According to the latest research of the US-based Pew Research Center, Islam will take over Christianity as the largest religion in the world by 2070. Currently, Islam is the world’s second-largest religion (after Christianity), but it is the fastest-growing major religion.
The group estimates that if Islam and Christianity continue to grow at the same rate, there will be 2.76 billion Muslims and 2.92 billion Christians by 2050. And Islam will have a bigger following than Christianity by 2070, the Express UK reports.
The research found that Islam is expected to grow by 73% between 2010 and 2050, compared to 35% for Christians. Most of the growth will come from Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pew predicted that India will replace Indonesia as having the world’s largest Muslim population.
The group estimates that if Islam and Christianity continue to grow at the same rate, there will be 2.76 billion Muslims and 2.92 billion Christians by 2050. And Islam will have a bigger following than Christianity by 2070, the Express UK reports.
Researchers studied several reasons for this change in population growth, including fertility rates, regional migration of Muslims, and faith conversion.
The report revealed that on average, Muslim women have 3.1 children while females of other faiths produce 2.3 offspring. Migration will also boost the European Muslim population, and many Christians will become non-religious or will change belief.
Sources:
Pewresearchorg. (2017). Pew Research Center. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/27/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/
Thesunco. (2017). Thesunco. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2986315/islam-will-overtake-christianity-as-the-worlds-largest-religion-by-2070-new-research-reveals/
Rebecca perring. (2017). Expresscouk. http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/774202/Islam-largest-religion-world-2070-pew-research-centre-report-Christianity