Muslim Population Growth Rates: Difference between revisions

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>  

*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>

Islam and Christianity both entered [[China]] during the 7^th 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>

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>

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>

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.  

*[http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Games-Muslims-Play.htm#fastest "Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion"] ''- [[The Religion Of Peace]]''