Defining all world muslim country boundaries isn’t as easy as drawing a line in the sand. Honestly, people get confused because they think "Muslim country" means only one thing. It doesn't.
Some are defined by law. Others by population.
You’ve got the heavy hitters like Indonesia, where the sheer number of people will make your head spin, and then you’ve got tiny spots like the Maldives that are basically 100% Islamic by law. Most of us just think of the Middle East. That’s a mistake. If you’re looking at the globe, the center of gravity for the Muslim world is actually shifting toward Asia and Africa.
It's a massive, diverse, and often misunderstood collection of nations.
The OIC and the Official Count
If you want a formal list, you start with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It’s basically the United Nations of the Muslim world.
There are 57 member states.
But here is the kicker: not all of them are "Muslim countries" in the sense that they have an Islamic government. Take Guyana or Suriname in South America. They are OIC members because they have significant Muslim populations and historical ties, but they aren't exactly what pops into your head when someone says "Islamic state."
The OIC serves as a collective voice, dealing with everything from economic trade to human rights. It’s headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. When people search for all world muslim country data, they usually want to know who is in this club. The list spans from Albania in Europe to Mozambique in Africa and Brunei in Southeast Asia.
Breaking Down the Categories
You have to look at how these countries actually run themselves. It’s not a monolith.
First, you have the "Islamic States." These are nations like Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. In these places, Islam is the official basis for law and government. It’s baked into the constitution.
Then you have countries where Islam is the "State Religion." Think Egypt, Jordan, or Malaysia. They might have secular laws for most things, but Islam gets a special nod in the constitution, and the state often funds religious institutions.
Finally, you have secular countries with a Muslim majority. Turkey is the classic example here, though things have gotten complicated there lately. Indonesia and Senegal also fall into this bucket. They have massive Muslim populations—Indonesia is the largest in the world—but their governments are technically secular.
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Where the People Actually Live
Forget the Sahara for a second.
Most Muslims don't live in the Arab world. That’s a fact that surprises a lot of people. Only about 20% of the world’s Muslims are Arabs.
If you want to see where the real numbers are, you have to look at South and Southeast Asia.
- Indonesia: With over 240 million Muslims, it’s the undisputed heavyweight.
- Pakistan: Roughly 210 million people. It’s a nuclear power and a massive cultural force.
- India: Here’s the wild part—India isn’t a "Muslim country," but it has one of the largest Muslim populations on the planet, nearly 200 million people.
- Bangladesh: Around 150 million.
Nigeria is another one to watch. It’s split pretty evenly between Christians and Muslims, but its Muslim population is so huge (over 100 million) that it wields massive influence in the Islamic world. Africa is actually home to some of the fastest-growing Muslim populations. Nations like Niger, Mali, and Senegal are almost entirely Muslim, and their demographics are incredibly young.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
This is the "heartland." Even if the numbers are smaller than in Asia, this is where the history is.
Saudi Arabia is the big one. It holds Mecca and Medina. It’s the spiritual anchor. Then you have Egypt, which has always been the intellectual and cultural capital of the Arab world. Al-Azhar University in Cairo has been the "Harvard of the Islamic world" for over a millennium.
Don't overlook the Maghreb—Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Morocco is fascinating because it’s a monarchy where the King traces his lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad. It’s a mix of African, Arab, and European influences that you won’t find anywhere else.
The European Presence
Yes, there are Muslim countries in Europe.
People often forget about the Balkans. Albania and Kosovo have Muslim majorities. Bosnia and Herzegovina is about half Muslim. These aren't "immigrant" populations; they’ve been there for centuries, dating back to the Ottoman Empire.
It’s a different vibe there. It’s European Islam—very integrated with Western secular norms but still deeply rooted in tradition. Then you have Turkey, which physically sits on two continents. It’s the bridge. For a long time, Turkey was the model for how a Muslim country could be a Western-style democracy, though that narrative has shifted under current political leadership.
