By News Desk 
A recent report by the Pew Research Center reveals that Islam is set to become the fastest-growing religion in the world over the next three and a half decades. By 2060, the global Muslim population is projected to exceed 3 billion, up from the current estimated figure of approximately 2 billion.
The study attributes this anticipated growth to several factors: a high birth rate among Muslims, a relatively young population, and a low rate of people leaving the faith. Not only is Islam expanding due to natural population growth, but it also maintains one of the highest retention rates among all major religions.
High Retention Rate Among Muslims
According to Pew’s survey, conducted across 13 countries, more than 90% of individuals raised in Muslim households continue to identify as Muslim in adulthood. The only notable exception is the United States, where that number drops to about 74%, still comparatively high but lower than in other countries.
In contrast to Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism, Islam has the lowest percentage of people leaving the religion. Among those who do leave Islam, many become religiously unaffiliated or convert to Christianity. Interestingly, countries like the U.S., Kenya, and Ghana are witnessing a noticeable number of conversions from Christianity to Islam.
Conversion vs. Media Narratives
Religious conversion often becomes a controversial topic, especially in times of political or ideological polarization. However, the Pew report clarifies that in the 13 countries studied, conversions account for less than 3% of Islam’s overall growth. In Muslim-majority nations like Indonesia, both conversion to and from Islam is less than 1%, suggesting that birth rates and retention—not conversion—are the primary drivers of Muslim population growth.
Hinduism: A Snapshot
Pew’s data on Hinduism focuses on four countries: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the United States. In India and Bangladesh, nearly all individuals raised as Hindus continue to identify as such into adulthood, indicating high religious stability. In Sri Lanka, 9 out of 10 Hindus retain their religious identity.
However, the numbers shift slightly in the U.S., where only 82% of people raised Hindu still identify as Hindu later in life. Around 11% have become atheists, agnostics, or religiously unaffiliated. Sri Lanka has also seen a number of former Hindus convert to Christianity.
Surveys from India and Bangladesh show extremely high religious consistency, with 99% of both Hindus and Muslims continuing to follow their birth religion. This suggests a strong cultural and familial attachment to religious identity, as well as deeply rooted social and religious frameworks that reinforce such continuity.