Ever tried to get a straight answer on how many Islamic country in world? It sounds like a simple enough question for a quick search. You’d think there’s just a list sitting in some drawer at the UN, but honestly, it’s a bit of a mess.
Depending on who you ask—a demographer, a constitutional lawyer, or a diplomat—the number changes. It’s kinda like asking how many "coffee lovers" there are. Are we talking about people who drink it once a month, or the ones who can't physically function without an espresso at 7:00 AM?
In the world of geopolitics, the definition of an "Islamic country" is just as fluid. You've got countries where everyone happens to be Muslim, countries where the law says "Islam is the religion," and countries where the government and the faith are basically one and the same.
The Magic Number: 57
If you want the "official" diplomatic answer, the number is 57.
This is the membership count of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Established in 1969, this group is basically the United Nations of the Muslim world. If a country is in the OIC, it’s officially part of the "Islamic world" in a political sense.
But here is where it gets weird.
Being in the OIC doesn't actually mean you have a Muslim majority. Take Guyana and Suriname in South America. They are full members of the OIC, yet their Muslim populations are relatively small (around 7% to 10%). On the flip side, India has over 210 million Muslims—more than almost any other country—and it’s not a member at all.
So, if we go by the OIC list, we're looking at 57 nations. These span from Morocco in the west all the way to Indonesia in the east. It's a massive, diverse block that represents about 1.9 billion people.
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The Breakdown of the 57 OIC Members
While I won't bore you with a dry table, it's worth seeing how these are spread out. You've got the heavy hitters in Southeast Asia like Indonesia (the most populous) and Malaysia. Then you have the South Asian giants: Pakistan and Bangladesh. Moving west, you hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region—places like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran.
Don't forget Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali have massive Muslim populations and play huge roles in the OIC. Even Europe gets a shoutout with Albania and Azerbaijan (which is technically transcontinental).
Islamic States vs. States with Islam as a Religion
Now, let’s peel back the legal layers. Not every country in that 57-member group treats religion the same way.
There is a huge difference between an "Islamic State" and a country that just lists Islam as its official religion. This is where most people get tripped up when wondering how many Islamic country in world.
1. The True Islamic States
These are the nations where Islam is the very foundation of the constitution. The government and the religion are deeply intertwined.
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Mauritania
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
In these spots, the Quran and Sunnah often serve as the primary sources of law. It's not just a "vibe"; it's the legal framework.
2. Countries with Islam as the State Religion
Then you have a larger group—about 22 to 24 countries—that say "Islam is our official religion" in their constitution, but their legal systems are a bit more of a mix. They might use Sharia for family matters (like marriage or inheritance) but use civil law for everything else.
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- Egypt
- Jordan
- Morocco
- Kuwait
- Algeria
3. The Secular Majority
This is the part that surprises people. Many countries with 90%+ Muslim populations are actually secular states.
Turkey is the most famous example. Despite being nearly entirely Muslim, its constitution is strictly secular. Senegal and Indonesia are the same way. They recognize the importance of faith, but the government officially stays out of the religion business.
The "Muslim-Majority" Lens
If we stop looking at constitutions and start looking at people, the number shifts again.
There are roughly 50 countries where Muslims make up more than 50% of the population.
But population doesn't always equal "Islamic country." For instance, Nigeria is split almost exactly down the middle between Christians and Muslims. It’s a member of the OIC, but it’s not an "Islamic country" in a demographic or legal sense in the same way Saudi Arabia is.
And then there's the India factor. By 2026, India's Muslim population is projected to be one of the largest on Earth. Yet, India is a secular, Hindu-majority nation. If you’re counting "where the Muslims are," you can't ignore it. But if you’re counting "Islamic countries," India doesn't make the cut.
Why Does the Count Keep Changing?
Geopolitics isn't static. Borders move, governments fall, and constitutions get rewritten.
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Syria, for example, had its OIC membership suspended for years during its civil war before being reinstated recently. Afghanistan's status has flipped back and forth depending on who is in Kabul.
Also, look at the Balkans. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Muslim population is the largest single group (around 50-51%), but the country has a complex power-sharing agreement between different ethnic and religious groups. Is it an Islamic country? Most would say no, but it's an observer in the OIC.
Real-World Takeaways
When you're trying to figure out how many Islamic country in world, remember these three benchmarks:
- Diplomatic: 57 (OIC members).
- Demographic: ~50 (Muslim-majority nations).
- Constitutional: ~7 (True Islamic States) and ~23 (State religion).
It’s never just one number. It’s a spectrum of how faith and governance dance together.
To get a truly accurate picture for your research or travel, don't just look at a list. Check the specific country's constitution. Look at how they handle their legal system. A trip to Dubai (UAE) feels very different from a trip to Tehran (Iran) or Dakar (Senegal), even though they all fall under the "Islamic world" umbrella.
If you are tracking these numbers for 2026, keep an eye on demographic shifts in Sub-Saharan Africa. That's where the most significant population growth is happening, which will likely change the "Muslim-majority" list before the end of the decade.