Canadian Muslim population to triple by 2030

[January 27. 2011] – The number of Muslims in Canada is expected to nearly triple in the next 20 years, from about 940,000 in 2010 to nearly 2.7 million in 2030 according to a report released today by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Muslims are expected to make up 6.6% of Canada’s total population in 2030, up from 2.8% today.

Argentina is expected to have the third-largest Muslim population in the Americas, after the U.S. and Canada.

Worldwide, the Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030.

Globally, the Muslim population is forecast to grow at about twice the rate of the non-Muslim population over the next two decades – an average annual growth rate of 1.5% for Muslims, compared with 0.7% for non-Muslims.

If current trends continue, Muslims will make up 26.4% of the world’s total projected population of 8.3 billion in 2030, up from 23.4% of the estimated 2010 world population of 6.9 billion.

The full report, which includes an executive summary, interactive maps and sortable data tables, is available on the Pew Forum’s website.