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[[File:Religion distribution.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A map of the world, showing the major religions distributed in the world today (Pew, Dec 18, 2012).]]
This article analyzes the claim that [[Islam]] is the "fastest growing religion" in the world.
==Introduction==


Many have claimed that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. As proof, they usually present unverifiable claims and baseless media quotes. Apparently ABC [[News]] had claimed "Already more than a billion-people strong, Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion", a quote which cannot be traced to its source. Also CNN World News stated "Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world", a statement which they fail to back up with any evidence. Here we examine the actual data available for Islam to see if any of these claims are based on fact.
==Analysis==
===Growth of Islam===
====Worldwide====
According to "The Future of the Global Muslim Population," published in January 2011 by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the growth and anticipated future growth of Islam is primarily due to "their relatively high birth rate, the large number of Muslims of childbearing age, and an increase in life expectancy in Muslim-majority countries" and conversions play little part in the increase due to available data suggesting "Islam loses as many adherents via conversion as it gains."<ref>Richard Allen Greene - [{{Reference archive|1=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/world-muslim-population-doubling-report-projects/?hpt=C1|2=2011-04-16}} World Muslim population doubling, report projects] - CNN News, January 27, 2011</ref><ref>"''... What little information is available suggests that there is no substantial net gain or loss in the number of Muslims through conversion globally; the number of people who become Muslims through conversion seems to be roughly equal to the number of Muslims who leave the faith. As a result, this report does not include any estimated future rate of conversions as a direct factor in the projections of Muslim population growth.''" - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-related-factors-conversion.aspx|2=2012-03-23}} The Future of the Global Muslim Population, Related Factors: Conversion], Pew Research Center, January 27, 2011</ref>
In 2006, countries with a Muslim majority had an average population growth rate of 1.8% per year (when weighted by percentage Muslim and population size).<ref> Averaging of individual country figures from [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook CIA factbook]</ref>  This compares with a world population growth rate of 1.12% per year<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/xx.html CIA Factbook]</ref>, and according to the ''World Christian Encyclopaedia'', between 1990 and 2000, Islam received around 865,558 converts each year. This compares with an approximate 2,883,011 converts each year for Christianity during the same period.<ref name="bibleca">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm|2=2011-04-16}} Global statistics for all religions: 2001 AD]. www.bible.ca. Accessed 2006-12-26.</ref>
====Africa====
Muslims previously outnumbered Christians in sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. However, a study published in April 2010 by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has found that Christians now outnumber Muslims by 2 to 1 making Islam a minority belief.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=6063|2=2011-04-16}} Christians now outnumber Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa by 2 to 1] - Catholic Culture, April 19, 2010</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://pewforum.org/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa.aspx|2=2011-04-16}} Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa] - The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, April 15, 2010</ref>
The number of adherents to Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa grew from fewer than 9 million in 1910 to 516 million today, a 60-fold increase eclipsing the growth of Islam.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/christian/global-christianity-exec.aspx|2=2012-11-30}} Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population] - The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, December 19, 2011</ref>
====America====
Contrary to what is often claimed, Islam is not the fastest growing religion in the [[United States]]. Here are the available facts.
*The ARIS polls<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html|2=2011-04-16}} Largest Religious Groups in the United States of America] - Adherents.com, accessed April 16, 2011</ref> 1990 and 2000 show that the percent of change for Islam was +109%. However, the percent of change for Nonreligious/Secular (+110%), Native American Religion (+119%), Buddhism (+170%), Baha'i (+200%), Hinduism (+237%), New Age (+240%), Sikhism (+338%) and Deism (+717%) were all higher.
