Islam Growth: Pew Research Data | NPR
- A recent Pew Research Center study indicates that Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, outpacing all othre faiths and the religiously unaffiliated.
- While Christianity experienced growth of 122 million adherents, its overall share of the global population decreased.
- Conrad Hackett, a senior demographer at Pew Research Center, explained that the study analyzes demographic characteristics such as age, fertility rates, and education levels to project future...
Discover how Islam is the fastest-growing religion globally, according to a new Pew Research study. This significant shift in the global religious landscape, analyzed by Pew’s demographic insights, reveals key trends between 2010 and 2020. While Christianity remains the largest religion with over 2 billion followers, Islam has shown considerable population growth driven by demographics.The religiously unaffiliated also see a steady rise. For detailed news and analysis, visit News Directory 3. What does this mean for the future of faith? Discover what’s next in the world of religious demographics.
Islam Is Fastest-Growing Religion, Pew Study Shows
Updated June 11, 2025
Mecca, Saudi Arabia during hajj.” width=”600″height=”400″>
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Amr Nabil/AP
A recent Pew Research Center study indicates that Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, outpacing all
othre faiths and the religiously unaffiliated. The study, which examined global religious population trends
between 2010 and 2020, revealed significant shifts in the global religious landscape.
While Christianity experienced growth of 122 million adherents, its overall share of the global population
decreased. Still, with 2.3 billion followers,Christianity remains the world’s largest religion,accounting for
nearly 29% of the global population.
Conrad Hackett, a senior demographer at Pew Research Center, explained that the study analyzes demographic
characteristics such as age, fertility rates, and education levels to project future growth trends for religious
groups. The Global religious Landscape study is the second demographic report on religious
groups as 2010.
The Muslim population saw an increase of 347 million people, primarily due to high birth rates within the
community. Hackett noted that conversions to Islam or departures from the faith had minimal impact on this
growth.
Researchers analyzed 2,700 data sources across 201 countries, surveying 100,000 individuals about their
religious affiliations. The study also incorporated data on fertility, mortality, and age distribution to assess
demographic changes.
The Muslim population is largely concentrated in the Middle East-North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa,
representing 94.2% and 33% of those regions, respectively. The Asia-Pacific region, home to the largest Muslim
population, saw a 16.2% increase between 2010 and 2020.
Christianity experienced a 1.8% decline, attributed to higher population growth among non-Christian groups.
This decline was observed in Europe, north America, the americas, Australia, and New Zealand. However,
Christianity remains the majority faith globally, except in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East-North africa regions,
and is the most geographically dispersed religious group.
The religiously unaffiliated now constitute the third-largest group, with 24.2% of the global population
identifying as such. This trend is especially prevalent in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand,
where many individuals raised Christian no longer identify with any religion.
Pew’s study marks the first time it has tracked religious switching patterns, compiling data from 117 countries
on individuals aged 18 to 54, comparing their childhood faith with their current religious identity.
North America saw a 13-percentage-point increase in religiously unaffiliated individuals between 2010 and 2020,
reaching 30.2%. Similar increases where observed in latin America-Caribbean (4.1 percentage points) and Europe
(6.6 percentage points,reaching 25.3%).
The Asia-Pacific region is home to the largest population of religiously unaffiliated individuals, with 67%
residing in China. However, Hackett acknowledged the challenges of accurately measuring religiosity in China.
buddhism experienced a decline between 2010 and 2020, with more people leaving the faith than joining. The
Buddhist population decreased by 19 million, making it the only religious group with fewer members in 2020 than
in 2010. The study notes that these estimates may not fully capture the influence of Buddhist practices.
Hinduism, the fourth-largest group, represents 14.9% of the world’s population, with 95% residing in india.
Between 2010 and 2020,the Hindu population increased by 62% in the Middle East-North Africa region and by 55%
in North america,largely due to migration.
The Jewish population grew by 6% between 2010 and 202