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Islam: The world’s fastest-growing religion from 2010 to 2020

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Islam experienced the fastest growth among the world’s major religions in the decade leading up to 2020, according to new estimates from the Pew Research Center.

During this period, the global Muslim population surged by 347 million, reaching approximately 2.0 billion. This growth outpaced that of every other religious group, solidifying Islam’s position as the second-largest religion globally, following Christianity.

In contrast, the number of Christians grew by 122 million, totaling 2.3 billion by 2020. Notably, Buddhists were the only major group to see a decline in absolute numbers, decreasing by 19 million to 324 million.

The study spanned 201 countries and territories, covering 99.98% of the global population, and focused on seven religious categories: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, followers of other religions, and the religiously unaffiliated.

Muslim population growth during this decade exceeded the combined growth of all non-Muslim groups, which totaled 248 million. Remarkably, the increase in Muslims alone was greater than the entire global Buddhist population in 2020.

This rapid expansion has narrowed the population gap between Muslims and Christians.

In 2010, Muslims represented 23.9% of the global population compared to Christians at 30.6%. By 2020, those figures had shifted to 25.6% for Muslims and 28.8% for Christians. One key factor behind the slower growth of Christianity is high rates of religious disaffiliation.

Why Is the Muslim Population Growing So Quickly?

Pew Research Center reported that the primary drivers of Muslim population growth are demographic. Muslims tend to be younger and have higher fertility rates than adherents of other religions.

Between 2015 and 2020, Muslim women had an average of 2.9 children, compared to 2.2 for non-Muslim women. Additionally, the median age of Muslims in 2020 was 24, nine years younger than the global non-Muslim median age of 33.

Religious conversion played a minimal role in this growth. Survey data from 117 countries between 2008 and 2024 indicate that about 1% of those raised as Muslims leave the faith. However, this is roughly offset by an equivalent number of people converting to Islam.

Where Do Most Muslims Live?

In 2020, the largest number of Muslims resided in the Asia-Pacific region (1.2 billion), followed by the Middle East and North Africa (414 million), and Sub-Saharan Africa (369 million). Although Europe and North America have much smaller Muslim populations, these communities

experienced significantly faster growth compared to their non-Muslim counterparts during the decade.

Muslims made up the highest share of the population in the Middle East and North Africa, comprising 94% of the region’s inhabitants. However, despite its strong association with Islam, this region accounted for only about 20% of the world’s Muslim population, Pew Research Center reported.

The countries with the largest Muslim populations in 2020 were outside the Middle East:

Indonesia: 239 million
Pakistan: 227 million
India: 213 million
Bangladesh: 151 million

Globally, Muslims formed the majority in 53 countries and territories as of 2020.

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Turkish ministers to visit Pakistan amid fragile truce with Afghanistan: Erdogan

The visit aims to help secure a lasting truce and promote peace between Islamabad and Kabul.

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A high-level Turkish delegation comprising the foreign and defense ministers as well as the intelligence chief will travel to Pakistan this week to discuss ongoing efforts toward a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Sunday.

According to an official readout of Erdogan’s remarks made aboard his return flight from Baku — where he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — the visit aims to help secure a lasting truce and promote peace between Islamabad and Kabul.

Erdogan said Türkiye is “closely following the terrorist attacks in Pakistan and the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” expressing hope that the talks mediated by Ankara would lead to “lasting stability” in the region.

He added that Türkiye and Pakistan are also seeking to deepen cooperation in multiple sectors, particularly trade, energy, and defense industries.

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Afghan and Iranian foreign ministers discuss regional issues in phone call

Muttaqi also noted that during the third round of discussions, the Pakistani side had been unwilling to take responsibility for certain issues, which hindered progress and prevented concrete outcomes.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held a telephone conversation on Sunday with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, focusing on bilateral relations and key regional developments.

According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers exchanged views on the recent Afghanistan-Pakistan talks in Istanbul, as well as broader efforts to strengthen cooperation and stability in the region.

Araghchi underscored the importance of resolving differences between Kabul and Islamabad through diplomatic dialogue and reiterated Iran’s readiness to assist in facilitating constructive engagement between the two neighboring countries.

In turn, Muttaqi said that the Afghan delegation had taken part in the Istanbul talks under the guidance of the Islamic Emirate’s leadership, with a focus on achieving a peaceful and negotiated settlement to ongoing tensions. He emphasized that Afghanistan remains committed to resolving disputes through diplomacy and mutual understanding.

Muttaqi also noted that during the third round of discussions, the Pakistani side had been unwilling to take responsibility for certain issues, which hindered progress and prevented concrete outcomes.

The conversation highlighted both countries’ shared interest in promoting regional stability and expanding cooperation across political and economic fronts.

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Erdogan meets Sharif, urges Pakistan, Afghanistan to uphold ceasefire

During a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku on Saturday, Erdogan said Türkiye is “closely following the terrorist attacks in Pakistan and the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized the need to maintain the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

During a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku on Saturday, Erdogan said Türkiye is “closely following the terrorist attacks in Pakistan and the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

He expressed hope that the talks being held under Türkiye’s mediation would lead to lasting stability in the region and affirmed Ankara’s continued support for the process.

Erdogan noted that Türkiye and Pakistan are deepening cooperation across various sectors, including trade, energy, and defense. He also stressed the importance of sustaining the ceasefire in Gaza and called for ongoing engagement through the United Nations framework.

Both leaders were in Baku to attend Azerbaijan’s Victory Day ceremony on November 8, where they observed a military parade marking the occasion.

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