Muslim world

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The terms Muslim world and Islamic world (Arabic: العالم الإسلامي, romanized: Al-ʿĀlam al-ʾIslāmī) commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs, politics, and laws of Islam^[1] or to societies in which Islam is practiced.^[2][3] In a modern geopolitical sense, these terms refer to countries in which Islam is widespread, although there are no agreed criteria for inclusion.^[4][3] The term Muslim-majority countries is an alternative often used for the latter sense.^[5]

The history of the Muslim world spans about 1,400 years and includes a variety of socio-political developments, as well as advances in the arts, science, medicine, philosophy, law, economics and technology during the Islamic Golden Age. Muslims look for guidance to the Quran and believe in the prophetic mission of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, but disagreements on other matters have led to the appearance of different religious schools of thought and sects within Islam.^[6] The Islamic conquests, which culminated in the Caliphate being established across three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), enriched the Muslim world, achieving the economic preconditions for the emergence of this institution owing to the emphasis attached to Islamic teachings.^[7] In the modern era, most of the Muslim world came under European colonial domination. The nation states that emerged in the post-colonial era have adopted a variety of political and economic models, and they have been affected by secular as well as religious trends.^[8]

As of 2013^[update], the combined GDP (nominal) of 50 Muslim majority countries was US$5.7 trillion.^[9] As of 2016^[update], they contributed 8% of the world's total.^[10] In 2020, the Economy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which consists of 57 member states had a combined GDP(PPP) of US$ 24 trillion which is equal to about 18% of world's GDP or US$ 30 trillion with 5 OIC observer states which is equal to about 22% of the world's GDP. Some OIC member countries -Ivory Coast, Guyana, Gabon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Suriname, Togo and Uganda are not Muslim-majority.^[11]

As of 2020, 1.8 billion or more than 25% of the world population are Muslims.^[12][13] By the percentage of the total population in a region considering themselves Muslim, 91% in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA),^[14] 89% in Central Asia,^[15] 40% in Southeast Asia,^[16] 31% in South Asia,^[17][18] 30% in Sub-Saharan Africa,^[19] 25% in Asia, 1.4% in Oceania,^[20][21] 6% in Europe,^[22] and 1% in the Americas.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Most Muslims are of one of two denominations: Sunni Islam (87–90%)^[27] and Shia (10–13%).^[28] However, other denominations exist in pockets, such as Ibadi (primarily in Oman). Muslims who do not belong to, do not self-identify with, or cannot be readily classified under one of the identifiable Islamic schools and branches are known as non-denominational Muslims.^{[29][30][31][32]} About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority country;^[33] 31% of Muslims live in South Asia,^[34] the largest population of Muslims in the world;^[35] 20% in the Middle East–North Africa,^[36] where it is the dominant religion;^[37] and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa (primarily in Nigeria).^[38] Muslims are the overwhelming majority in Central Asia,^[39] the majority in the Caucasus,^[40][41] and widespread in Southeast Asia.^[42] India has the largest Muslim population outside Muslim-majority countries.^[43] Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, and Egypt are home to the world’s second, fourth, sixth and seventh largest Muslim populations respectively. Sizeable Muslim communities are also found in the Americas, Russia, India, China, and Europe.^[44][45][46] Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world partially due to their high birth rate,^{[47][48][49][50][51]} according to the same study, religious switching has no impact on Muslim population, since the number of people who embrace Islam and those who leave Islam are roughly equal.^[52] China has the third largest Muslim population outside Muslim-majority countries, while Russia has the fifth largest Muslim population. Nigeria has the largest Muslim population in Africa, while Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in Asia.

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