Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Europe is known as the continent with the largest population of Christians and Catholics in the world. However, a number of countries in Europe apparently have the largest population distribution of Muslims or Muslims.
According to World Atlas, although Muslims are classified as a minority group in most European countries, Muslims represent around 5 percent of the total European population. In fact, the Pew Research Center projects that the continent's Muslim population will soar in the coming decades.
According to Pew Research Center projections, by 2050 the Muslim population in Europe could reach 11.2 percent of Europe's total population. In fact, “if immigration were completely banned” Muslims would still represent 7.4 percent of Europe's population in 2050.
According to data, the number of Muslims in Europe between 2010 and 2016 increased by more than 1 percent, namely from 3.8 percent to 4.9 percent. Massive immigration and staying for work or school are the reasons for the increase in Muslims in Europe. Between mid-2010 and 2016, Europe reportedly welcomed around 2.5 million Muslims.
Apart from immigration, the relatively young age of the Muslim population in Europe is also the cause of the increase in the Muslim population on the Blue Continent. In 2016, the average age of Muslims in Europe was 30.4 years, while non-Muslims reached 43.8 years. Apart from that, on average Muslim women also give birth to more children than non-Muslim women.
So, what are the countries with the largest Muslim populations in Europe? The following is the list, according to Statista and research results from the Pew Research Center.
1. France (5,720,000 Muslim Population)
2. Germany (4,950,000 Muslim Population)
3. United Kingdom (4,130,000 Muslim Population)
4. Italy (2,870,000 Muslim Population)
5. Netherlands (1,210,000 Muslim Population)
6. Spain (1,180,000 Muslim Population)
7. Belgium (870,000 Muslim Population)
8. Sweden (810,000 Muslim Population)
9. Bulgaria (790,000 Muslim Population)
10. Greece (6200,000 Muslim Population)
According to the Pew Research Center, France and Germany are the countries with the largest Muslim populations in Europe. In mid-2016, there were 5.7 million Muslims or 8.8 percent of the total population in France and 5 million Muslims or 6.1 of the total population in Germany.
Meanwhile, the European Union country with the majority Muslim population is Cyprus, with 300 thousand Muslim residents or around 25.4 percent of the population of this island nation. The majority of the Muslim population in Cyprus are Turkish Cypriots who have “strong roots” in Cyprus.
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