Demographics of Islam

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Distribution of Islam per country. Green represents a Sunni majority and blue represents a Shia majority.

The following table analyzes the Demographics of Islam as of mid-year 2005.

The exact percentage of the world's Muslim population that adheres to the various Shi'a sects, as opposed to the majority Sunni group, is indeterminate. No Sunni-Shi'a breakdown is available for many countries. The CIA World Factbook gives a Sunni-Shi'a breakdown only for countries where Shi'a are a significant minority. When no breakdown is given, all the country's Muslims have been enrolled, provisionally, in the Sunni column. This is certain to have exaggerated the proportion of Sunni Muslims. Much further work will be required before the Sunni-Shi'a statistics given here can be considered reliable. At present, the figures indicate 85% Sunni and 15% Shi'a.

No columns have been provided for the Ibadi branch of Islam. Ibadis are found primarily in Oman, where they constitute some 80% of the Muslim population. (Total population is approximately 3,001,583, Muslim population is 2,851,504, Sunni population is 556,676, Shi'a population is 43,741, and the Ibadi population is 2,251,187 -- all figures being approximate.)

There is a considerable discrepancy between the Muslim total derived from adding up the figures for the various countries (1,363,000,000), the Muslim total derived from the latest U.S. government census, (1,476,000,000) and the Muslim total given by the CIA World Factbook (1,283,000,000). The CIA estimates that Muslims constitute some 20.12% of the world population. If the larger figure is used, the percentage would be 21.1%. The discrepancy may be due to rounding errors, since in many cases the Muslim population was calculated from the general population multiplied by the Muslim percentage. Replacing the CIA figures with figures from national censuses, if available, could reduce this discrepancy.

Note on percentages

The percent of total population that is Muslim in India has grown by 0.84 percent points during 1991-2001 from 12.60% (12.20% per 1991 Census figure adujsted for areas missed in 1991 Census) to 13.43% in 2001 census. Such trend projects a 13.80% Muslim percentage for India in mid-year 2005. Because of such reasonable estimate for mid-2005 is reasonable to make in case of India, it has been used.

Sources used

The majority of the figures have been taken from, or calculated from, the CIA World Factbook [link] and the website Adherents.com [link]. When these sources fail to provide any numerical information, other sources have been used as specified below:

[1]: Imam Reza Network estimates [link]
[2]: Encyclopedia Britannica 1997 edition
[3]: Registered religious communities in Finland (2003)

Data is estimated as of mid-2006 for countries with the largest Muslim population, representing about 92% of total world Muslim population.

Country Population Muslim (%) Muslim Shia to Muslim (%) Shia Population Sunni to Muslim (%) Sunni Population

