malian government is officially secular, it frequently consults the moderate High Council of Islam (HCIM) and the Committee of Wise Men on controversial social issues of national scope. The HCIM is an umbrella organization with representatives from all significant Muslim organizations in-country as well as over 160 non-governmental organizations. The Committee of Wise Men includes the Catholic Archbishop and prominent Malian Protestant and Muslim leaders. In an effort to enshrine its commitment to multi-faith democracy, the Malian government has declared a diverse set of religious holidays as national holidays, including Mawloud, the Prophet’s Baptism, Easter Monday, Eid al- Fitf, Tabaski, and Christmas.

Religion is not taught in any public school in Mali. There are some private schools and madrasas that do offer both Christian and Islamic teachings in addition to the state-mandated secular curriculum. In Mali, most madrasas are located in the south in areas such as Sikasso (600), Segou (428), and Bamako (268). In the northern regions of Mali there are a little over 300 madrasas.

In recent months, a loose coalition of militant Tuareg and Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar Dine, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA), has taken over northern Mali with the goal of forming an Islamic state in the Trans-Sahara region. Areas under militant control have seen the imposition of strict Sharia law, including bans on music and severe restrictions on women and practitioners of non-Islamic faiths. In Timbuktu and other northern urban centers, different Islamic groups have destroyed numerous ancient Sufi mosques, tombs, and other artifacts in an effort to purge the region of “heretical” faiths.

India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data was reported at 68,740,419.000 Person in 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 49,393,496.000 Person for 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 59,066,957.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68,740,419.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 49,393,496.000 Person in 2001. India Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE001: Census: Population: by Religion.

According to the latest census data, Lakshadweep, the island union territory had the highest share of Muslim population in the country, where 97 percent of its population identified as followers of the Islamic faith. Jammu & Kashmir ranked second at 68 percent during the same time period. With almost all major religions being practiced throughout the country, India is known for its religious diversity. Islam makes up the highest share among minority faiths in the country.

Saudi Arabia Exports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Kyrgyzstan data was reported at 1.210 SAR mn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.036 SAR mn for 2015. Saudi Arabia Exports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Kyrgyzstan data is updated yearly, averaging 0.500 SAR mn from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.000 SAR mn in 2011 and a record low of 0.000 SAR mn in 2014. Saudi Arabia Exports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Kyrgyzstan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.JA006: Exports: by Country.

Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala: Female data was reported at 2,449,452.000 Person in 03-01-2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,031,549.000 Person for 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala: Female data is updated decadal, averaging 1,740,500.500 Person from Mar 2001 (Median) to 03-01-2011, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,449,452.000 Person in 03-01-2011 and a record low of 1,031,549.000 Person in 03-01-2001. Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim: Kerala: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAE003: Census: Population: by Religion: Muslim.

Muslims and Jews were surveyed for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) from Jan. 8, 2018 through Jan. 24, 2018. The study investigated the opinions of Muslims and Jews regarding the government, the most important issues facing the country, faith customs and religious, race, and/or gender discrimination.

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. Please make sure you have read our Mapping Populations overview page before choosing and downloading a dataset.


Bespoke methods used to produce datasets for specific individual countries are available through the WorldPop Open Population Repository (WOPR) link below. These are 100m resolution gridded population estimates using customized methods ("bottom-up" and/or "top-down") developed for the latest data available from each country. They can also be visualised and explored through the woprVision App.
The remaining datasets in the links below are produced using the "top-down" method, with either the unconstrained or constrained top-down disaggregation method used. Please make sure you read the Top-down estimation modelling overview page to decide on which datasets best meet your needs. Datasets are available to download in Geotiff and ASCII XYZ format at a resolution of 3 and 30 arc-seconds (approximately 100m and 1km at the equator, respectively):

- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019)
-Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).
-Unconstrained global mosaics 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Mosaiced 1km resolution versions of the "Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020" datasets.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).

Older datasets produced for specific individual countries and continents, using a set of tailored geospatial inputs and differing "top-down" methods and time periods are still available for download here: Individual countries and Whole Continent.

Data for earlier dates is available directly from WorldPop.

WorldPop (www.worldpop.org - School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project - Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00645

SSRS conducted a survey of Muslims, Jews and the General Population for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding from January 8 through January 28, 2019. The study investigated the opinions of Muslims, Jews and the General Population regarding the government, the most important issues facing the country, faith customs and religious/race/gender discrimination.

