Islam Growing Rapidly, Kazakhstan Among Global Leaders
Between 2010 and 2020, Islam became the fastest-growing religion in the world, according to Pew Research Center data based on over 2,700 censuses and surveys. The global Muslim population increased by 347 mln during that decade, more than the combined growth of all other religions.
Islam’s share of the global population rose from 23.9% to 25.6%, an increase of 1.8 percentage points, the largest among any religious group. The world’s population grew by only 10% during the same period, making Islam’s growth rate twice as fast as the global average.
Why Islam Is Growing Fast
The primary factors behind this growth include high birth rates, a younger population, and concentration in rapidly growing regions such as Asia and Africa. In contrast, Christianity’s global share fell from 30.6% to 28.8%, driven by population aging, declining fertility, and secularization in Europe and the Americas.
If current trends continue, Islam could surpass Christianity as the world’s largest religion by the end of this decade.
Kazakhstan Leads in Muslim Population Growth
Kazakhstan recorded the world’s highest increase in the Muslim share of its population—from 2010 to 2020, this figure rose by 8 percentage points. The Christian population declined from 27% to 19%, reflecting both internal demographic shifts and migration patterns. Kazakhstan remains a Muslim-majority country with state-regulated religious activity and a diverse population.
Other Religious Trends (2010–2020):
- Christianity: Decreased by 1.8 p.p. (from 30.6% to 28.8%)
- Non-religious (atheists, agnostics): Increased from 23.3% to 24.2%
- Buddhism: Decreased by 0.8 p.p. (from 4.9% to 4.1%)
- Hinduism: Stable at ~15%
- Judaism: Stable at 0.2%
- Other religions: Unchanged at 2.2%
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan stated that ChatGPT is not a reliable source for religious questions.
