Muslim Population in U.S.: 10 Amazing Facts, Ultimate Guide 2026
The Muslim population in U.S. has grown from about 2.35 million people in 2007 to an estimated 5.5 million in 2026, making Islam one of the fastest growing faiths in the country. This guide explains what the numbers really mean, where Muslims live by state and city, what the 2050 projection says, and why different sources give different totals.
Quick Answer
- 2026 estimate: about 5.5 million Muslims of all ages, roughly 1.6 percent of residents
- Adult survey share: about 1 percent of U.S. adults (Pew, 2023 to 2024)
- Mosque affiliated Muslims in 2020: 4,453,908 across 2,771 congregations
- 2050 projection: about 8.1 million, or 2.1 percent of the country (Pew, 2017)
- Highest state by count: New York, with 724,475 mosque affiliated Muslims
- Highest share among large states: Illinois, at about 3.70 percent
- Mosques nationwide: 2,769 in 2020, up 31 percent from 2010
Muslim Population in U.S. at a Glance
Muslims make up a small but fast changing share of the American public. Depending on the method, the Muslim population in U.S. is counted anywhere between about 4.4 million and 5.5 million people today. That gap is not a mistake. It reflects who each study chooses to count.
If you are new to the topic, start with our guides on who is a Muslim and the religion of Islam. For the global picture, see the Muslim population in the world and the list of Muslim countries.
How the Muslim Population in U.S. Is Counted
The U.S. Census Bureau does not ask about religion, so there is no official head count. Researchers use three main tools instead.
- Population surveys: Pew Research Center surveys ask people how they identify, then scale the results to the national population. These include children.
- Congregation studies: The U.S. Religion Census counts people connected to mosques. It produced 4,453,908 Muslim adherents for 2020.
- Mosque surveys: The U.S. Mosque Survey counts mosques, attendance and programs, not individual identity.
Each tool answers a different question. A person who identifies as Muslim but rarely visits a mosque appears in a survey but may be missing from a congregation count. This is why a careful writer always states the source and the year.
Why Totals Are Not Directly Comparable
Imagine a family of five in Houston. Three adults identify as Muslim and two children are raised in the faith. A Pew style survey of the household could count all five. A mosque count might only count the two adults who attend Friday prayers. Multiply that difference across millions of households and the totals separate quickly.
How Fast the Muslim Population in U.S. Has Grown
The Muslim population in U.S. has more than doubled in less than twenty years. Pew Research Center estimated 2.35 million Muslims in 2007, 2.75 million in 2011, 3.3 million in 2015 and 3.45 million in 2017. Recent estimates place the figure near 5.5 million in 2026.
Estimated Muslim Population in U.S. (all ages)
Sources: Pew Research Center estimates for 2007 to 2017 and recent estimates for 2026 based on Pew surveys and Census data. Shares are rounded. The 2026 figure is an estimate, not an official count.
What Drives the Growth
Three forces explain most of the growth of the Muslim population in U.S. First, immigration from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia continues to bring new families. Second, the Muslim population is younger on average than the national population, so more children are born each year. Third, some Americans embrace Islam as adults. African American communities have a long tradition here, and conversion remains part of the story in many mosques.
A Practical Example
A community college in New Jersey noticed that its prayer room had doubled in use in five years. The college did not need a census to plan. It used local mosque growth and enrollment data to add a second room and adjust Friday class schedules. That is the best way to use population numbers: as a planning signal, not a precise count.
U.S. Muslim Population Percentage
The U.S. Muslim population percentage depends on whether you count all residents or only adults. About 1.6 percent of all residents are estimated to be Muslim in 2026 when children are included. Pew's 2023 to 2024 Religious Landscape Study, which surveys adults, shows about 1 percent.
The share of the Muslim population in U.S. has climbed slowly. It was about 0.8 percent in 2007, 1.0 percent in 2015 and 1.1 percent in 2017. Because the total population also grows, the percentage moves more slowly than the raw number.
Why the Percentage Looks Small but Matters
A share near 1 or 2 percent can look minor, yet it equals millions of people. At 5.5 million, the Muslim population in U.S. is larger than the entire population of several U.S. states. Concentration also matters. In the New York and Chicago metro areas, Muslims make up around 4.5 percent of residents according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census, which is several times the national share.
Muslim Population in U.S. 2050 Projection
The most cited forecast for the Muslim population in U.S. in 2050 comes from Pew Research Center. In 2017 it projected that the number would reach about 8.1 million, or 2.1 percent of the country. You can read the coverage in Al Jazeera and the original research at Pew Research Center.