Identification. Political attitudes and behaviour. Social and political commitment and integration.

Topics: Identification: country of birth; year of immigration to the Federal Republic of Germany; reasons for immigration; German citizenship; foreign citizenship; German citizenship by birth, as (late) ethnic German repatriate without or with a German citizenship, by naturalisation; year of naturalisation; previous nationality; nationality(s) of parents; country of birth of parents; desire to acquire German nationality; religion: denomination or religious community; religious group membership within Islam; pride and identification: equal opportunities in Germany; current territory of the country of origin of father and mother; identification with the country of origin of father and of mother; identification with Germany; invitation to join a German family; considerations about working in the German civil service; like to work in Germany; language spoken in the household; respect shown in Germany; more interest in politics in Germany or in the country of origin; main reasons for dissatisfaction.

Political attitudes and behaviour:

Electoral behaviour: party preference (Sunday question); alternative vote; party that the respondent would never vote for; proximity to party in Turkey (sympathy); party membership (party); political interest; satisfaction with democracy; Political knowledge: knowledge of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany; knowledge of Chancellor Angela Merkel´s party affiliation; political participation: personal opportunities for political participation in Germany and in the country of origin.

Parties, politicians, political problems: sympathy scale for the parties SPD, CDU, CSU, Die Linke, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP, and AfD; currently the most important problem in Germany; problem-solving competence of the parties; better representation of personal interests by politicians with a migration background; naming the politician.

Political fundamentalism, populism: agreement with various statements on politics, state and society (no more ideals in society, capitalism destroys the world, USA is behind the 09/11 attacks, those up there do what they want, rejection of homosexual friends, acceptance of violence in conflicts in every democracy, call for leaders, Russia as sole culprit in international conflicts, West prevents development of the Islamic world, shame on the family by Muslim woman marrying a Christian, insult as Muslim by Mohammed caricatures, literal compliance of the rules of the Koran, adaptation of the teachings of Islam to conditions of the modern world, events in Palestine typical for the contact with all Muslims, depraved sexual morals of the western society, eligibility of a Christian party for Muslims, Islam belongs to Germany, discrimination of non-German looking people, no party in Germany represents the interests of migrants, immigrants should adapt their behaviour to the German culture, who lives in Germany should learn the German language, Jews cannot be trusted).

Social and political commitment: membership in a non-profit association or organisation in Germany; type of association or organisation; memberships in the country of origin; active participation in an association, initiative or self-help group in Germany; area of active participation; start of voluntary work (number of years); impetus for taking over the activity.

Integration: most important problem of Germans with a migration background and foreigners in Germany; most suitable party for solving this problem; evaluation of the integration efforts of the CDU: sufficient commitment of the CDU for the integration of foreigners and Germans with a migration background as well as for repatriates and late repatriates.

Demography: sex; age; attainment of the highest educational qualification in the country of origin or in Germany; highest school leaving certificate; highest vocational qualification; recognition of vocational training in Germany; employment status; occupational status; satisfaction with current or last occupational activity; current or last occupational status. last job corresponds to vocational training; desire to pursue the occupation learned; self-assessment of religiousness; frequency of churchgoing; accessibility: use of the mobile phone used for the interview exclusively alone, with others or only by chance; number of other mobile phone users aged 14 and over; landline connection in the household; number of mobile phone numbers; number of landline numbers; federal state; size of location; size of household; number of persons in the household under 18 years of age.

Additionally coded: respondent ID; weighting factor; group membership (Germans without migration background, Germans with migration background or foreigners); political community size classes.

Saudi Arabia Imports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Indonesia data was reported at 6,272.088 SAR mn in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6,296.000 SAR mn for 2016. Saudi Arabia Imports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Indonesia data is updated yearly, averaging 1,575.000 SAR mn from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2017, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,559.238 SAR mn in 2015 and a record low of 215.000 SAR mn in 1985. Saudi Arabia Imports: Value: Non Arab Islamic Countries: Indonesia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.JA019: Imports: by Country.

According to a survey conducted in selected Middle Eastern countries in February to March 2022, 87 percent of all Muslim respondents were planning to donate money to charity during Ramadan. United Arab Emirates had the highest share of Muslim respondents who were planning to make donations at 97 percent each.