**Islam: The second largest
world religion...and growing**
Estimates of the total number of Muslims range from 0.7 to
1.8 billion worldwide and 1.1 to 7 million in the U.S. 3
We accept the best estimate as 1.57 billion, concluded by the Pew
Forums. About 23% of all people on Earth follow Islam. The religion is
currently in a period of rapid
growth.
Christianity is currently the largest religion in the world. It is followed
by about 33% of all people -- a percentage that has remained stable for decades.
If current trends continue, Islam will become the most popular world religion sometime in the mid-21st century.