Pew also projected that Muslims would become the second largest religious group in the country after Christians by about 2040, passing Jews. The projection assumed continued immigration and higher than average birth rates.
Is 8.1 Million Still a Good Benchmark?
The 2017 projection started from 3.45 million. If the 2026 estimate of 5.5 million is accurate, the community is already ahead of that early path. Growing from 5.5 million to 8.1 million by 2050 would need only about 1.6 percent growth per year, a pace that is lower than recent years. This is simple arithmetic, not a new forecast.
Immigration policy, birth rates and survey methods could all change the outcome, so treat any 2050 number as a range.
Muslim Population in U.S. by State
The Muslim population in U.S. by state is uneven. Five states have more than 300,000 mosque affiliated Muslims each: New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Texas. Eleven more states have at least 100,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census overview.
Top 10 states by mosque affiliated Muslims (2020)
| Rank | State | Muslims (2020) | Approx. share | Mosques |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 724,475 | 3.59% | 343 |
| 2 | California | 504,056 | 1.27% | 304 |
| 3 | Illinois | 473,792 | 3.70% | 128 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 321,652 | 3.46% | 141 |
| 5 | Texas | 313,209 | 1.07% | 224 |
| 6 | Michigan | 241,828 | 2.40% | 127 |
| 7 | Maryland | 188,914 | 3.06% | 76 |
| 8 | Virginia | 169,371 | 1.96% | 90 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 149,561 | 1.15% | 112 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 131,749 | 1.87% | 52 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 130,661 | 1.25% | 70 |
| 12 | Florida | 127,172 | 0.59% | 157 |
| 13 | Georgia | 123,652 | 1.15% | 99 |
| 14 | Ohio | 120,077 | 1.02% | 94 |
| 15 | Minnesota | 114,590 | 2.01% | 73 |
Counts and mosque numbers come from the 2020 U.S. Religion Census as summarized by 24/7 Wall St. Shares are my own calculation using 2020 Census state populations. The counts include only people tied to mosques, so true totals are higher.
Highest Muslim Population in U.S. State: New York
New York leads with 724,475 mosque affiliated Muslims and 343 mosques. New York City is the main reason. Neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are home to South Asian, Arab, African, Caribbean and Bosnian communities, and mosques operate in all five boroughs.
Illinois, New Jersey and Michigan
Illinois has the highest share among large states at about 3.70 percent, driven by the Chicago area. New Jersey follows at 3.46 percent, with large communities in Paterson, Jersey City and Edison. Michigan is smaller in raw numbers at 241,828 but its Muslim share is about 2.40 percent, and it has some of the oldest Arab American communities in the country.
California and Texas
California and Texas rank second and fifth by count, but their shares are about 1.27 and 1.07 percent because their total populations are so large. Texas alone has 224 mosques.
Smaller States Worth Watching
Maryland (about 3.06 percent), Minnesota (about 2.01 percent) and Virginia (about 1.96 percent) sit well above the national share. Minnesota is known for its Somali American community, and Maryland and Virginia benefit from the Washington DC area.
U.S. Cities With the Highest Muslim Population
Official counts by city do not exist, because the Census does not ask about religion. The best data on the Muslim population in U.S. by city comes from metro areas in the 2020 U.S. Religion Census. These are the largest.
| Rank | Metro Area | Muslims (2020) | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 906,604 | 4.50% |
| 2 | Chicago | 454,946 | 4.73% |
| 3 | Washington, DC | 212,671 | 3.33% |
| 4 | Detroit | 196,878 | 4.48% |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 178,826 | Not listed |
| 6 | Philadelphia | 160,897 | Not listed |
| 7 | Dallas | 139,113 | Not listed |
Data: 2020 U.S. Religion Census, mosque affiliated Muslims by metro area. Shares were given only for four metro areas. Metro areas include suburbs, not only the central city.
New York City
The New York metro area is the largest by far. Its 906,604 mosque affiliated Muslims make up about 4.50 percent of residents. The community is also unusually diverse, with large groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Yemen, West Africa and the Caribbean.
Chicago and Detroit
Chicago has 454,946 mosque affiliated Muslims, about 4.73 percent of its metro residents, the highest share in the table. Detroit has 196,878 at about 4.48 percent. Together with New York, these were the only metro areas above 4 percent in 2020.
Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn is the best known example of concentration. Census data released in 2023 showed that people of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry make up 54.5 percent of the city, according to Local 4 in Detroit. Not every Arab American is Muslim, so this is not a Muslim head count, but it shows why Dearborn is often called the center of Arab American life.