* The American Religious Identification Survey gave Non-Religious groups the largest gain in terms of absolute numbers - 14,300,000 (8.4% of the population) to 29,400,000 (14.1% of the population) for the period 1990 to 2001 in the USA.<ref name="cuny1">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm|2=2011-04-16}} American Religious Identification Survey, Key Findings] - The Graduate Center of the City University of New York</ref><ref name="cuny2">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf|2=2011-04-16}} American Religious Identification Survey, Full PDF Document] - The Graduate Center of the City University of New York</ref> Also, Americans with no religion were the fastest growing segment from 2001 to 2008.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2009/03/fastest-growing-religion-no-re.html|2=2011-04-16}} Fastest Growing Religion = No Religion (New Religious Identification Survey)] ([{{Reference archive|1=http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf|2=2011-04-16}} original pdf report] | [http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/ website])</ref>
* According to the Cultural Orientation Resource Center,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cal.org/co/refugee/statistics/final_FY2009.html|2=2011-04-16}} US Refugee Program: Current Fiscal Year Admission Statistics] - Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Updated October 2009</ref> a massive 60% of all refugees admitted into the United States are from Muslim countries. Likewise, a Pew report published in January 2011 found that "About two-thirds of the Muslims in the U.S. today (64.5%) are first-generation immigrants (foreign-born)".<ref name="PewRCJan272011">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx|2=2012-12-02}} The Future of the Global Muslim Population: Projections for 2010-2030] - Pew Research Center, January 27, 2011</ref>
* Contrary to the bloated figures provided by CAIR and in spite of the massive influx of Muslim refugees, a Pew survey carried-out in October 2009 found the estimate for the total Muslim population of the U.S to be at only 2.454 million.<ref>Patrick Goodenough - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/55214|2=2011-04-16}} New Survey on Islam Calls Into Question Population Figure Used by Obama] - CNS News, October 9, 2009</ref> Percentage-wise, Islam represents a minuscule 0.8 percent of the United States religious make-up. About a third of what had previously been claimed and widely accepted by many [[apologists]] and media outlets.
* According to research carried out by the respected Pakistani-born American Muslim Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus (1932 - 2007),<ref> Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Cortland</ref><ref>Faraz Rabbani, Former SunniPath Instructor - [{{Reference archive|1=http://blog.sunnipath.com/2007/10/05/dr-ilyas-ba-yunus-pioneer-msa-and-isna-activist-leader-passes-away/|2=2011-04-16}} Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus – Pioneer MSA and ISNA Activist & Leader Passes Away] - SunniPath, October 5, 2007</ref> 75% of new Muslim [[converts]] in the US leave Islam within a few years.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.radioislam.com/_asx/PublicAffairs/whynewmleave.asx|2=2011-11-19}} Listen to the clip] detailing this research ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8EC8-aVlrE listen on Youtube])</ref>
* According to Ahmed Nassef, the co-founder and editor in chief of MuslimWakeUp.com, less than 7 percent of American Muslims attend mosque regularly, compared with 38 percent of American Christians who attend church weekly.<ref>Ahmed Nassef - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0421/p09s02-coop.html|2=2012-11-30}} Listen to Muslim silent majority in US] - CSM, April 21, 2004</ref>
====China====
Islam and Christianity both entered [[China]] during the 7<sup>th</sup> century,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=China&oldid=451980300 China] - Wikipedia, accessed September 23, 2011</ref> and unreferenced claims have been made of around 100 million Muslims in China. However, most reliable estimates put the figures at 20 to 30 million Muslims (1.5% to 2% of the population).<ref>Masood Rab - [{{Reference archive|1=http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=1922|2=2011-09-23}} Chinese Muslim Scholars] - Muslim Media Network, March 24, 2008</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-07/09/content_6831389.htm|2=2011-09-23}} NW China region eyes global Muslim market] - China Daily, July 9, 2008</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=|2=2011-09-23}} China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)] - US Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report 2006</ref><ref name="The World Factbook China">[{{Reference archive|1=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html|2=2011-09-23}} China/ Religions] - CIA, The World Factbook, accessed September 23, 2011</ref>
Similarly, some Christian organizations have claimed up to 130 million Christians in China. However, most reliable estimates range from 40 million (3% of the total population) to 54 million (4%),<ref name="The World Factbook China"></ref><ref>Mark Ellis - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2007/s07100011.htm|2=2011-09-23}} China Survey Reveals Fewer Christians than Some Evangelicals Want to Believe] - Assist News, October 1, 2007</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6337627.stm|2=2011-09-23}} Survey finds 300m China believers] - BBC News, February 7, 2007</ref><ref>Jonathan Watts - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/feb/07/china.religion|2=2011-09-23}} Chinese survey finds religion booming] - The Guardian, February 7, 2007</ref> meaning the growth of Christianity in China is almost double that of Islam.
