12 Countries with the Biggest Muslim Population in the World in 2018

Whether you are looking for the countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018, because you hate Muslims and wish to avoid those countries, or you are a Muslim and are happy to know all the countries where Muslims are a majority, you’ve come to the right page.

Before we provide you with the Islamic countries list, let’s have a little of a philosophical debate, and share some interesting facts on the topic as well. Starting with the hatred, we mentioned earlier. Some of you may ask – why would anyone in the world hate Muslims? While that is a reasonable question when coming from an open-minded altruistic person, let’s face it – terrorist attacks that have happened in the previous years and are happening often, are one of the reasons for it, and we are all familiar with them. Hence, saying that many people are afraid of or that they dislike Muslims is just stating the obvious, which shouldn’t be confused with justifying it. First of all, we don’t think that hate is the answer to anything, that is one thing. And second of all, we feel that you shouldn’t judge all the people who follow the same religion by the acts that some of them committed. Not only that you can’t judge them, but you can’t think of them as equal. Also, think about it – who are you to judge anyone? But, unfortunately, we live in a world that is full of shallow people, who are guided by prejudices, and that is why many people in the world really do hate Muslims. Enough about hate, what about those people who are afraid of them? With so many terrorist attacks, isn’t their fear justified? Well, it’s hard to have a clear-cut opinion on this topic. It is very sensitive, and we are sure that we have already offended many people with this article, although this was not our intention. Isn’t it hilarious how in this day and age, when “everything” can be seen and is “allowed” (homosexuals, transgenders, same-sex marriages, plastic surgeries, surrogates, cloning, artificial organs, and who knows what), people are so sensitive, and get offended so easily? Everything seems to be hate speech nowadays.

To avoid having this article regarded as one, if it isn’t too late, let’s get back to our main topic –  Hindu population in the world. You are probably all aware of the fact that the Muslim population is getting bigger each day, but did you know that Pew Research Center predicts Islam will be the largest religion in the world by 2070?  It is the religion that is more widespread that most of us assume, and according to some studies, it may even become the second largest religion in the US by 2040. The number of Islam adherents is growing at an extremely fast rate. We weren’t able to find data for the Muslim population in world 2016, in terms of how many Muslims in the world 2016, but in 2015 there were 1.8 billion Muslims, making it for 24% of the world population, while in 2010 that number was 1.6 billion. Notice the increase that happened in only 5 years. Can you imagine the change in 30 years from now? If you are interested to read more about those changes, head on to the 10 Countries Where Muslim Population Will Increase the Most by 2050. What is interesting is that the mentioned article doesn’t discuss countries in which Muslims are already a majority. For more info, just check it out. And if you are interested to know which is the largest Muslim country by area, it is Kazakhstan with the land area covering 2.725 million km². According to the most recent data, around 47% of the population in this country are Islam adherents.

In spite of our goodwill and big efforts, we weren’t able to find the newest data on top 10 Muslim powerful countries, meaning we can’t guarantee that our list of countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018 is completely accurate. So, what did we do to find those Islamic countries names? Well, once again, we’ve relied on Pew Research Center’s study, combining their two lists of countries with the largest Muslim populations in 2010 and in 2050. Yes, we used their predictions, as well. The logic was that the all those countries with the most Islam adherents in 2010, and those which are predicted to be in 2050, have a good chance of being also among the countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018, or let’s just say – at the moment. So we found it safe to assume that those countries that are on both lists are the ones we are looking for this article. Just for the reference, back in 2010, there were 1.6 billion Islam adherents, and it is predicted that in 2050 there will be 2.8 billion.

Enough with 2050, and to 2010, let’s see which are countries with the largest Muslim population right now, starting with number 12.

12. Afghanistan

According to predictions, in 2050 there will be 72.2 million Islam adherents in Afghanistan, accounting for 2.6% of the world’s Muslim population.

11. Iraq

As for Iraq, it is predicted that 80.2 million Islam followers will be living there in 2050, making it for 2.9% of the world’s Muslim population.

10. Morocco

Back in 2010, there were 31.9 million Muslims living in Morocco, and accounting for 2% of the world’s Muslim population. Even though Morocco wasn’t included in the list that predicts the top Muslim countries in 2050, with these numbers from 8 years ago, it is safe to assume that it is one of countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018.

9. Algeria

Although Algeria, as well as Morocco, doesn’t appear on the list of countries with the largest Muslim population in 2050, considering that in 2010 it had 34.7 million Islam adherents, we have put it on the list.

8. Turkey

First country on our list that appears on both lists, for having a huge number of Muslims, is Turkey. 8 years ago that number was 71.3 million, accounting for 4.5% of the world’s Muslim population; and, it is predicted that in 2050, that number will reach 89.3 million, making it for 3.2% of the world’s Muslim population.

7. Iran

Seventh among the countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018, is Iran, which will most probably be home for 86.2 million Muslims in 2050, who will account for 3.1% % of the world’s Muslim population. Back in 2010, it was home for 73.6 million Islam adherents, who accounted for 4.6% of the world’s Muslim population.

6. Egypt

According to predictions, there will be around 120 million Muslims in the country of the pyramids, who will represent 4.3% of the world’s Muslim population in 2050. 8 years ago that number was 77 million, which represented 4.6% of the world’s Muslim population.

5. Nigeria

Another African country among the countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018, Nigeria had 77.3 million Islam adherents, who represented 4.8% of the world’s Muslim population, back in 2010. According to calculations and predictions, that number will almost triple by 2050, and Nigeria will be home to 230.7 million Muslims, representing 8.4% of the world’s Muslim population.

4. Bangladesh

In 2010, 134.4 million Islam adherents, who represented 8.4% of the world’s Muslim population, were living in Bangladesh. It is predicted that by 2050, that number will reach 182.4 million, representing  6.6% of the world’s Muslim population.

3. Pakistan

And, we came to the top three Muslim countries in 2018. In the third place we have Pakistan, which, back in 2010, provided a home for 167.4 million Islam adherents, who represented 10.5% of the world’s Muslim population. In 2050, there will be many more Muslims in the country, or more precisely 273.1 million, who will account for 9.9% of the world’s Muslim population. These numbers will make Pakistan the country with the second largest Muslim population in the world in 32 years. And, in the same period, the next country on our list will be the country with the biggest Muslim population in the world. Can guess which one is it? Just click on next.

2. India

Yes, it is not a big surprise here. With approximately 310.6 million Islam adherents, which will represent 11.2% of the world’s Muslim population India will be the country with the most Muslims in 2050. And 8 years ago, it also had a big number of Islam adherents – 176.2 million to be precise, which accounted for 11% of the world’s Muslim population.

1. Indonesia

First on our list of 12 countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world in 2018, is Indonesia, which was home to 209.1 million Muslims, who represented 13.1%  of the world’s Muslim population in 2010. It is predicted that the country will have 256.8 million Islam adherents, accounting for 9.3% of the world’s Muslim population in 2050.