Facts and Figures about the Islamic Faith

Did you know there are estimated to be between 1 and 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide?

Did you know that one-fifth of the world population is Muslim?

Did you know that the country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia?

Did you know that Pakistan and India are home to the second and third largest Muslim populations, respectively?

Did you know that there are an estimate 2-7 million Muslims living in the United States? It is difficult to pinpoint the exact number since, as New York Post reporter Daniel Pipes explains, the U.S. Census cannot, by law, ask questions about religion. For more on how many Muslims live in the United States, see Pipes' blog.

Did you know that Ramadan is the name of the 9th month of the Muslim calendar?

Did you know that the Muslim calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which is approximately 11-13 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

Did you know that the holiday of Ramadan may fall during any month of the Gregorian calendar? It takes approximately 35 years for Ramadan to cycle through the entire solar/Gregorian calendar.

Did you know that during Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset?

Did you know that in addition to abstaining from food and drink, Muslims also refrain from smoking and sexual relations? This is because the month is seen as a time for spiritual reflection and discipline.

Did you know that Muslims traditionally break their fast on dates, since that is what the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have done?

Did you know that according to a government-run survey in Tunisia, 59 percent of women and 35 percent of men gained weight during Ramadan, despite fasting for some 14 hours a day.

Did you know that health experts estimate food consumption actually increases 50 percent during the month of Ramadan?