The Numerical Distribution of Muslims in Africa

Abstract

This quantitative research study shows the numbers and percentages of Muslims in Africa, relative to Christians and Africans who continue to practice their traditional religions, within the continent’s five regions (viz., Eastern, Middle, Northern, Southern, and Western), as of July 2009. It also presents religious breakdowns for those nations that are currently or at one time were partly or fully colonized by European powers. The statistics show that Islam and Christianity combined have converted over 80 percent of all Africans and that the proportion of Africans on the continent who practice traditional or indigenous religions has now declined to less than 12 percent.