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How does the demographic makeup of Michigan compare to other US states with large muslim populations?
Executive Summary
Michigan’s Muslim population is notable but not among the very largest in the United States: recent analyses place the state at roughly 240,000–242,000 Muslims (about 2.4% of Michigan’s residents), ranking sixth by raw numbers behind New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas [1] [2]. Michigan stands out for concentrated local communities—Dearborn and Hamtramck—rather than for a statewide Muslim majority, and available sources emphasize strong institutional presence (mosques, community centers) even as statewide shares remain below the top four states by percentage [2] [3]. This report extracts the key claims from the supplied analyses, compares how Michigan stacks up in raw and percentage terms, highlights local concentration and diversity, and flags data gaps and timing issues that affect firm conclusions [4] [5].
1. The Claim List: What people are saying and why it matters
The supplied analyses converge on several clear claims: Michigan’s Muslim population is roughly a quarter‑million people (about 2.4% of the state); the state ranks sixth in raw Muslim population while ranking among the top five in percentage in some summaries; Dearborn hosts one of the nation’s largest Arab‑American Muslim communities and Hamtramck is uniquely Muslim‑majority at the local level [1] [2] [5]. Analysts also claim Michigan’s Muslim share is smaller than New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey, and that Michigan’s strength is concentrated communities and visible institutions such as the Islamic Center of America [2] [3]. These claims matter because they distinguish statewide presence from local concentrations and shape policy, civic representation, and media framing.
2. Raw numbers vs. relative share: Michigan’s place in the national lineup
When comparing raw figures, the analyses place Michigan behind New York (~724k), California (~504k), Illinois (~474k), New Jersey (~322k) and Texas (~313k), with Michigan at about 241,828—a clear sixth‑place position by absolute count [1]. In percentage terms the state hovers around 2.4% Muslims statewide, higher than many states but below some Northeast and Midwestern peers; other sources list Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Maryland as having higher percentages [2] [6]. The difference between raw totals and proportion matters: large states may host more Muslims in number, while smaller states or specific cities may have higher local concentrations that affect local politics and services.
3. Local concentrations tell a different story than statewide averages
Michigan’s most consequential feature is concentration: Dearborn contains a large Arab‑American Muslim community and Hamtramck has a Muslim‑majority population estimated at roughly 70%—local realities that contrast with the statewide 2.4% figure [7] [5]. Sources emphasize institutional growth—mosques and community centers—and civic visibility in these localities even as statewide numeric growth since 2020 is not definitively quantified in the available analyses [4]. Local concentration amplifies political and social influence in municipal government, school services, and public life, so Michigan’s Muslim footprint can feel much larger in those cities than the state percentage suggests.
4. Demographic diversity and how Michigan compares on racial and ethnic lines
Analyses point to national Muslim diversity—Black, White, Asian, Arab, Hispanic and mixed‑race components—and suggest Michigan’s Muslim community reflects this complexity while also having a substantial Arab‑American component concentrated in Southeast Michigan [6] [1]. Michigan’s profile is shaped by both immigrant and American‑born Muslims, with institutions and civic recognition (e.g., state proclamations) underscoring visibility [2]. Compared to states with larger Muslim populations, Michigan’s distinctive element is the Arab‑American enclave in Dearborn, whereas states like New York and California show broader geographic dispersion and larger absolute communities.
5. What we don’t know and why the timing of data matters
The supplied materials consistently note uncertainty about recent change: while sources document institutional growth and increased civic visibility through 2024–2025, they do not supply a definitive numeric change in Michigan’s Muslim population since the 2020 census [4] [5]. Different sources use varying methods and dates to estimate totals and percentages, leading to small discrepancies in rank or share [6] [1]. Researchers and policymakers should treat these counts as best‑available estimates rather than fixed truths, and prioritize updated, transparent survey or administrative data to resolve questions about growth, age structure, and geographic dispersion.