Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. It is mostly due to a rising number of converts. In 2006, the research data reveal that countries with a Muslim majority had an average population growth rate of 1.8% per year. This compares with a world population growth rate of 1.1% per year. As of 2011, it is predicted that the world’s Muslim population will grow twice as fast as non-Muslims over the next 20 years. Accordingly, by 2030, Muslims will make up more than a quarter of the global population. The research data have also predicted that by the year 2100, the world’s Muslim population will be approximately 35% which will exceed the then Christian population estimated to be 34%.

Undoubtedly, Islam has now become the fastest growing religion all over the world. In USA, estimating Muslim population growth is related to contentious political issues. Some Islamic organizations have accused American demographers of releasing falsely low population numbers of Muslims in the United States to justify the marginalization of Muslims.

Islam is currently the largest religion in Asia. According to the Pew Research Center,  in the Asia-Pacific region,  in 2030, approximately 27.3% will be Muslim, up from about a quarter  (24.8%) in 2010.

Islam is the fastest-growing religion in India. Research has indicated growth rate of Muslims has been consistently higher than the growth rate of Hindus.  Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointed a census committee in 2006 which concluded that if the current trend continues, by the end of the 21st century India’s Muslim population will reach about 340 million people (19% or 20% of India’s total projected population.

In China, Muslim population growth was determined at 2.7% during 1964–1982, compared to 2.1% growth for the entire chinese population.

Islam is also the fastest-growing religion in Europe. According to the Pew Research Center, the Muslim population in Europe (excluding Turkey) was about 30 million in 1990, 44 million in 2010 and is expected to increase to 58 million by 2030; the Muslim share of the population increased from 4.1% in 1990 to 6% in 2010 and will continue to increase over the next 40 years, reaching 10% in 2050. Based on the current growth rate of Islam in Europe, in 2030, Muslims are projected to make up more than 10% of the total population in 10 European countries: Kosovo (93.5%), Albania (83.2%), Bosnia-Herzegovina (52.7%), Republic of Macedonia (40.3%), Montenegro (21.5%), Bulgaria (15.7%), France (10.3%) and Belgium and Georgia each over (10.%).

Converts also contribute to high growth rates for Islam. There are thousands of converts in  Europe every year. As per the latest data for 2010, the number of converts for United Kingdom and France have each exceeded 100,000.

Among the Muslim population, based on the latest available research, it can be concluded that Shia Muslims are growing at faster rate (2.4%) than the Sunni Muslims (2.1%).  Among Sunni Muslims, growth rates are for Hanafi sect 2.1% ,  Shafi sect 2.2 %,  Maliki sect 2.0 %,  Humbli sect 2.2 %, and  Wahabi sect 1.4%. Based on the growth statistics, it is estimated that Shiite population in the world will exceed 300 Million by 2025.

(Source:  “Shia Islam At A Glance”)