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January 27th, 2011
12:01 AM ET
World Muslim population doubling, report projectsBy Richard Allen Greene, CNN Twenty years ago, the world had about 1.1 billion Muslims. Twenty years from now, it will have about twice as many - and they'll represent more than a quarter of all people on earth, according to a new study released Thursday. That's a rise from less than 20 percent in 1990. Pakistan will overtake Indonesia as home of the largest number of Muslims, as its population pushes over 256 million, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life projects. The number of Muslims in the United States will more than double, to 6.2 million, it anticipates. Afghanistan's population will nearly double, to about 50.5 million, making it home to the ninth largest Muslim population in the world. Israel will become nearly a quarter Muslim. The Palestinian territories have one of the highest growth rates in the world. Fractious Nigeria, where Christian-Muslim violence has left thousands dead in the past decade, will become a Muslim-majority country by 2030, the Pew Forum projects. And two western European countries - France and Belgium - will become more than 10 percent Muslim. Sweden will hover just below that level, at 9.9 percent. Iran, on the other hand, will see very slow growth. Iranian women have among the fewest children of anyone in the Muslim world. They use birth control at exactly the same rate as American women, 73 percent.
The Muslim share of the global population will rise primarily because of their relatively high birth rate, the large number of Muslims of childbearing age, and an increase in life expectancy in Muslim-majority countries, according to the report, "The Future of the Global Muslim Population." Conversion will play relatively little part in the increase, the report anticipates. It says little data is available on conversion, but what little there is suggests Islam loses as many adherents via conversion as it gains. Pakistan's rapid growth - adding an estimated 70 million people in 20 years - could create "a potentially lethal cocktail," said Ghaffar Hussain of the Quilliam Foundation, which calls itself and anti-extremism think tank and does work in Pakistan. "Pakistan is an unstable country, there are literally hundreds of jihadist groups," he said. And the government is not doing much to slow population growth, unlike in nearby Bangladesh, he said. "In Bangladesh they have tax incentives not to have large families. Pakistan doesn't have that strategy - they're not even talking about it," said Hussain. "More effort should be made to finding some solutions, especially in the border region with Afghanistan," he advised. Governments in Europe, meanwhile, should do more to explain the value of immigration, he argued. Muslim growth there "is coming from the first generation having large families" and will slow down, he predicted. But the large new Muslim populations are not always welcome, he said. "A lot of European countries don't tell their people we need immigration for (economic reasons)," he said, adding that government also should do more to help new immigrants assimilate. European government need "some sort of strategy of what to do when people come. Integration has been managed very badly," he said. The key phrase in the Pew Forum report is "growing but slowing," says Alan Cooperman, associate director of the think tank. The increase in the last 20 years is greater than what we expect in the next 20 years," he said. Muslim population growth "is a line that's flattening out. They're increasing, but they're getting closer to the norm, the average." In other words, Muslims are coming into line with global trends toward fewer children per woman and an aging population. But, the report points out, because of the existing Muslim "youth bulge," or unusually high percentage of young people, Muslim population growth has a certain momentum that will take decades to come into line with world averages - if it ever does. The Pew report, more than a year in the making, is part of an ambitious attempt by the think tank to calculate the number of adherents to each of the world's major religions. The Islam report comes first, and a Christian project is in the works. They started with Muslims, Cooperman said, because they are "the largest group for which data was lacking, and we saw public interest in knowing more." Despite the rapid growth of Islam, Christianity seems set to remain the biggest religion in the world for the next 20 years. There are currently more than 2 billion Christians - 30 to 35 percent of the global population - making it very unlikely that there will be fewer than 2.2 billion Christians in 2030. "There is nothing in these numbers to indicate that in 2030 there would be more Muslims that Christians," Cooperman said. In fact, both Christianity and Islam could be growing, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the whole, he pointed out. "We don't want people to jump to the conclusion that if Islam is growing, everyone else is shrinking," he said. "Christianity and Islam could both be growing at the expense of other religions." Sub-Saharan Africa is a case in point, he said. "Tremendous numbers are being added in sub-Saharan Africa, but... Christianity and Islam are both growing rapidly. There is not a change in the overall proportions of Muslims to Christians." He's aware that the report has policy implication, but insists that the purpose of the Pew Forum is simply to provide unbiased data. "It's not our role to say what should be done," Cooperman said. What they're aiming to do, one of the project's leader said, is to make sure there's reliable information available. "There has been a lot of speculation about the growth of the Muslim population around the world, and many of those who speculate don't have good data," said Brian Grim, a senior researcher at the Pew Forum. For example, the report undermines the notion that Europe is heading toward having any country with a Muslim majority. The continent will be about 8 percent Muslim in 2030, it projects. "The data that we have isn't pointing in the direction of 'Eurabia' at all," Grim said. "The Muslim population is growing and slowing. Instead of a runaway train, it's trending with the general global population," he said. Cooperman hopes that information will help make for more intelligent discussions, he said: "In the midst of heated debate and speculation, we think that solid, reliable, empirical estimates are valuable." soundoff (1,248 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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From the religious point of view, I don't feel threatened at all. Now, what I am concerned is a about how many of them will become extremists and will also learn how to abuse their women.
