As of 2010, Christianity was the religion with the most followers worldwide, followed by Islam (Muslims) and Hinduism. In the forty years between 2010 and 2050, it is projected that the landscape of world religions will undergo some noticeable changes, with the number of Muslims almost catching up to Christians. The changes in population sizes of each religious group is largely dependent on demographic development, for example, the rise in the world's Christian population will largely be driven by population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Muslim populations will rise across various regions of Africa and South Asia. As India's population is set to grow while China's goes into decline, this will be reflected in the fact that Hindus will outnumber the unaffiliated by 2050. In fact, India may be home to both the largest Hindu and Muslim populations in the world by the middle of this century.

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.

This statistic displays the projected Muslim population of Europe from 2010 to 2050, compared with that of non-Muslims. For the 2050 projections, three different scenarios are presented, one for zero migration to Europe, one for medium migration and the last for a high level of immigration. In the scenario where zero-migration occurs the total non-Muslim population of Europe would actually decrease from 495.06 million people to 445.92 million people. In the high migration scenario, Muslims are predicted to number 75.55 million people, in which the total non-Muslim population of Europe is 463.04 million.

In 2020, around 98.5 percent of the Iranian population identified as Muslim. Around 81 percent identified as Shia Muslims in the same year, while a much smaller share followed the Sunni Muslim religion. In Iran, most Sunni Muslims belong to ethnic minority groups.

Iran’s demographics
The total population in Iran has grown steadily and is expected to surpass 90 million in 2028. The vast majority of the population in the country was between 15 and 64 years of age. At the same time, the share of people aged above 64 increased in recent years and constituted over seven percent of the total population.

Muslim population worldwide

In Europe, it was estimated that the Muslim population could triple by the middle of the century. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia had the largest share of Muslims as a proportion of its population. On the African continent, the highest number of Muslims was estimated in Nigeria, with close to a hundred million Islam followers. In the United States, less than one percent of the population identified as Muslims.

It was estimated that by 2050, India's Muslim population would grow by 76 percent compared to 2010. For followers of the Hindu faith, this change stood at 33 percent. According to this projection, the south Asian country would be home not just to the world's majority of Hindus, but also Muslims by this time period. Regardless, the latter would continue to remain a minority within the country at 18 percent, with 77 percent or 1.3 billion Hindus at the forefront by 2050.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Halal market will be USD 2151.5 million in 2024 and expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market of more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 860.60 million in 2024 and will expand at CAGR or a compound annual growth rate of 4% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a share of over 30% of the global market size of USD 645.45 million.
Asia Pacific held the market of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 494.85 million in 2024 and will expand at CAGR or compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America's market will have more than 4% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 107.58 million in 2024 and will expand at CAGR or a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa held the major market of around 2% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 43.03 million in 2024 and will expand at CAGR or compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2024 to 2031.
The Food and Beverage segment held the highest Halal market revenue share in 2024.

Market Dynamics of Halal Market

Key Drivers of Halal Market

Growing Muslim Community to Increase the Demand Globally

One major factor propelling the halal food business is the exponential rise in the Muslim population worldwide. The need for halal-certified goods is growing along with the Muslim population. It is anticipated that the number of Muslims worldwide will increase by about 50% by 2050 to 2.76 billion people. This change in the population closely correlates with an increase in the demand for halal cuisine in several different geographical areas, including both Muslim-majority nations and those with sizeable Muslim minorities. The global Muslim population is growing, which is driving market development. The market is expected to grow due to Muslims' desire for halal-certified food due to initiatives promoting food safety and cleanliness.

Increasing Customer Consciousness to Propel Market Growth

Even among non-Muslim communities, consumer knowledge of halal dietary needs has increased. People are increasingly pickier about what they eat, expecting high-quality, ethically sourced goods and demanding openness in food production. Due to their association with high ethical and quality standards, halal-certified food items are becoming increasingly preferred due to this awareness. Demand for halal products in non-Muslim nations is rising as a result of non-Muslim customers' growing interest in halal cuisine due to its perceived health and safety benefits. The governments of several nations, with a majority of Muslims, are moving to encourage the expansion of the halal food sector. To become a worldwide leader in the halal industry, the Malaysian government, for example, established the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030.

Restraint Factors Of Halal Market

Insufficient Standardisation to Limit the Sales

A significant obstacle confronting the worldwide halal food industry is the need for uniformity in the certification procedure. Different nations' various halal certification processes can be confusing and hinder firms' efforts to enter new markets. Specific slaughter techniques may be mandated by certain nations, while handling and processing of halal goods may be subject to extra regulations in others. Furthermore, there needs to be more clarity on the ingredients that make up halal food, further impedes market expansion. For example, it sometimes needs to be clarified which ingredients are halal and which aren't. This and the usage of non-halal components in halal cuisine may need to be clarified for customers and producers.

Impact of COVID-19 on Halal Market

The interruption of the food supply chain brought on by the spread of COVID-19 has a detrimental effect on the global halal food business. Leading producers experienced workforce shortages and interruptions in the halal food import and export market, substantially impacting the food's suitability for consumption and sales. Concerns about safety and cleanliness during the epidemic also contributed to a decline in the market's demand for beef products. Moreover, COVID-19 has also influenced restaurant and food outlet closures. For example, the pandemic caused eateries and food outlets to c...

