A Glance at the Muslim Community in the United States
By Genaro Aguilera-Reza
Check out this interactive map to discover the top 10 American States with the largest populations of Muslims.
President Joe Biden recently tweeted “Being a nation of immigrants has always been one of our greatest strengths. Our diversity makes us stronger.” This is a very important and relevant statement, as the country will continue to have a steady population growth, powered by immigration and high fertility rates in minority groups. Ethnic and religious diversity will simultaneously continue to rise in the USA.
One of the religions that has grown exponentially is Islam. According to a Pew Research study, Islam is set to become the second largest religious group in the United Stated by 2040. The American Muslim population is growing rapidly, with some estimates pointing out that there could be close to 8 million Muslims living in the United States by 2050. According to the study, immigration has fueled this unexpected growth along with the fact that American Muslims tend to be a younger demographic, therefore having a high fertility rate.
With this steady population growth comes major contributions to the American economy. Many Muslims contribute to the economy by creating jobs, becoming business owners and entrepreneurs, and by pursuing higher education. A clear indicator is the fact that 5% of all physicians (approximately 50,000 professionals) currently working in the United States are Muslims.
The number of mosques has also grown and can be found in most cities and towns in the United States. The presence of mosques plays a very important role for both Muslims and non-Muslims, as it fosters understanding and appreciation for one another and our differences. One of the main functions of the mosque is to integrate Muslims into the American society and help bridge the differences between different communities. Additionally, these places of worship have helped achieve higher civic engagement and support for core values of the American political system.