Pretty scary news. Muslim countries worldwide are the most screwed up. Their populations flee the repression of that country and screw up their new homeland. Most non Muslim immigrants are absorbed into the new country and assimilate successfully. What II have seen in the US and all over Europe is that Muslims don't identify themselves with their new surroundings they remain a clan of Muslims. To me if your fortunate enough to enjoy the freedoms you should respect it not toss it aside. Keeping a society secular is the only solution. Secularism however is not a very popular concept with the Muslim world. This is a big problem....
Propaganda, all populations double......so do the killers of our gov they will double too what you going to do about that
The end of the world will be Muslim vs. Chinese. They both have plans to dominate the world.
The end of the world will be the Sun expanding, cooking the Earth and possibly destroying it, in roughly 5 billion years.
Every time word Islam is mentioned we see hate messages next to it.. What is Islam in few lines is something everyone deserves to know, it is to believe and obey only one God. Every time humanity deviated from this path, God sent down His of prophets (Noah, Ibrahim, Mosses Jesus and Mohammed were among thousands) who carried this single message to the whole humanity (And they all had the highest moral standards). That is the message of Islam.
God speaks to the whole humanity through His book Quran..
“Proclaim, He is the One and only GOD. The Absolute GOD. Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten. None equals Him." [112:1]
“They even attribute to Him sons and daughters, without any knowledge. Be He glorified. He is the Most High, far above their claims.” Quran [6:100]
“The example of Jesus, as far as GOD is concerned, is the same as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was.” Quran [3:59]
“…anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people....." Qur'an [5:32]
Most exalted is the One in whose hands is all kingship, and He is Omnipotent.The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better. Quran [67.2]
Thanks for taking time to read my post. Please take a moment to clear your misconception by going to whyIslam org website.
I don't know whether to convert to Islam or learn Mandarin! Either way, the US's future is turning into the prophetic "Idiocracy" and our time as a nation is short.
Firstly, what is NOT absolutely critical is the Muslim population growth in ISLAMIC countries like Pakistan where the MINORITIES have already been DECIMATED, but what is ABSOLUTELY NERVE WRACKING is the DEMOGRAPHIC DISASTER facing the Western and other free nations of the world!!!!!
In that sense the report is frankly NO-BRAINER to people who have their eyes & ears wide open to what is happening in the world, and more so IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. Unfortunately all such people are HOUNDED by the so-called liberals, liberal media, ACLU, entire Muslim community, CAIR, ISNA, and certain others into making it blasphemous even to discuss such things all in the GARB of religious freedom.
While nobody discounts the findings, what is disturbing is YET AGAIN under the FALSE NOTION OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS the study has DISCOUNTED, MISREPRESENTED, SPUN certain facts, NOT to rub the Muslims on the wrong side!
Here are some MUST WATCH Videos to understand the growing worldwide Islamic DEMOGRAPHIC threat analyzed in a MOST SCIENTIFIC UN-BIASED manner, NOT by Muslim hate groups but respected social scientists.