====Europe====
A United Nations' survey showed that between 1989 and 1998, Europe's Muslim population grew by more than 100 percent, due mainly to the effects of immigration from Muslim countries. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance have an unsourced claim of 2.9 percent per year. And according to a Pew report published in January 2011, the future growth of Islam in Europe will be "driven primarily by continued migration."<ref name="PewRCJan272011">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx|2=2012-12-02}} The Future of the Global Muslim Population: Projections for 2010-2030] - Pew Research Center, January 27, 2011</ref>
According to data from the extensive 2010 European Social Survey (ESS), Muslims immigrants who have lived less than a year in Europe regularly go to the mosque. But after they've lived more than a year in their new homeland, the figure drops to 48.8%. More than half rarely or never go to the mosque to pray.<ref name="Aft">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article3670269.ece|2=2012-11-30}} Europeiske muslimer dropper moskeen] - Aftenposten (Norwegian), May 29, 2010 ([http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/05/eu-muslims-go-to-mosque-less-often.html English translation])</ref>
In the [[Netherlands]], mosque attendance is actually dropping faster than church attendance. In 1998, 47 percent of Muslims would attend mosque at least once a month. This figure fell by 12 percent in 2008 to only 35 percent. Whilst church attendance for Catholics fell by only 8 percent, and church attendance amongst Protestants showed no change, remaining at 63 percent.<ref>Jeroen Langelaar - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.elsevier.nl/web/10242197/Nieuws/Nederland/Steeds-minder-Nederlanders-naar-kerk-of-moskee.htm|2=2011-07-05}} Steeds minder Nederlanders naar kerk of moskee] - Elsevier, July 29, 2009</ref>
=====United Kingdom=====
It has been estimated that during 2001 - 2011, about 100,000 people converted to Islam in the [[United Kingdom]], but 75 percent of these converts quickly left Islam, during this period.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/05/confessions-ex-muslim|title= Confessions of an ex-Muslim|publisher= New Statesman|author= Omar Shahid|date= May 17, 2013|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newstatesman.com%2Freligion%2F2013%2F05%2Fconfessions-ex-muslim&date=2013-08-23|deadurl=no}}</ref> On the whole, there are about 200,000 apostates from Islam living in the UK, doubling the number that have converted.<ref>Anthony Browne - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article510589.ece|2=2011-09-18}} Muslim apostates cast out and at risk from faith and family Muslim apostates cast out and at risk from faith and family] - The Sunday Times, February 5, 2005</ref>
Similarly to the rest of [[Europe]],<ref name="PewRCJan272011">[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx|2=2012-12-02}} The Future of the Global Muslim Population: Projections for 2010-2030] - Pew Research Center, January 27, 2011</ref> the growth of Islam in the UK is primarily due to higher birthrates among Muslims (27 percent of Muslim families have three or more dependent children, compared with 14 percent of Sikh, 8 percent of Hindu, and 7 percent of Christian families)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fof2005/families.pdf|title= Focus on Families: Muslim families most likely to have children|publisher= Office for National Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)|author= |date= July 2005|page= 8|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fof2005/families.pdf&date=2011-04-16|deadurl=yes}}</ref> and immigration (54 percent of all UK Muslims are foreign born).<ref name="IPPR">Jodie Reed, "Young Muslims in the UK: Education and Integration", Institute for Public Policy Research, December 2005</ref>
A NOP poll of British Muslims commissioned by Channel 4 also found that 48% of Muslims never attend a mosque, with another 6% only attending for special occasions.<ref name="C4NOP">Anthony Wells - [{{Reference archive|1=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/291|2=2013-03-21}} NOP Poll of British Muslims] - UK Polling Report, August 8, 2006</ref>
====Russia====
There is a wide spread belief that there are around 20 million Russian Muslims and that vast amounts of Russians are converting to Islam. However, there are only about 7 to 9 million Muslims in [[Russia]] and less than 3,000 ethnic Russians have converted to Islam within the last fifteen years.
