The global Muslim population stands at 1.8 billion which makes up 24% of the world’s population. Islam is the second most-followed religion worldwide, after Christianity, which has 2.3 billion adherents. Among Muslims, 80-90% are Sunni, while 10-13% are Shia, with significant Shia populations in Pakistan, India, Iraq, and Iran. Interestingly, 300 million Muslims live in non-Islamic countries.
A recent Pew Research Center report highlights that 29% of Muslims live outside their country of birth. Over the past 30 years, the number of international migrants has increased by 83%, far exceeding the 47% global population growth. In 1990, 39.9 million Muslims lived abroad; by 2020, this number had risen to 80.4 million.
The countries where the highest number of Muslim migrants settle are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. These nations are popular destinations for Muslims seeking to relocate from their home countries.
The top countries from which Muslims migrate include India (8%), Syria (10%), and Afghanistan (7%). The UAE receives 8% of Muslim migrants, Saudi Arabia attracts 13%, and Turkey sees 7%.
In 1990, 72.7% of Christians migrated abroad, with this figure increasing to 130.9% by 2020. Christians predominantly move to the United States (27%), Germany (6%), and Russia (6%). In contrast, only 5% of Hindus migrate to other countries.