Truly well worth the time watching this TRUE EYE-OPENER.
youtube.com/watch?v=-w3meSupCME
youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU&feature=related
Amit-Atlanta-USA
WATCH MY WORDS – I bet Mr. Fareed Zakaria will come out with a major story citing the PEW report to trash Islamophobia in the west.
Amit-Atlanta-USA
First let me state that I am a BELIEVER in the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ! That being said, I read the previous comments from believers and non-bellievers alike and from many different religions. Here is what I would like to know if there are any on this board........What do scientologist think about all this. Personally I think this is the most comical absurd "religion" I have ever heard of. I'm curious as to how their "God" Xenu (I think that's his name) plays out in all this.
What is Islam in few lines is something everyone deserves to know, it is to believe and obey only one God. Every time humanity deviated from this path, God sent down His of prophets (Noah, Ibrahim, Mosses Jesus and Mohammed were among thousands) who carried this single message to the whole humanity (And they all had the highest moral standards). That is the message of Islam.
God speaks to the whole humanity through His book Quran..
“Proclaim, He is the One and only GOD. The Absolute GOD. Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten. None equals Him." [112:1]
“They even attribute to Him sons and daughters, without any knowledge. Be He glorified. He is the Most High, far above their claims.” Quran [6:100]
“The example of Jesus, as far as GOD is concerned, is the same as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was.” Quran [3:59]
“…anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people....." Qur'an [5:32]
Most exalted is the One in whose hands is all kingship, and He is Omnipotent.The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better. Quran [67.2]
Thanks for taking time to read my post. Please take a moment to clear your misconception by going to whyIslam org website.
If any country wants more population for economic reasons, be liberal to immigration from India. India has a vast population that is more tolerant and more cosmopolitan.
So according to that map only central america, colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay remain 100% christian!!!. Unfortunately prophecies will become true, muslims will eliminate christians, very scary.
I find you equating the lack of a 100% Christian nation to the "elimination" of Christians, very scary. What, total domination or nothing?
How about addressing the fact that religion is something humanity in the 2100st centrury should get rid of altogether??
I mean, the "good books" (plural, to account for all religions) were written in a time that, if I travelled back in time and showed them a showel or a wheelbarrow, they simply would throw themselves to the ground and shout "miracle from heaven"???
Come ON – everyone with half a head or more on their shoulders should by now realize that religion is man-invented and it's time we get rid of it all together.
MAYBE then, things can start going in the right direction on this godforsaken (sorry for the joke..) planet.
/Infidel – and damn proud of it!
Wow, that is scary. The key is education. Thinking brains do not desire oppression!
I have lived next door to Muslims for 14 years quite amicably, until last summer when their supreme Islamic leader declared a property jihad. Now our friendship is over. The Wahabis that funded their property purchases have turned our entire neighborhood against each other. Religion is a poison to our society. I never liked the patriot act before this. Now that I have real estate issues that it would have prevented, I wish it had been enacted decades ago.
If this article doesn't frighten you, you probably have no blood in your veins. Muslims are trying to cram their religion down our throats as well as their customs and traditions and yet, we just sit by in complacency and ALLOW THEM TO DO THIS!!! By the time Americans wake up and realize what these "peaceful" peoples are doing, IT WILL BE TOO LATE!!!! Their goal is world-wide domination! If you think this is a statement by a radical, guess again. I am an American, not a "paper American" like muslims in our country are. Americans won't realize what these people have done until they die and then it will be too late!!!!! Political correctness is destroying America from the inside out, just like acid does to a container.
Looking at the story picture, you wonder why they don't build a temple big enough for them to pray in???
Guess what? The entire world population is doubling as well. Look at ANY demographic and they're doubling
America will soon be mandarin speaking Muslims. Welcome to the New Order.
The premise of this article has to be the FREE world's BIGGEST THREAT and NIGHTMARE at this time!!! These vermine need to be stamped out...instead they are ALLOWED to propagate!!! A heartbreak of TRULY EPIC PROPORTION!
time to thin the herd and have a "cleansing"!
Violence leads to more violence. Educate people and raise their standard of living. This fights the delusions that people find otherwise comforting. God is imaginary... but, some people prefer imaginary friends to the real world that is cruel to them.