Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • streaming
  • Video
Who
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Style
  • Health
  • Beauty
  • Sexiest People
  • The Travel List
  • streaming
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Homes and Lifestyle

How Many Muslims In Australia?

Islam is the fastest growing religion and will soon be the largest in the world - by Hannah Hempenstall
  • 08 Jan 2019
How Many Muslims In Australia?

According to a report by the Department of Immigration and Indigenous Affairs, "Religious faith has been at the core or close to the core of Australian social and political life since the arrival of the Europeans."

Initially we were a Christian majority but as the 2016 census shows, religious diversity in Australia is changing.

Specifically, there has been a rise in the amount of people who identify as having no-religion with an additional 2.2 million ticking this box. In 2006 that category accounted for 19% of the population, in 2016 it was up to 30%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The muslim population has also grown from 1.7% in 2006 to 2.6% in 2016 meaning there are now 604,000 people who identify as muslim in Australia. In addition, the Census reports that 1,140 of the muslims in Australia are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.

Two famous Aboriginal muslims are Anthony Mundine who converted to Islam in 1999 and Canberra Raiders NRL player Aiden Sezar whose mother is an Indigenous Australian.

Mundine famously said in a 2012 interview with SBS, “I’m three things that you shouldn’t be in this society, and that’s Muslim, Aboriginal and outspoken.”

Anthony Mundine

Anthony Mundine

Getty

Global Muslim Population

A report by Pew Research claims there are 1.8 billion muslims in the world and that's set to rise to around 3 billion by 2060.

In England there are currently 2,660,116 muslims which equates to 5.02% of the population and in the US, it's 3.45million (1.1%).

According to the Turkish government, 99.8% of their country is muslim, But it's Indonesia that is the country with the largest population of muslims in the world: approximately 225 million.

City Breakdown

If you're muslim and live in Australia, the chances are you're in Greater Sydney (42%) or Greater Melbourne (31%). If you live in Queensland, chances are you don't have a muslim neighbour as only 0.95% live in the Sunshine State and even less abide in Tasmania (0.49%).

New South Wales has the largest population at 3.58% and Victoria is a close second at 3.32%. 

Sunni and Shia

Much like with Christianity there are many variations of Islamic faiths with the two most popular being the Sunni and Shia denominations.

Almost half of all Australian muslims claim Lebanese or Turkish ancestry and as Australia continues to grow, the muslim population will follow suit.

Hannah Hempenstall
Hannah Hempenstall
Hannah Hempenstall is a writer, life coach and meditation practitioner based in the Byron Shire. She loves the art of storytelling and is obsessed with understanding human behaviour.

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who magazine

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Who magazine

Recommended to you

Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out
Watch 0:36

Louis Tomlinson Calls James Corden Out

{headline}

{headline}

Pick the perfect gift for mum this Mother's Day

Pick the perfect gift for mum this Mother's Day

The best gift & flower delivery services in Australia for Mother's Day

The best gift & flower delivery services in Australia for Mother's Day

How to effectively help flood affected communities in NSW and Queensland

How to effectively help flood affected communities in NSW and Queensland

How to spend the perfect Valentine's Day alone

How to spend the perfect Valentine's Day alone

{headline}

{headline}

13 books to read if you love romantic comedies

13 books to read if you love romantic comedies

The best 2022 diaries & planners to shop right now

The best 2022 diaries & planners to shop right now

9 ways to spend New Year's Eve alone in 2021

9 ways to spend New Year's Eve alone in 2021

{headline}

{headline}

When is the proper time to take down the Christmas tree?

When is the proper time to take down the Christmas tree?

The ultimate Christmas gift guide for the men in your life

The ultimate Christmas gift guide for the men in your life

What will the New Year bring? Here are your 2022 horoscopes

What will the New Year bring? Here are your 2022 horoscopes

Candice Warner's dedication to fitness makes her the best possible mum

Candice Warner's dedication to fitness makes her the best possible mum

The best men's fragrance gift sets that won't be re-gifted

The best men's fragrance gift sets that won't be re-gifted

EXCLUSIVE: How lockdown changed things for Phoebe Burgess

EXCLUSIVE: How lockdown changed things for Phoebe Burgess

Switch up your skincare for summer

Switch up your skincare for summer

Who
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy
Who Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • marie claire
  • Bounty Parents

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Who

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Who magazine-& save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Who magazine