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Building on Faith
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Building on Faith
The growth of Islam in the United States
Minaret capping ceremony at the new Islamic Society of Boston
Cultural Center (ISBCC) in Roxbury, Massachusetts, June 9, 2007.
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The United States is a nation of deep faith.
In an adult population of 250 million people, more than 90 percent believe in
God and more than half rank religion as very important in their lives.
Believe in God or a “universal spirit”
Believe religion is “very important”
Total Population
92 percent
Total population
56 percent
Christian
98 percent
Christian
70 percent
Jewish
83 percent
Jewish
31 percent
Muslim
92 percent
Muslim
72 percent
Buddhist
75 percent
Buddhist
35 percent
Hindu
70 percent
Hindu
45 percent
Unaffiliated
70 percent
Unaffiliated
16 percent
From U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
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The United States is a nation of many diverse faiths.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life lists 140 different religions in the U.S.
These fall into a handful of main groups.
Christian
Jewish
Muslim
Buddhist
Hindu
Unaffiliated
From U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
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The United States is a nation of many diverse faiths.
Nearly 80 percent are Christian, which themselves are divided into
many smaller religions.
Christian
78.5 percent
Protestant
Jewish
51.3 percent
Catholic
23.9 percent
Muslim
Mormon
1.7 percent
Jehovah’s
Buddhist
Witness
.7 percent
Orthodox
.6 percent
Other
Christian
.3 percent
Hindu
Unaffiliated
From U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
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The United States is a nation of many diverse faiths.
The remainder comprise four main religions, plus those unaffiliated
with any organized group.
Jewish
1.7 percent
Muslim
.6 percent
Buddhist
.7 percent
Hindu
.4 percent
Unaffiliated
16
percent
From U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
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How many are Muslim?
The Pew Study estimates a Muslim American population of .6 percent of the
total, or approximately 2.35 million Muslims nationwide.
Jewish
1.7 percent
Muslim
.6 percent
Buddhist
Hindu
1.5.7million
percent
adults (18 & over)
+ 850,000 under 18
.4 percent
2.35
million
Unaffiliated
16
percent
From Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
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Where do they come from?
Most American Muslims – 65% - were born elsewhere and more than 50%
immigrated to the United States since 1980.
Year of arrival
1990 – 2007 39 percent
1980 – 1989 15 percent
Before 1980 11 percent
Worshippers listen to the Khutba during Friday Prayer at the annual
Islamic Society of North America
From Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
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Where do they come from?
Most American Muslims – 65% – were born elsewhere and have immigrated
to the United States since 1980.
Foreign-born American Muslims
Arab region
24 percent
Pakistan
8 percent
Other - South Asia
10 percent
Iran
8 percent
Europe
5 percent
Other - Africa
4 percent
Other
6 percent
Total
65 percent of Muslims in U.S.
An immigrant prays.
From Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
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Where do they come from?
The majority of native-born Muslims are African American, and the majority
are converts to Islam.
Native-born American Muslims
Prayer service at a mosque in Springfield, Massachusetts.
African American
20 percent
Other
15 percent
Total
35 percent of Muslims in U.S.
Converts to Islam
21 percent
Born Muslim
14 percent
Total
35 percent of Muslims in U.S.
From Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
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Where do they live?
American Muslims are fairly evenly distributed across the country.
Northeast 29 percent
Midwest 22 percent
West 18 percent
South 32 percent
From Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
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Where do they worship?
Regional distribution of mosques in the United States
Northeast 30 percent
Midwest 29 percent
West 15 percent
South 26 percent
From U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
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Growth of Mosques in the United States
The number of mosques in the United States has doubled in the last 15 years.
Year
Number of mosques
1994
962*
2000
1,209*
2008
2,000+**
* The Mosque in America : A National Portrait, Council on American – Islamic Relations (CAIR) 2001
** Islamic Architecture, Art, and Urbanism, MIT Libraries, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 2008
** IslamiCity.com
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Growth of Mosques in the United States
The number of mosques in the United States has doubled in the last 15 years.
California has the most - more than 300. Shown at
far left is the Islamic Society of Orange County,
California.
Michigan has the largest - Islamic Center of America
in Dearborn, Michigan, top left. The 70,000 square
foot facility, built in 2005, can accommodate more
than 3,000 worshipers.
Iowa has the oldest – The Mother Mosque built in
1934 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Though a larger facility
was opened in the 1970s the Mother Mosque
remains in use.
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Growth of Mosques in the United States
One example of how mosques grow in the United States.
Islamic Center of Boise
Shiite and Sunni (Islam)
2719 Stewart Ave, Boise, Idaho 83702
The first Muslim in Boise, a student at Boise State
University, arrived in 1955. In 1982 the first
community of Muslims formed with 15-20 people.
Prayers were held in individual homes until 1989
when the community began renting an apartment
building.
In 1996 the Muslim community grew significantly
due to the influx of computer software companies
and refugees from Bosnia, Somalia, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
In 2002, after 12 years of fundraising, the Boise
Muslims purchased the building that is now the
Boise Mosque and Islamic Center. The building was
formerly a church, and then a dance studio.
From The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
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Coast to coast tour of Mosques in the United States
From Boston, Massachusetts to Garden Grove, California
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A Nation of Mosques
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Ramadan Greetings
I send greetings to Muslims observing Ramadan in
America and around the world.
President George W. Bush, right, listens as Imam Talal Eid,
left, delivers his prayer before the Iftar dinner, in the State
Dining Room of the White House.
Ramadan, the holiest days of the Islamic faith, begins
with the first light of dawn and commemorates the
revelation of the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad.
During the days of fasting, prayer, and worship,
Muslims reflect and remember their dependence on
God. Ramadan is also an occasion for Muslims to
strengthen family and community ties and share God's
gifts with those in need.
America is a land of many faiths, and our society is
enriched by our Muslim citizens. May the holy days of
Ramadan remind us all to seek a culture of compassion
and serve others in charity.
Laura and I send our best wishes. Ramadan Mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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Credits and resources
Sources
U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, June 2008
http://religions.pewforum.org
Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream Pew Research Center, May 2007
http://pewforum.org/surveys/muslim-american
The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
http://www.pluralism.org
The Mosque in America : A National Portrait, Council on American – Islamic Relations (CAIR) 2001
http://www.cair.com
Dr. Omar Khalidi, Islamic Architecture, Art, and Urbanism, MIT Libraries, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/islamicarchitecture/visual/usamosques.html
Photo Credits
Aramco Services Company
Associated Press
Dr. Omar Khalidi, Islamic Architecture Librarian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
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For more Information
http://America.gov
United States Department of State / Bureau of International Information Programs
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