Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Muslims in the United States - statistics & facts
Totaling approximately three percent of the United States population, Muslim Americans make up a diverse minority. Adherents of Islam, the third-largest religion after Christianity and Judaism, Muslims lack any real racial or ethnic majority; as of 2024, Muslim Americans were most likely to identify as white, Asian, or Black, although Hispanic Muslims and Muslims of other or multiple races accounted for a significant share as well. Muslims also tend to be much younger than other religions, with more than three quarters aged 50 years or less in that same year. Despite this age discrepancy, Muslims form one of the most educated religious groups nationwide. In 2024, over a quarter of Muslim adults in the U.S. had a postgraduate degree, compared with only 14 percent of Christians and 16 percent of religiously unaffiliated individuals.
Throughout history, Muslims have migrated to the U.S. in search of the freedom and opportunity often unobtainable in their countries of origin. As of 2024, almost 60 percent of adult Muslim Americans were first generation immigrants, meaning they were born outside the U.S. Indicative of their ongoing satisfaction with the American lifestyle, a 2022 survey found Muslims to be happier with the direction of the country compared to other religions. Findings also revealed that the majority of Muslim Americans agreed with certain anti-Muslim sentiments, such as the belief that Muslims living in the U.S. are prone to violence and should be held partially responsible for violent acts committed by other Muslims.
Such stereotypes stem from September 11, 2001, when Islamist terrorists hijacked commercial aircraft to crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the name of militant organization al-Qaeda. Following the attacks, Americans typically equated terrorism with Islam, although such Islamic extremism reflects the views of only a tiny minority of Muslims. Moreover, most terror acts on American soil since 9/11 have been perpetuated by U.S. born citizens and in the last decade, domestic extremist-related killings were executed primarily by right-wing extremists, namely, white supremacists.
Whether applying for a job, interacting with the police, or travelling at the airport, Muslim Americans are adversely affected by discrimination due to Islamophobia – the irrational fear, prejudice, or hatred of Islam and those who practice Islam. In recent years, anti-Muslim hate has been rising as a result of the Israel-Gaza war, with 70 percent of Muslims seeing increased discrimination since the start of the conflict in 2023. Muslim Americans may also face further harm through anti-Islamic hate crimes, where victims are attacked through intimidation, assault, and even murder solely on account of their religious affiliation.
A common misconception constraining Muslim Americans is that they discriminate against women, likely due to the Muslim women who wear a hijab, or headscarf, to cover their hair. In 2022, Americans overwhelmingly approved of women protesting the compulsory wearing of hijabs in Iran. Unlike women in Iran, however, Muslim American women may choose to cover their hair, often seen as an expression of their faith. Additionally, female leadership has increased in U.S. mosques, suggesting that Muslim places of worship are also working to overcome lingering stereotypes. Despite such efforts, the struggle for Muslim Americans will likely persist during the Trump administration, particularly as the current President has previously targeted people from Muslim countries.
Foreign-born factors
Throughout history, Muslims have migrated to the U.S. in search of the freedom and opportunity often unobtainable in their countries of origin. As of 2024, almost 60 percent of adult Muslim Americans were first generation immigrants, meaning they were born outside the U.S. Indicative of their ongoing satisfaction with the American lifestyle, a 2022 survey found Muslims to be happier with the direction of the country compared to other religions. Findings also revealed that the majority of Muslim Americans agreed with certain anti-Muslim sentiments, such as the belief that Muslims living in the U.S. are prone to violence and should be held partially responsible for violent acts committed by other Muslims.
Such stereotypes stem from September 11, 2001, when Islamist terrorists hijacked commercial aircraft to crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the name of militant organization al-Qaeda. Following the attacks, Americans typically equated terrorism with Islam, although such Islamic extremism reflects the views of only a tiny minority of Muslims. Moreover, most terror acts on American soil since 9/11 have been perpetuated by U.S. born citizens and in the last decade, domestic extremist-related killings were executed primarily by right-wing extremists, namely, white supremacists.
Inequality and Islamophobia
Whether applying for a job, interacting with the police, or travelling at the airport, Muslim Americans are adversely affected by discrimination due to Islamophobia – the irrational fear, prejudice, or hatred of Islam and those who practice Islam. In recent years, anti-Muslim hate has been rising as a result of the Israel-Gaza war, with 70 percent of Muslims seeing increased discrimination since the start of the conflict in 2023. Muslim Americans may also face further harm through anti-Islamic hate crimes, where victims are attacked through intimidation, assault, and even murder solely on account of their religious affiliation.
A common misconception constraining Muslim Americans is that they discriminate against women, likely due to the Muslim women who wear a hijab, or headscarf, to cover their hair. In 2022, Americans overwhelmingly approved of women protesting the compulsory wearing of hijabs in Iran. Unlike women in Iran, however, Muslim American women may choose to cover their hair, often seen as an expression of their faith. Additionally, female leadership has increased in U.S. mosques, suggesting that Muslim places of worship are also working to overcome lingering stereotypes. Despite such efforts, the struggle for Muslim Americans will likely persist during the Trump administration, particularly as the current President has previously targeted people from Muslim countries.
