If you're looking for a quick, one-sentence answer to how many muslim country in world, honestly, you might be disappointed. It's not because we can't count. It’s because "Muslim country" means something different depending on who you ask.
Are we talking about countries where most people are Muslim? Or countries where the government officially follows Islamic law? Or maybe just the ones that joined the big international club called the OIC?
Numbers vary. Definitions shift.
Generally, most experts point to 50 to 57 countries. But let’s get into the weeds of why that range exists, because the reality is way more interesting than a simple list.
The Big Number: 57 Member States
When people talk about the "Islamic world" in a formal sense, they usually mean the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). As of 2026, the OIC has 57 member states.
This is the largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. It’s basically the "United Nations of the Muslim world." But here is the kicker: not all of these 57 countries actually have a Muslim majority.
Take Guyana and Suriname in South America, or Gabon and Uganda in Africa. They are OIC members, yet their Muslim populations are actually in the minority. They joined for political ties, economic cooperation, or historical reasons.
Then you have Palestine. It’s a full member of the OIC, even though its status at the UN is a bit more complicated. So, if you go by "official membership," the answer to how many muslim country in world is 57. But if you’re looking at demographics, the math changes.
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The Demographic View: Where Muslims Are the Majority
If we look strictly at the data—meaning countries where more than 50% of the population identifies as Muslim—the number usually hovers around 50 to 53.
Recent data from the Pew Research Center and the UN suggests that there are roughly 50 nations where Muslims make up the majority. This includes obvious ones like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan, but also places you might not immediately think of, like Albania or Bosnia and Herzegovina in Europe.
The Southeast Asia Surprise
Most people associate Islam with the Middle East. It’s an easy mistake.
Actually, the Middle East and North Africa (the MENA region) only house about 20% of the world's Muslims. The real "heavy hitters" in terms of population are in South and Southeast Asia.
- Indonesia is currently the most populous Muslim-majority country on the planet, with over 240 million Muslims.
- Pakistan follows closely behind.
- Bangladesh is right there too.
In fact, there are more Muslims living in India—where they are a minority—than in many "Muslim countries" combined. India’s Muslim population is over 210 million, making it one of the largest Islamic hubs globally, even though the country is Hindu-majority.
State Religion vs. Secular Governance
This is where things get really "kinda" messy. Just because a country has a lot of Muslims doesn't mean it's an "Islamic State."
There are basically three ways a country handles this:
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1. The Islamic States
These are countries that have officially adopted Islam as the foundation of their government and constitution. We're talking about places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Here, Islamic law (Sharia) often plays a direct role in the legal system.
2. Countries with Islam as the State Religion
In these nations, the constitution says "Islam is the official religion," but the legal system might be a mix of civil law and religious tradition. Think Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, and Morocco. They recognize the faith officially, but they aren't necessarily "theocracies."
3. Secular Muslim-Majority Countries
Then you have countries where the vast majority of people are Muslim, but the government is officially secular. Turkey is the most famous example. Despite having a population that is over 95% Muslim, its constitution is built on secularism. Senegal, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia also fall into this "basically secular" category.
The Fastest-Growing Regions
Islam is currently the fastest-growing major religion. By 2050, some projections suggest the number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians worldwide.
We’re seeing huge growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria, for instance, is split almost down the middle between Christians and Muslims, but its Muslim population is growing so fast that it’s on track to become one of the largest Muslim hubs in the world within our lifetime.
In Europe, the numbers are also shifting. While no European country (aside from those in the Balkans) is anywhere near a Muslim majority, countries like France and Germany now have millions of Muslim citizens, significantly shaping the local culture and economy.
Why Does the Count Keep Changing?
Borders move. Populations shift.
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A few years ago, South Sudan split from Sudan. Sudan is a Muslim-majority country; South Sudan is not. This single political event changed the "count."
Conflict also plays a role. Huge migrations from Syria and Iraq have shifted the demographics of neighboring countries like Lebanon and Jordan. In Lebanon, the religious balance is so delicate that they haven't held an official census in decades just to avoid sparking political tension.
What Really Matters Beyond the Numbers
When asking "how many muslim country in world," it’s easy to get lost in the statistics. But the "Islamic world" isn't a monolith.
The life of a Muslim in a skyscraper in Dubai is radically different from a Muslim farmer in Central Java or a student in Dakar. They speak different languages, eat different foods, and often have very different interpretations of their faith.
What binds these countries isn't just a number on a list. It’s a shared history, a common set of values, and an increasingly connected global economy.
Actionable Insights: Moving Beyond the List
If you're researching this for school, travel, or business, don't just stop at the number 57.
- Check the Legal Framework: If you're traveling or doing business, look up whether a country is "Secular" or "Islamic." It affects everything from weekend schedules (Friday is the day of rest in many spots) to what you can wear or eat.
- Look at the OIC: For a definitive political list, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation website is the gold standard for official members.
- Don't ignore the minorities: Remember that 1 in 5 Muslims lives in a country where they are not the majority. This includes the UK, USA, Russia, and China.
The question of how many muslim country in world is less about a final tally and more about understanding a massive, diverse, and rapidly changing part of our global community.
To get the most accurate, up-to-the-minute data for a specific nation, you should cross-reference the CIA World Factbook with the latest Pew Research Global Religious Landscape reports. These sources provide the most nuanced breakdown of state religion versus population demographics available today.