How does the Muslim population in Michigan compare to other states in the US?
Executive summary
Michigan is consistently listed among the U.S. states with the largest Muslim communities both in raw numbers and as a share of population: several compilations place Michigan in the top tier, with estimates ranging from roughly 240,000 to 300,000 Muslims and state shares often cited around or above 2%–3% [1] [2] [3]. The Detroit metro—especially Dearborn and Hamtramck—accounts for much of that concentration; Dearborn is repeatedly described as the U.S. city with the highest proportional Muslim population and hosts North America’s largest mosque [4] [5].
1. Michigan sits in the national top tier for Muslim population
Multiple aggregators and state-by-state lists put Michigan among the states with the largest Muslim populations, alongside New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey; Datapandas lists Michigan with about 241,828 Muslims, making it one of the larger statewide Muslim populations [1]. Other outlets and reports describe Michigan as consistently ranking near the top in both absolute numbers and percentage terms [3] [6].
2. Estimates vary — there is no single definitive count
Available sources use different methods and give different totals: LegalClarity cites an estimated 270,000 Muslims in Michigan (about 2.75% of the state) while Datapandas lists ~241,828; Rakwa and other outlets report figures up to 300,000 and percentages over 3% [2] [1] [3]. This spread reflects methodological differences — survey sampling, organizational counts, and projections — and the fact that the U.S. Census does not collect religion data directly [7] [8].
3. Dearborn and the Detroit metro drive Michigan’s numbers
Local concentrations explain Michigan’s outsized share: Dearborn is repeatedly identified as the U.S. city with the highest proportional Muslim population and is home to the Islamic Center of America, described as North America’s largest mosque [4] [5]. Hamtramck and parts of east Dearborn are also noted as heavily Arab-American and Muslim neighborhoods that influence local voting and civic life [4].
4. How Michigan compares to the largest Muslim states
Nationally, New York, California and Illinois are the states with the largest Muslim totals; Michigan is usually listed just below that top tier [1] [6]. National tallies vary — the 2020 Religion Census and some aggregators give U.S. Muslim totals ranging from roughly 3.5 million to 4.5 million — and different sources put Michigan’s rank slightly differently depending on whether they report raw counts or percentages of state population [9] [5] [6].
5. Community indicators beyond population counts
Reporters and advocacy groups point to institutional markers that reflect community size and vibrancy: Michigan contains numerous mosques, Muslim-owned businesses, and civic organizations concentrated in Detroit-area cities; one summary cites about 36,000 Muslim-owned businesses in Michigan and states that mosques follow population concentrations in states like Michigan [10] [11]. The presence of large, active mosques such as the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn also signals established community infrastructure [5].
6. Why estimates disagree — watch methodology and implicit agendas
Third‑party aggregators (WorldPopulationReview, Datapandas, local outlets) combine different data sources and often project forward; academic or advocacy groups (Pew, Justice For All) rely on survey or religion‑census methods, producing different national totals and state shares [12] [6] [13]. Some commercial lists prioritize headline rankings for readership, which can subtly push Michigan higher or lower depending on chosen metrics; local boosters may emphasize higher figures to underscore political or cultural influence [1] [2].
7. What the available reporting does not settle
Available sources do not provide a single, authoritative, census‑style count of Michigan’s Muslims because the federal census does not ask about religion; therefore precise current totals and exact rankings remain estimates [7] [8]. If you need a single figure for policy or planning, the sources point to a plausible Michigan range of roughly 240,000–300,000 Muslims, with concentrated communities in Dearborn, Hamtramck and the greater Detroit area [1] [2] [3].
Limitations and next steps: official U.S. Census data do not report religion and different outlets use varied methods; consult the Pew Religious Landscape Study, the 2020 Religion Census, and local municipal or faith‑organization surveys for the most detailed regional breakdowns cited above [12] [5] [6].