Nearby Hamtramck elected an all Muslim city council in 2021, according to local reports.
Washington DC, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas and Houston
The Washington DC area has 212,671 mosque affiliated Muslims, followed by Los Angeles (178,826), Philadelphia (160,897) and Dallas (139,113). Houston is also a major hub in Texas, although it did not appear in the metro figures I could verify.
Practical Example: Finding Your Local Community
Say you are moving to Dallas and want a mosque near your new home. Search the county data on the Association of Religion Data Archives, then check each mosque's website for Friday prayer times. Use our prayer times tool to plan your daily Salah.
Mosques, Schools and Institutions
The 2020 U.S. Mosque Survey counted 2,769 mosques, up 31 percent from 2,106 in 2010. In 2000 the figure was about 1,200. Average Friday attendance rose from 353 to 410, and 72 percent of mosques reported growth in attendance of at least 10 percent, according to Religion News Service.
From Cities to Suburbs
The share of mosques in urban areas fell from 17 percent to 6 percent over the decade, while most new purpose built mosques opened in the suburbs. This follows where families live and where land is affordable.
Community and Charity
Most mosques are run by their congregations and offer weekend schools, youth groups, food drives and Zakat collection. If you want to understand your own obligation, use our Zakat calculator and read what is Zakat and charity in Islam.
An Important Caution
The survey excluded some groups, including the Nation of Islam, Ahmadiyya and Ismaili communities, mainly due to lack of data. It also noted that some African American mosques have closed as first generation members aged. These details are part of the Muslim population in U.S. story.
10 Amazing Facts About the Muslim Population in U.S.
Fact 1: There Is No Official Head Count
The Census Bureau does not ask about religion, so every number is an estimate.
Fact 2: The Population More Than Doubled Since 2007
The Muslim population in U.S. grew from 2.35 million in 2007 to about 5.5 million in 2026, an increase of more than 130 percent.
Fact 3: About 1 in 100 Adults Is Muslim
Pew's 2023 to 2024 survey puts the adult share near 1 percent.
Fact 4: New York Has the Most Muslims by Count
The state had 724,475 mosque affiliated Muslims in 2020.
Fact 5: Illinois Leads Large States by Share
At about 3.70 percent, Illinois edges out New York and New Jersey.
Fact 6: Five Metro Areas Hold the Largest Communities
New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit and Los Angeles top the 2020 list.
Fact 7: Mosques Have Grown 31 Percent in a Decade
The count rose from 2,106 to 2,769 between 2010 and 2020.
Fact 8: Suburbs Now Host Most New Mosques
Urban mosques fell from 17 percent to 6 percent of the total.
Fact 9: Dearborn Is Majority Middle Eastern or North African
The 2020 Census showed 54.5 percent of residents have that ancestry.
Fact 10: The 2050 Projection Is About 8.1 Million
Pew's 2017 projection says the Muslim population in U.S. will be about 2.1 percent of the country by 2050.
A Short History of Muslims in America
The Muslim population in U.S. has roots that go back centuries. Historians record Muslims among enslaved Africans, including Ayuba Suleiman Diallo and Omar ibn Said, who kept their faith and wrote in Arabic despite slavery.
Early Communities and the Mother Mosque
In the early twentieth century, immigrants from Syria and Lebanon built communities in the Midwest. The Mother Mosque of America in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, completed in 1934, is the oldest surviving purpose built mosque in the country.
The 1965 Immigration Act and After
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened the door to professionals and students from Muslim majority countries. Later decades brought refugees from Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Alongside them, African American Muslim communities grew in cities across the North and South.
To learn more about Islamic civilization, visit our guides on Islamic history and Islamic culture.
Quran and Hadith Guidance for Muslims in America
Members of the Muslim population in U.S. often ask how their faith guides daily life among neighbors of every background. The Quran and Sunnah offer clear principles.
Diversity Is a Sign of Allah
Allah says in Surah Al Hujurat 49:13 that He created people as nations and tribes so that they may know one another, and that the most honored before Him is the most conscious of Him. This verse supports respectful engagement with every neighbor.
Justice and Kindness to All
Surah Al Mumtahanah 60:8 says Allah does not forbid you to be kind and just to those who do not fight you because of religion. Fair dealing with colleagues, classmates and neighbors is part of the faith.
Hadith on Love and Neighbors
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that none of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself, as recorded in Sahih al Bukhari 13. He also said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor, as recorded in Sahih al Bukhari 6018. Learn more about the Prophet Muhammad and the Sunnah.
