Nigeria has emerged as the country with the fifth largest Muslim population in the world, according to new global statistics com...
Nigeria has emerged as the country with the fifth largest Muslim population in the world, according to new global statistics compiled by Visual Capitalist using data from Pew Research and the CIA World Factbook. The data, spanning from 2020 to 2023, places Nigeria ahead of Egypt, Turkey, and Iran in terms of the sheer number of adherents of the Islamic faith.
With an estimated 124 million Muslims, Nigeria is not only the most populous Muslim-majority country in Sub-Saharan Africa but also ranks just behind Bangladesh (150 million), India (213 million), Pakistan (235 million), and Indonesia (242 million), which remains the country with the highest number of Muslims globally.
The infographic, which visually maps out the top 25 countries with the largest Muslim populations, underscores the significant demographic weight of Nigeria in the global Islamic community. It also highlights Nigeria's unique religious composition, being a country almost evenly split between Muslims and Christians—unlike many others in the ranking that are predominantly Muslim by population share.
This revelation is significant for policymakers, religious leaders, and international organisations, as it reaffirms Nigeria’s strategic importance in global Islamic affairs and interfaith dialogue. It also calls attention to the diversity and complexity of Nigeria’s religious landscape, especially in terms of fostering peaceful coexistence, national unity, and socio-religious balance.
While countries like Egypt (104 million), Iran (88 million), and Turkey (84 million) have historically played central roles in Islamic scholarship and politics, Nigeria’s youthful and growing population is poised to shift more global attention toward West Africa.
Analysts suggest that the continued rise in Nigeria’s Muslim population will have implications for education, governance, and international relations, particularly with other member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The data further cements Nigeria’s place as a religious and cultural powerhouse on the African continent and beyond.
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