In a landmark report by the American-based Pew Research Center, Muslims have been identified as the fastest-growing religious group in the world, with an increase of 347 million people between 2010 and 2020.
The report, which draws on data from over 2,700 sources—including censuses, national records, and global surveys—analysed responses from participants across 201 countries over a ten-year period to track religious affiliation and demographic shifts.
According to the findings, the global Muslim population surged by approximately 347 million people during that decade, outpacing all other religious groups. The research attributes this sharp rise to natural population growth within Muslim communities, particularly in regions with high birth rates and strong family values.
In comparison, the number of Christians grew by 122 million, yet their percentage share of the global population declined—a drop the report links to a growing number of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated and to some Christians leaving their faith altogether.
As a result, the global Muslim population share increased from 23.9% in 2010 to 25.6% in 2020, while the Christian share fell from 30.6% to 28.8% in the same period.
Decline of Christianity in the West
The most significant decline in Christian populations occurred in Europe and North America, reflecting broader trends of secularisation and religious disaffiliation in Western societies.
Meanwhile, Islam witnessed notable growth in multiple regions:
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- North America: Muslim population increased by 52.3%
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- Sub-Saharan Africa: rose by 33.8%
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- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): saw a 23.9% increase
In contrast, the Christian population dropped by:
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- 10.8% in North America
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- 8.8% in Europe
Only Sub-Saharan Africa showed a substantial Christian growth of 31.2%.
Despite these shifts, Christianity remains the largest religious group globally—but not in Asia, the Pacific, or the MENA region, where Islam dominates both in growth and cultural influence.
Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated
Another notable trend highlighted by Pew is the rise of those with no religious affiliation, now comprising 24.2% of the global population—making them the third-largest group after Christians and Muslims.
Meanwhile, the number of Buddhists declined by 19 million between 2010 and 2020. In contrast, the Jewish population grew by 6%, reaching approximately 15 million people.
Islam: The Future’s Leading Faith?
This is not the first time Pew has flagged Islam’s demographic momentum. In a 2017 report, the research institution projected that Islam could become the world’s largest religion by 2075, should current trends continue.