The five pillars guide practice wherever a Muslim lives. See our guides on the five pillars of Islam, Salah, fasting and Ramadan.
How to Use These Numbers Well
Statistics are only useful when they are used with care. Here is how different readers can apply the Muslim population in U.S. data.
For Students and Writers
Always cite the source and the year. Write "about 5.5 million in 2026 (estimate)" instead of "5.5 million Muslims" with no context. Avoid mixing a survey number with a mosque count in the same sentence.
For Mosque and Community Leaders
Use state and metro data to plan space, parking, weekend school seats and funeral services. If your congregation has grown 10 percent a year, that matches the national pattern of rising attendance.
For Business Owners
A halal restaurant owner in Dallas might start with the metro count of 139,113 mosque affiliated Muslims, then add the many Muslims who do not attend a mosque regularly. The real customer base is probably larger than the congregation count suggests. Our guide on halal earning covers the principles behind lawful business.
A Note on Trust
The 2026 and 2050 figures are estimates and projections, not official counts. For personal rulings, ask a qualified scholar. Test your knowledge with our Islamic quiz.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Muslim Population in U.S.
What is the Muslim population in U.S. in 2026?
Recent estimates put the Muslim population in U.S. at roughly 5.5 million people of all ages in 2026, about 1.6 percent of residents. Surveys of adults only, such as Pew's 2023 to 2024 Religious Landscape Study, show about 1 percent. The two numbers differ because children are included in one and not the other.
What percentage of the U.S. population is Muslim?
Roughly 1 percent of adults identify as Muslim in recent surveys, and about 1.6 percent of all residents when children are included in the 2026 estimate. In 2007 the share was about 0.8 percent.
What will the Muslim population in U.S. be in 2050?
Pew Research Center projected in 2017 that the Muslim population in U.S. would reach about 8.1 million, or 2.1 percent of the country, by 2050. Newer estimates suggest growth has run ahead of the early path, but the projection remains the most cited benchmark.
Which U.S. state has the highest Muslim population?
New York has the highest count, with 724,475 mosque affiliated Muslims in the 2020 U.S. Religion Census. By share of residents, Illinois leads among the largest states at about 3.70 percent, followed by New York at 3.59 percent and New Jersey at 3.46 percent.
Which U.S. cities have the highest Muslim population?
By numbers, the New York metro area leads with about 906,604 mosque affiliated Muslims, followed by Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Dallas. By concentration, Dearborn, Michigan stands out, where 54.5 percent of residents have Middle Eastern or North African ancestry.
Why do estimates of the Muslim population in U.S. differ so much?
Sources count different groups. Pew surveys ask people how they identify and can include children. The U.S. Religion Census counts people connected to mosques. Mosque surveys count attendance. Each method answers a different question, so the totals should not be mixed.
Does the U.S. Census count Muslims?
No. The U.S. Census Bureau does not ask about religion, so there is no official head count. That is why researchers rely on surveys and congregation studies.
How many mosques are in the United States?
The 2020 U.S. Mosque Survey counted 2,769 mosques, up 31 percent from 2,106 in 2010. The U.S. Religion Census recorded 2,771 Muslim congregations in 2020.
Will Islam become the second largest religion in America?
Pew's 2017 projection said Muslims would become the second largest religious group after Christians by about 2040, passing Jews. This is a projection and depends on immigration, birth rates and how people identify over time.
How can I find Muslim communities and mosques near me?
Start with your local mosque directory and the county data published by the Association of Religion Data Archives. You can also use our prayer times tool to check daily Salah times for your location.
Conclusion
The Muslim population in U.S. is growing, diverse and spread across every region. Numbers range from about 4.4 million mosque affiliated Muslims in 2020 to an estimated 5.5 million in 2026, and the 2050 projection stands near 8.1 million. The most reliable approach is to name the source, state the year and explain who is counted. For more reading, compare with the Muslim population in UK.
Written by Mohammad Mamun, CEO and Editor in Chief of Islamic Info Center. Our guides use published research, authentic references and regular reviews. Figures are estimates, so please check the original sources before citing them.
Sources and Further Reading
- Pew Research Center, Religion research
- Pew Research Center, new estimates of the U.S. Muslim population
- Al Jazeera, U.S. Muslims to become second largest religious group
- 2020 U.S. Religion Census national overview
- Association of Religion Data Archives, Muslim estimate
- Religion News Service, U.S. Mosque Survey 2020
- 24/7 Wall St, states with the most Muslims
- Local 4 Detroit, Dearborn census data