Misconceptions About Sharia Law
When people research all world muslim country lists, they usually have questions about Sharia.
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"Is it everywhere?"
No.
In many countries, Sharia is limited to "Personal Status" law. This means it only covers things like marriage, divorce, and inheritance. If you’re in a car accident in Cairo or Jakarta, you’re dealing with civil law, not religious law.
Countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran are different; they apply Sharia to criminal law as well. But even there, it’s not uniform. Every country interprets things differently based on their local culture and school of jurisprudence (like Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, or Hanbali).
It’s a spectrum. It’s not a toggle switch.
Economic Powerhouses
Some of these nations are incredibly wealthy. The Gulf States—Qatar, UAE, Kuwait—have some of the highest GDP per capita rates in the world. They are moving fast. Saudi Arabia’s "Vision 2030" is trying to turn the country into a global tourism and tech hub.
Then you have the emerging markets. Malaysia is a tech and manufacturing hub. Kazakhstan is a massive energy player in Central Asia. Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa.
It’s not just about oil anymore. These countries are diversifying like crazy because they know the "petrodollar" era won't last forever.
The Reality of Travel and Safety
If you're thinking about visiting these places, get the "scary" headlines out of your head for a second.
Sure, there are conflict zones. You probably shouldn't vacation in Yemen or Syria right now. But countries like Jordan, Oman, and Malaysia are some of the safest places you can ever visit. Crime rates in Doha or Abu Dhabi are significantly lower than in most American or European cities.
The hospitality culture is real. In many of these cultures, a guest is seen as a "blessing from God." You’ll likely be overfed and treated like royalty.
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The Full List (The OIC Nations)
To be thorough, here is the list of the 57 OIC member states that people usually refer to when talking about the "Muslim world."
Africa: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda.
Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
Europe: Albania. (Note: Turkey and Azerbaijan are also transcontinental).
South America: Guyana, Suriname.
Real Challenges Facing These Nations
It’s not all growth and tourism. Many of these countries face massive hurdles.
Climate change is a big one. Much of the Muslim world is in arid or semi-arid regions. Water scarcity is a literal existential threat for places like Jordan and Pakistan.
Then there’s the "Youth Bulge." In many African and Middle Eastern Muslim countries, over 60% of the population is under the age of 30. That’s a huge opportunity if there are jobs, but it’s a ticking time bomb if there aren't. Political instability remains a factor in North Africa and parts of the Levant, often a lingering effect of the Arab Spring and foreign interventions.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you are trying to understand the all world muslim country landscape for business, travel, or research, keep these points in mind:
- Don't assume Arabic is the language. You'll need Urdu in Pakistan, Bengali in Bangladesh, and Bahasa in Indonesia. Even in the Arab world, the dialects (like Darija in Morocco) are so different they can be mutually unintelligible.
- Check the calendar. Ramadan changes everything. Business hours shorten, and the energy shifts to the night. It’s a beautiful time to visit if you want to see the community aspect, but a terrible time if you’re trying to get a permit signed quickly.
- Respect the local "Adab" (Etiquette). Dress modestly, especially near religious sites. It goes a long way. In many of these countries, building a personal relationship is more important than the contract you’re signing.
- Look at the "Next 11" and MINT. Economists often group countries like Indonesia, Turkey, and Nigeria as the next big global growth engines. They are the future of the global middle class.
The "Muslim world" is a tapestry, not a single piece of cloth. It stretches from the skyscrapers of Dubai to the steppes of Central Asia and the rainforests of Indonesia. Understanding it requires looking past the 24-hour news cycle and seeing the 1.9 billion individuals who live there.
To get a better handle on a specific region, your next step should be looking into the specific visa requirements and local customs for the "big four" hubs: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Morocco. Each offers a completely different window into how faith and modern life intersect in the 21st century. Check the official government portals for the most up-to-date travel advisories and economic investment opportunities.