Fact check: What is the Muslim population on earth

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analyses provided, the global Muslim population stands at 2.0 billion people as of 2020, representing 25.6% to 26% of the world's total population ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This makes Islam the world's second-largest religious group ^[4].

The Muslim population experienced remarkable growth of 21% between 2010 and 2020, increasing from 1.7 billion to 2.0 billion people ^[2]. This growth rate was twice as fast as the global population growth rate of 10% during the same period ^[2]. The increase of 347 million Muslims exceeded the combined growth of all other religions ^{[1] [5]}.

Key demographic characteristics include:

• 87-90% are Sunni Muslims, with 10-13% being Shia ^[4]
• 53 Muslim-majority countries exist worldwide, primarily in Central Asia, Western Asia, North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, and the Middle East ^[4]
• The top 10 countries with largest Muslim populations are Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, and Algeria, representing 65% of the world's Muslim population ^[6]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements that provide a fuller understanding of global Muslim demographics:

• Growth drivers: The population increase is primarily due to natural demographic growth - Muslims having children at higher rates than Muslim deaths, rather than adult conversions to Islam ^[5]
• Geographic distribution: The concentration of Muslim populations in specific regions and the fact that 53 countries have Muslim majorities provides crucial geopolitical context ^[4]
• Sectarian breakdown: Understanding that the vast majority are Sunni Muslims has significant implications for religious and political dynamics ^[4]
• Historical trajectory: The 1.8 percentage point increase in global share from 2010-2020 indicates ongoing demographic shifts that will impact global religious landscapes ^{[1] [3]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question "What is the Muslim population on earth" is factual and neutral in nature, seeking demographic information without apparent bias. However, potential areas where misinformation could arise include:

• Static vs. dynamic framing: Simply asking for current numbers without acknowledging the rapid growth trajectory could lead to outdated understanding, given that Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group globally ^{[7] [5]}
• Oversimplification risk: Presenting only total numbers without the sectarian divisions (Sunni vs. Shia) or geographic concentration could mask important nuances in global Muslim demographics ^{[6] [4]}
• Context omission: Failing to mention that this growth is primarily natural demographic increase rather than conversion could fuel misconceptions about the drivers of Islamic population growth ^[5]

The question itself appears to be a straightforward request for demographic data without inherent bias, though the interpretation and presentation of the answer could potentially be manipulated by various stakeholders with political or religious agendas.