Christianity is the main religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2020, over 650 million people in the region were Christian. Muslims followed, amounting to around 330 million, while folk religions counted over 33 million adherents. By 2050, the number of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to exceed 1.1 billion, Muslims are forecast to be around 670 million, and folk religions to account for about 61 million adherents.

Halal Ingredients Market size was valued at USD 356.37 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 447.98 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.20% from 2024 to 2031.

Halal Ingredients Market Drivers

Growth of the Global Muslim Population:

Large and Increasing Consumer Base: The Muslim population is projected to reach nearly 3 billion by 2050, representing a substantial and growing consumer base for Halal products.

Rising Disposable Income: Economic growth in many Muslim-majority countries is leading to increased disposable income, allowing consumers to spend more on premium Halal food products.

Increased Demand for Halal Food Products:

Religious Dietary Requirements: Muslims adhere to specific dietary guidelines outlined in Islamic law (Sharia), which necessitates the use of Halal ingredients in food production.

Growing Awareness and Preference: There’s a rising global awareness of Halal food, and even non-Muslim consumers are increasingly seeking Halal products due to perceived quality and ethical sourcing.

Focus on Health and Safety:

Association with Cleanliness: Halal food production emphasizes cleanliness and ethical treatment of animals, which resonates with consumers seeking safe and healthy food options.

Traceability and Transparency: The Halal certification process often involves stricter regulations and traceability systems, potentially offering consumers greater assurance about the ingredients and origin of their food.

Market Expansion and Innovation:

Product Diversification: The Halal food market extends beyond meat products and encompasses a wide range of ingredients like beverages, confectionery, and nutraceuticals. This diversification creates new opportunities for Halal ingredient manufacturers.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in food science and technology are leading to the development of new Halal ingredients and processing methods, catering to evolving consumer preferences.

Other Market Drivers:

Growing Demand for Convenience Foods: The increasing demand for convenient food options is driving the development of ready-to-eat and processed Halal food products that require readily available Halal ingredients.

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. According to the Indian census of 2011, the Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh more than 35 million, making it the state with the most Muslims.

Socio-economic conditions of Muslims
Muslims seem to lag behind every other religious community in India in terms of living standards, financial stability, education and other aspects, thereby showing poor performance in most of the fields. According to a national survey, 17 percent of the Muslims were categorized under the lowest wealth index, which indicates poor socio-economic conditions.

Growth of Muslim population in India
Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions worldwide. According to India’s census, the Muslim population has witnessed a negative decadal growth of more than 16 percent from 1951 to 1960, presumably due to the partitions forming Pakistan and Bangladesh. The population showed a positive and steady growth since 1961, making up 14 percent of the total population of India . Even though people following Islam were estimated to grow significantly, they would still remain a minority in India compared to 1.3 billion Hindus by 2050.

Christianity is the major religion in numerous African countries. As of 2024, around 96 percent of the population of Zambia was Christian, representing the highest percentage on the continent. Seychelles and Rwanda followed with roughly 95 percent and 94 percent of the population being Christian, respectively. While these countries present the highest percentages, Christianity was also prevalent in many other African nations. For instance, in South Africa, Christianity was the religion of nearly 85 percent of the people, while the share corresponded to 71 percent in Ghana. Religious variations across Africa Christianity and Islam are the most practiced religions in Africa. Christian adherents are prevalent below the Sahara, while North Africa is predominantly Muslim. In 2020, Christians accounted for around 60 percent of the Sub-Saharan African population, followed by Muslims with a share of roughly 30 percent. In absolute terms, there were approximately 650 million Christians in the region, a number forecast to increase to over one billion by 2050. In contrast, Islam is most prevalent in North Africa, being the religion of over 90 percent of the population in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. Christianity in the world As opposed to other religions, Christianity is widely spread across continents worldwide. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe each account for around 25 percent of the global Christian population. By comparison, Asia-Pacific and North America make up 13 percent and 12 percent of Christians worldwide, respectively. In several regions, Christians also suffer persecution on religious grounds. Somalia and Libya presented the most critical situation in Africa in 2021, reporting the strongest suppression of Christians worldwide just after North Korea and Afghanistan.

Chart and table of the Pakistan fertility rate from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Schätzungsweise rund 50 Millionen Muslime leben im Jahr 2020 in Europa. Damit machen Europäer muslimischen Glaubens nur einen kleinen Teil der muslimischen Weltbevölkerung aus, zu der im Jahr 2020 mehr als 1,9 Milliarden Menschen zählen. Damit ist der Islam nach dem Christentum die zweitgrößte Religion der Welt. Bis zum Jahr 2050 prognostiziert die Quelle einen Anstieg auf über 2,7 Milliarden Muslime weltweit, während zu diesem Zeitpunkt etwa 71 Millionen Menschen muslimischen Glaubens in Europa leben werden.

Auch relativ gesehen steigt der Anteil von Menschen muslimischen Glaubens an der Gesamtbevölkerung - sowohl in Europa, als auch weltweit.