For the same period almost 2 million ethnic Muslims have become Orthodox Christians. Over 400 Russian Orthodox clergy belong to traditionally Muslim ethnic groups, 20 percent of Tatars are Christian, and 70 percent of interfaith marriages result in the Muslim spouse conversion to Christianity.<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.interfax-religion.com%2F%3Fact%3Dnews%26div%3D2869&date=2011-04-16 <!-- http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2869 -->20Mln Muslims in Russia and mass conversion of ethnic Russians are myths - expert] - Interfax, April 10, 2007</ref>
===Other Factors to Consider===
Worth noting is the fact that apostates will rarely advertise leaving Islam due to the death sentence it imposes on its followers, and that most Islamic countries do not acknowledge conversions out of Islam.
Systematic [[persecution]] of religious minorities has been documented in almost [[Persecution Listed by Country|every Muslim majority country]], leading to some [[converts to Islam]] being coerced or forced into their conversion.
For example, following the 2010 murder of a leading Muslim politician who called for modifications to [[Pakistan|Pakistan’s]] [[Islam and Freedom of Speech|blasphemy]] law, it had been reported that at least 20 Pakistani Christians were converting to Islam each week out of fear.<ref>Rick Westhead - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/925715--some-christians-in-paki|2=2011-04-16}} Some Christians in Pakistan convert fear into safety] - Toronto Star, January 20, 2011</ref> Also according to the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), there were as many as 2,000 women and girls who were [[Forced Conversion|forcibly converted]] in 2011 to Islam through [[rape]], torture and kidnappings in Pakistan.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012/09/05/story_5-9-2012_pg7_25|2=2012-09-05}} 2,000 minorities girls converted to Islam forcibly: report] - Daily Times, September 5, 2012</ref>
This is not limited to Muslim-majority countries. In the United Kingdom, it was reported in 2007 that police were working with universities to clamp down on "aggressive conversions" to Islam, during which vulnerable teenage girls are beaten up by Muslims and forced to abandon university courses.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/police-protect-girls-forced-to-convert-to-islam-7256407.html|2=2013-01-02}} Police protect girls forced to convert to Islam] - London Evening Standard, February 22, 2007</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://metro.co.uk/2007/02/22/hindu-girls-targeted-by-extremists-108990/|2=2013-02-07}} ‘Hindu girls targeted by extremists’] - Metro News, February 22, 2007</ref>
==Conclusion==
All the actual data available reveals that Islam is neither the fastest growing religion by number of adherents or the fastest growing religion by percentage-increase.
The growing number of Muslims in the world is due primarily to the higher than average birth-rates, and consequent population growths of Muslim countries and communities. And their growing presence in non-Muslim societies such as Europe and the Americas is overwhelmingly due to immigration.
Furthermore, converts to Islam are vastly outnumbered by those who choose to leave the religion and embrace another faith or worldview. And the majority of converts that Islam does manage to attract, decide to leave within the first few years of practicing it. 
Finally, even if Islam were to be the fastest growing religion in the world, it would be an [[Ad Populum|Argumentum ad populum]] to claim that this makes it the correct religion.
{{Core Propaganda}}
==See Also==
{{Hub4|Converts|Converts}}
{{Translation-links-english|[[Най-бързо разрастващата се религия|Bulgarian]]}}
==External Links==
*[http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Games-Muslims-Play.htm#fastest "Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion"] ''- [[The Religion Of Peace]]''
*[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/christian/global-christianity-exec.aspx|2=2012-11-30}} Global Christianity (Dec 2011 Pew Report)] ''- Contrary to Islamic propaganda, world-wide Christianity is not "dying" but remains stable''
==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=}}

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