The global Muslim population is currently estimated at just over 2 billion people , which is roughly one-quarter of the world’s population (about 24–25%).

Quick Scoop: World Muslim Population

How many Muslims are there in the world?

  • As of 2025–2026, estimates put the Muslim population at around 2.0–2.06 billion people worldwide.
  • That equals about 24–25% of all humans alive today , making Islam the second-largest religion after Christianity.
  • Many recent analyses describe Islam as one of the fastest-growing major religions , driven mainly by higher birth rates in Muslim-majority countries and a relatively young population.

In simple terms: roughly 1 in every 4 people on Earth is Muslim today.

Where do most Muslims live?

Most Muslims do not live only in the Middle East; the largest numbers are actually in Asia and Africa.

  • Asia-Pacific : About 1.0–1.1 billion Muslims (around 60%+ of all Muslims), including Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
  • Middle East & North Africa: Roughly 380 million Muslims, about 20% of the global Muslim population.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa : Around 280 million Muslims, about 15%.
  • Europe : Roughly 50 million Muslims (about 2–3%).
  • Americas (North & South): Around 8 million Muslims (less than 1%).

Countries with the largest Muslim populations (by headcount) include Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Egypt.

Why do the estimates vary?

You’ll see slightly different numbers (like 1.9 billion , 2.0 billion , 2.06 billion , or even higher) depending on:

  • Data sources : UN demographic data, national censuses, independent researchers, and religious organizations use different datasets.
  • Methodology : Some estimates rely on older census figures plus projections, others use surveys or extrapolated growth rates.
  • Reference year : A 2023 estimate may be closer to 1.9 billion, while 2025–2026 projections cross the 2 billion mark.

Despite differences, the consistent range across serious sources is “around two billion Muslims, about a quarter of the world’s population.”

Mini FAQ

Q: Is Islam really the second-largest religion?
Yes. Christianity is generally estimated to be slightly larger, with Islam in second place by number of adherents.

Q: Is the Muslim population still growing?
Most demographic studies project that the Muslim share of the global population will keep increasing in coming decades due to higher fertility and younger age structures in many Muslim-majority countries.

TL;DR:
The population of Muslims in the world is about 2–2.06 billion people , or roughly one in four people worldwide , and that number is projected to continue rising.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.