Iran 69,500,000 99% 68,805,000 90% 61,924,500 10% 6,880,500

Pakistan 162,400,000 97% 157,528,000 20% 31,505,600 80% 126,022,400

India 1,103,060,000 14% 154,500,000 20% 30,900,000 80% 123,600,000

Iraq 28,800,000 97% 27,936,000 65% 18,158,400 35% 9,777,600

Turkey 72,900,000 100% 72,750,000 20% 14,550,000 80% 58,200,000

Bangladesh 144,200,000 88% 127,328,600 5% 6,366,430 95% 120,962,170

Azerbaijan 8,400,000 93% 7,845,600 80% 6,276,480 20% 1,569,120

Yemen 20,700,000 100% 20,680,000 25% 5,170,000 75% 15,510,000

Afghanistan 29,900,000 99% 29,601,000 15% 4,440,150 85% 25,160,850

Nigeria 131,500,000 50% 65,750,000 5% 3,287,500 95% 62,462,500

China 1,303,700,000 3% 39,111,000 8% 3,128,880 92% 35,982,120

Syria 18,400,000 90% 16,560,000 15% 2,484,000 85% 14,076,000

Saudi Arabia 24,600,000 100% 24,600,000 10% 2,460,000 90% 22,140,000

Russia 143,000,000 19% 27,650,000 8% 2,212,000 92% 25,438,000

Indonesia 221,900,000 88% 195,272,000 1% 1,952,720 99% 193,319,280

Uzbekistan 26,400,000 88% 23,232,000 6% 1,393,920 94% 21,838,080

Lebanon 3,800,000 60% 2,270,000 60% 1,362,000 40% 908,000

Algeria 32,800,000 99% 32,472,000 4% 1,298,880 96% 31,173,120

Tanzania 36,500,000 50% 18,250,000 6% 1,095,000 94% 17,155,000

Kuwait 2,600,000 100% 2,600,000 35% 910,000 65% 1,690,000

United States 296,500,000 2% 6,000,000 15% 900,000 85% 5,100,000

Egypt 74,000,000 94% 69,560,000 1% 695,600 99% 68,864,400

UAE 4,600,000 96% 4,416,000 15% 662,400 85% 3,753,600

Morocco 30,700,000 99% 30,393,000 2% 607,860 98% 29,785,140

Sudan 40,200,000 73% 29,346,000 2% 586,920 98% 28,759,080

Kenya 33,800,000 24% 8,000,000 7% 560,000 93% 7,440,000

Senegal 11,700,000 94% 10,998,000 5% 549,900 95% 10,448,100

Albania 3,200,000 68% 2,170,000 25% 542,500 75% 1,627,500

Bahrain 700,000 100% 700,000 70% 490,000 30% 210,000

Ivory Coast 18,200,000 60% 10,920,000 4% 436,800 96% 10,483,200

Niger 14,000,000 97% 13,580,000 3% 407,400 97% 13,172,600

Ethiopia 77,400,000 50% 38,700,000 1% 387,000 99% 38,313,000

France 60,700,000 10% 5,980,000 6% 358,800 94% 5,621,200

Kazakhstan 15,100,000 47% 7,097,000 5% 354,850 95% 6,742,150

Tazikistan 6,800,000 90% 6,120,000 5% 306,000 95% 5,814,000

Germany 82,500,000 4% 3,060,000 10% 306,000 90% 2,754,000

Serbia/Montenegro & Kosovo 10,700,000 19% 2,030,000 15% 304,500 85% 1,725,500

Uganda 26,900,000 16% 4,304,000 7% 301,280 93% 4,002,720

Brazil 184,200,000 1% 921,000 30% 276,300 70% 644,700

Guinea 9,500,000 85% 8,075,000 3% 242,250 97% 7,832,750

Burkina Faso 13,900,000 50% 6,950,000 3% 208,500 97% 6,741,500

Ghana 22,000,000 45% 9,900,000 2% 198,000 98% 9,702,000

Tunisia 10,000,000 98% 9,800,000 2% 196,000 98% 9,604,000

Turkmenistan 5,200,000 89% 4,628,000 4% 185,120 96% 4,442,880

Bosnia Herzegovenia 3,800,000 62% 2,340,000 7% 163,800 93% 2,176,200

Oman 2,400,000 99% 2,376,000 5% 118,800 95% 2,257,200

Kyrgyzstan 5,200,000 75% 3,900,000 3% 117,000 97% 3,783,000

Jordan 5,800,000 94% 5,452,000 2% 109,040 98% 5,342,960

South Africa 46,900,000 2% 938,000 10% 93,800 90% 844,200

Bulgaria 7,700,000 12% 890,000 10% 89,000 90% 801,000

Somalia 8,600,000 100% 8,600,000 1% 86,000 99% 8,514,000

Italy 58,700,000 2% 1,370,000 5% 68,500 95% 1,301,500

Canada 32,200,000 2% 620,000 10% 62,000 90% 558,000

Libya 5,800,000 97% 5,626,000 1% 56,260 99% 5,569,740

Benin 8,400,000 20% 1,680,000 3% 50,400 97% 1,629,600

Argentina 38,600,000 1% 500,000 10% 50,000 90% 450,000

Qatar 800,000 95% 760,000 5% 38,000 95% 722,000

Mauritania 3,100,000 100% 3,100,000 1% 31,000 99% 3,069,000

Gambia 1,600,000 95% 1,520,000 2% 30,400 98% 1,489,600

Australia 20,400,000 1% 280,000 10% 28,000 90% 252,000

Eritria 4,700,000 50% 2,350,000 1% 23,500 99% 2,326,500

Maldives 300,000 100% 300,000 5% 15,000 95% 285,000

Western Sahara 300,000 100% 300,000 3% 9,000 97% 291,000

Mongolia 2,600,000 6% 160,000 5% 8,000 95% 152,000

Dijbouti 800,000 94% 752,000 1% 7,520 99% 744,480

Comoros 700,000 98% 686,000 1% 6,860 99% 679,140

Macedonia 2,000,000 32% 630,000 1% 6,300 99% 623,700

TOTAL 4,899,500,000 1,453,526,700 15% 212,208,620 85% 1,241,310,580

