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Number of Muslims in Dearborn Michigan today
Executive summary
Available sources disagree on precise counts but converge that Dearborn is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the United States. A local demographic write-up estimates about 48,600 Muslims (roughly 54% of a ~90,000 population) [1]; recent news reporting describes Dearborn as having "more than 100,000 people" and "the highest concentration of Arabs in the U.S." without giving a specific Muslim count [2]. Academic commentary stresses that Dearborn’s sizable Muslim population can skew perceptions of statewide shares, noting Dearborn is only about 1% of Michigan’s residents [3].
1. Dearborn’s reputation: a national center of Arab and Muslim life
Dearborn is repeatedly described in the reporting as having the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the U.S. and as a city notable for its large Muslim community; the Detroit News piece explicitly calls it the city with "the highest concentration of Arabs in the U.S." and notes the city’s political attention from national campaigns [2]. Wikipedia also states Dearborn "has the proportionally largest Muslim population in the United States" and highlights waves of Muslim immigration from Yemen, Iraq and Palestine [4]. These characterizations are consistent: sources identify Dearborn as a focal point for Arab-American and Muslim civic life [4] [2].
2. A specific estimate: where the 48,600 figure comes from
One demographic article published in August 2025 presents a concrete estimate: about 48,600 Muslims in Dearborn — calculated as roughly 54% of an assumed city population near 90,000 [1]. That source frames the figure as derived from the city total and an estimated Muslim share. Readers should note this is a secondary compilation rather than a primary census release; the estimate depends directly on the underlying population total and the percentage attributed to Muslims [1].
3. Conflicting population baselines: 90,000 vs. "more than 100,000"
Sources do not agree on the basic total-population number for Dearborn. The demographic piece uses about 90,000 as the city population to derive the Muslim count [1]. By contrast, a November 2025 Detroit News article refers to Dearborn as having "more than 100,000 people" but does not translate that into a Muslim count [2]. Differences in city population baselines materially change any percentage-based Muslim estimate; using a larger total would increase the absolute Muslim-population estimate if the percentage holds, or reduce the percentage if the Muslim count were fixed.
4. Limitations in the available reporting and methods
None of the provided sources cite a single definitive, recent census or poll that directly reports "number of Muslims" in Dearborn; the Wikipedia summary and the Detroit News describe prominence and concentration but do not publish a headcount [4] [2]. The 48,600 figure comes from a secondary website that applies a 54% share to a 90,000 total [1]. The Institute for Public Policy and Social Research piece stresses how a single city’s prominence can skew perceptions statewide and notes Dearborn comprises about 1% of Michigan’s population, underlining the need to place local estimates in a broader demographic context [3].
5. Alternative viewpoints and why estimates vary
Different outlets and researchers use different data inputs (city population totals, percentage-of-Muslims estimates, or historical community descriptions). For example, if Dearborn’s population is closer to 100,000 as reported by the Detroit News, a 54% Muslim share would imply a larger Muslim count than 48,600; conversely, if the 90,000 baseline is right, the 48,600 figure follows directly [1] [2]. Sources also emphasize that Arab identity and Muslim faith do not map one-to-one — historical Arab immigration to Dearborn included many Christians as well as Muslims [4] — which complicates efforts to convert "Arab American" prevalence into a precise Muslim population.
6. What the reporting does not say (and why that matters)
Available sources do not present an official, recent census-based total of Muslims in Dearborn; they either offer an estimate built from percentages [1] or characterize community prominence without a numeric breakdown [4] [2]. The academic commentary warns that public perceptions about Muslim population size in Michigan are often inaccurate and can be influenced by high-visibility places like Dearborn [3]. Because of these gaps, any single-number claim should be treated as an estimate contingent on the underlying population and percentage assumptions.
7. Practical takeaway for readers
If you need a working estimate today, the most explicit figure in available reporting is the ~48,600 estimate (54% of ~90,000) published in August 2025 [1]. But that number depends on disputed population baselines and the assumed Muslim share. For official or policy uses, seek primary sources (U.S. Census population totals for the city and local surveys or mosque/community organization counts); those are not present in the set of sources provided here (not found in current reporting).