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Based on the percentages published in the 2003 CIA factbook, Islam is the second largest religion in the world. According to the [http://www.wnrf.org/news/trends.html World Network of Religious Futurists], the [http://www.religioustolerance.org/growth_isl_chr.htm U.S. Center for World Mission], and the controversial [[Samuel P. Huntington|Samuel Huntington]], Islam is growing faster numerically than any other religion; this growth is attributed to a higher birth rate and a higher rate of conversion than other religions. In the U.S., more people convert to Islam than any other faith, especially amongst African Americans.
The Muslim population today comprises over 1.3 billion people (cf. [http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html Adherents.com]); estimates of [[Islam by country]] based on US State Departement figures yield a total of 1.48 billion, 22.82% of the world's population (see [[Islam by country]].) However, only 18% of [[Muslim|Muslims]] live in the [[Arab]] world; a fifth is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, about 30% in the [[Indian subcontinent]]al region of [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]], and the world's largest single Muslim community (within the bounds of one nation) is in [[Indonesia]]. There are also significant Muslim populations in [[China]], [[Europe]] (especially in the Mediterranean countries), [[Central Asia]], and [[Russia]]. There are approximately 5 million Muslims in [[North America]]. The world population is growing at about 1.10% per year, but the percentage of Muslim population is increasing by 1.4% per year, mostly due to higher birth rate of African and Asian countries.
== Denominations of Islam ==
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