Country	Population	Muslim (%)	Muslim	Shia to Muslim (%)	Shia Population	Sunni to Muslim (%)	Sunni Population
Iran	69,500,000	99%	68,805,000	90%	61,924,500	10%	6,880,500
Pakistan	162,400,000	97%	157,528,000	20%	31,505,600	80%	126,022,400
India	1,103,060,000	14%	154,500,000	20%	30,900,000	80%	123,600,000
Iraq	28,800,000	97%	27,936,000	65%	18,158,400	35%	9,777,600
Turkey	72,900,000	100%	72,750,000	20%	14,550,000	80%	58,200,000
Bangladesh	144,200,000	88%	127,328,600	5%	6,366,430	95%	120,962,170
Azerbaijan	8,400,000	93%	7,845,600	80%	6,276,480	20%	1,569,120
Yemen	20,700,000	100%	20,680,000	25%	5,170,000	75%	15,510,000
Afghanistan	29,900,000	99%	29,601,000	15%	4,440,150	85%	25,160,850
Nigeria	131,500,000	50%	65,750,000	5%	3,287,500	95%	62,462,500
China	1,303,700,000	3%	39,111,000	8%	3,128,880	92%	35,982,120
Syria	18,400,000	90%	16,560,000	15%	2,484,000	85%	14,076,000
Saudi Arabia	24,600,000	100%	24,600,000	10%	2,460,000	90%	22,140,000
Russia	143,000,000	19%	27,650,000	8%	2,212,000	92%	25,438,000
Indonesia	221,900,000	88%	195,272,000	1%	1,952,720	99%	193,319,280
Uzbekistan	26,400,000	88%	23,232,000	6%	1,393,920	94%	21,838,080
Lebanon	3,800,000	60%	2,270,000	60%	1,362,000	40%	908,000
Algeria	32,800,000	99%	32,472,000	4%	1,298,880	96%	31,173,120
Tanzania	36,500,000	50%	18,250,000	6%	1,095,000	94%	17,155,000
Kuwait	2,600,000	100%	2,600,000	35%	910,000	65%	1,690,000
United States	296,500,000	2%	6,000,000	15%	900,000	85%	5,100,000
Egypt	74,000,000	94%	69,560,000	1%	695,600	99%	68,864,400
UAE	4,600,000	96%	4,416,000	15%	662,400	85%	3,753,600
Morocco	30,700,000	99%	30,393,000	2%	607,860	98%	29,785,140
Sudan	40,200,000	73%	29,346,000	2%	586,920	98%	28,759,080
Kenya	33,800,000	24%	8,000,000	7%	560,000	93%	7,440,000
Senegal	11,700,000	94%	10,998,000	5%	549,900	95%	10,448,100
Albania	3,200,000	68%	2,170,000	25%	542,500	75%	1,627,500
Bahrain	700,000	100%	700,000	70%	490,000	30%	210,000
Ivory Coast	18,200,000	60%	10,920,000	4%	436,800	96%	10,483,200
Niger	14,000,000	97%	13,580,000	3%	407,400	97%	13,172,600
Ethiopia	77,400,000	50%	38,700,000	1%	387,000	99%	38,313,000
France	60,700,000	10%	5,980,000	6%	358,800	94%	5,621,200
Kazakhstan	15,100,000	47%	7,097,000	5%	354,850	95%	6,742,150
Tazikistan	6,800,000	90%	6,120,000	5%	306,000	95%	5,814,000
Germany	82,500,000	4%	3,060,000	10%	306,000	90%	2,754,000
Serbia/Montenegro & Kosovo	10,700,000	19%	2,030,000	15%	304,500	85%	1,725,500
Uganda	26,900,000	16%	4,304,000	7%	301,280	93%	4,002,720
Brazil	184,200,000	1%	921,000	30%	276,300	70%	644,700
Guinea	9,500,000	85%	8,075,000	3%	242,250	97%	7,832,750
Burkina Faso	13,900,000	50%	6,950,000	3%	208,500	97%	6,741,500
Ghana	22,000,000	45%	9,900,000	2%	198,000	98%	9,702,000
Tunisia	10,000,000	98%	9,800,000	2%	196,000	98%	9,604,000
Turkmenistan	5,200,000	89%	4,628,000	4%	185,120	96%	4,442,880
Bosnia Herzegovenia	3,800,000	62%	2,340,000	7%	163,800	93%	2,176,200
Oman	2,400,000	99%	2,376,000	5%	118,800	95%	2,257,200
Kyrgyzstan	5,200,000	75%	3,900,000	3%	117,000	97%	3,783,000
Jordan	5,800,000	94%	5,452,000	2%	109,040	98%	5,342,960
South Africa	46,900,000	2%	938,000	10%	93,800	90%	844,200
Bulgaria	7,700,000	12%	890,000	10%	89,000	90%	801,000
Somalia	8,600,000	100%	8,600,000	1%	86,000	99%	8,514,000
Italy	58,700,000	2%	1,370,000	5%	68,500	95%	1,301,500
Canada	32,200,000	2%	620,000	10%	62,000	90%	558,000
Libya	5,800,000	97%	5,626,000	1%	56,260	99%	5,569,740
Benin	8,400,000	20%	1,680,000	3%	50,400	97%	1,629,600
Argentina	38,600,000	1%	500,000	10%	50,000	90%	450,000
Qatar	800,000	95%	760,000	5%	38,000	95%	722,000
Mauritania	3,100,000	100%	3,100,000	1%	31,000	99%	3,069,000
Gambia	1,600,000	95%	1,520,000	2%	30,400	98%	1,489,600
Australia	20,400,000	1%	280,000	10%	28,000	90%	252,000
Eritria	4,700,000	50%	2,350,000	1%	23,500	99%	2,326,500
Maldives	300,000	100%	300,000	5%	15,000	95%	285,000
Western Sahara	300,000	100%	300,000	3%	9,000	97%	291,000
Mongolia	2,600,000	6%	160,000	5%	8,000	95%	152,000
Dijbouti	800,000	94%	752,000	1%	7,520	99%	744,480
Comoros	700,000	98%	686,000	1%	6,860	99%	679,140
Macedonia	2,000,000	32%	630,000	1%	6,300	99%	623,700
TOTAL	4,899,500,000		1,453,526,700	15%	212,208,620	85%	1,241,310,580

Demographics of Islam

Note on percentages

Sources used

See also