Muslims are the 'fastest-growing religious group in the world': Research suggests they will overtake Christians by the end of the century, the number coming into the US is rising and 70 per cent prefer Democrats

  • Study by Pew Research Center found around 100,000 Muslims arrive in the US yearly
  • They represent 10 per cent of all immigrants coming to the US, compared with five per cent in 2002
  • Muslims currently make up less than 1 percent of the US adult population 
  • By 2050 they are likely to surpass the number of Jewish people in US 
  • Study estimated 10 per cent of European population will be Muslim by 2050

By WILLS ROBINSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in the world and will overtake the number of Christians by the end of the century, research suggests.

A collection of studies by the Pew Research Center also found they make up a growing share of the immigrant population in America every year.

In 2002, Muslims comprised 5 percent of the immigrants coming into the US, while in 2012 they made up 10 percent - the equivalent of 100,000 arriving every year.

Pew also found that Muslim immigrants prefer more government services and that 70 percent lean towards the Democrats, while just 11 percent identify with Republicans.

The statistics were released as worldwide condemnation of Donald Trump's wishes to stop all Muslims at the US borders grew.  

This graph shows that while the world's population is set to grow by 35 per cent by 2050, the number of Muslims will increase by 73 per cent. The proportion of Christians will stay roughly the same

This graph shows that while the world's population is set to grow by 35 per cent by 2050, the number of Muslims will increase by 73 per cent. The proportion of Christians will stay roughly the same

Muslims currently make up less than 1 percent of the US adult population. Just less than two thirds (63 percent) are immigrants. 

By 2050, Pew says 2.1 percent of the population will say they are Muslim, surpassing those who identify as Jewish. 

A majority of the Muslims globally (62 percent) live in the Asia-Pacific region, including large populations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Turkey.

Indonesia is currently the country with the world’s single largest Muslim population but Pew says that India will have that distinction by the year 2050, with more than 300million Muslims.

The Muslim population in Europe is growing, too, with researchers proposing 10 percent of all Europeans will be Muslims by 2050.

In 2011 survey, Pew found roughly half of Muslim Americans say their own religious leaders have not done enough to speak out against Islamic extremists.

They are also more likely than Muslims in many other nations to have many non-Muslim friends. 

Only about half (48 percent) of U.S. Muslims say all or most of their close friends are also Muslims, compared with a global median of 95 percent in the 39 countries surveyed. 

By all of these traditional measures, Muslims in the U.S. are about as religious as U.S. Christians, although they are less religious than Muslims in many other nations. 

Muslims are set to represent 29.7 per cent of the world's population by 2050 - up from 23.2 per cent in 2010. By the end of the century they are predicted to be more than 31.4 per cent - the current percentage of Christians 

Muslims are set to represent 29.7 per cent of the world's population by 2050 - up from 23.2 per cent in 2010. By the end of the century they are predicted to be more than 31.4 per cent - the current percentage of Christians 

More people are expected to switch into Islam than switch out over the next 40 years. Meanwhile 40million people are expected to become Christian while 106million are expected to give up their Christian faith

More people are expected to switch into Islam than switch out over the next 40 years. Meanwhile 40million people are expected to become Christian while 106million are expected to give up their Christian faith

This graph illustrates Pews predictions that Muslims will outnumber Christians by 2070

This graph illustrates Pews predictions that Muslims will outnumber Christians by 2070

Despite the changes, the US will still mostly be made up of Christians (represented in red above) by 2050

Despite the changes, the US will still mostly be made up of Christians (represented in red above) by 2050

Pew predicts 2.4 percent of the US population will be Muslim by 2050, if migration continues at the rate it is currently going 

Pew predicts 2.4 percent of the US population will be Muslim by 2050, if migration continues at the rate it is currently going 

With the exception of Buddhists, all major religious groups are expected to increase in number by 2050. The growth of Muslim numbers will keep up with population growth while others will fall behind 

With the exception of Buddhists, all major religious groups are expected to increase in number by 2050. The growth of Muslim numbers will keep up with population growth while others will fall behind 

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