How Many Muslims Are There in the World?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 07, 2023

At the end of 2012, there were about 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. This accounts for about 23 percent of Earth’s population. It is the world’s second-most common religion after Christianity.

Around the world, the Muslim religion is the most common form of worship in 49 countries. Sixty-two percent of Muslims – almost 1 billion – live in the Pacific region of Asia, in countries such as India and Pakistan. The Middle East and northern Africa are home to the next largest population of Muslims: over 300 million. The third-largest population – almost 250 million Muslims – resides in sub-Saharan African countries. Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean have significantly fewer Muslims.