Top 10 U.S. States With the Largest Muslim Populations (2026)

The United States is home to roughly 4.45 million Muslims, according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census — about 1.34% of the national population. That number has been climbing steadily for decades, driven by immigration from South Asia, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, along with natural population growth and conversion.

But Muslims are not spread evenly across the country. Most live in a handful of states concentrated in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Sun Belt regions. Below is a data-driven look at the 10 states where Muslim Americans have built the largest communities — ranked by total estimated Muslim population.

Summary Table: Top 10 U.S. States by Muslim Population

Population estimates: 2020 U.S. Religion Census / Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). Mosque counts: U.S. Mosque Survey 2020 (ISPU/ISNA).

1. New York

Estimated Muslim Population: 724,475 (3.62% of state)

New York leads the nation by a wide margin. The state’s Muslim community is among the most ethnically diverse in the world, drawing from South Asian, Arab, West African, Bangladeshi, and African American backgrounds. New York City alone accounts for the bulk of these numbers, with neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx serving as hubs.

The state is home to 343 mosques — more than any other state — with landmarks like the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on the Upper East Side. In a milestone moment in 2025, Zohran K. Mamdani was elected as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, a victory widely described as a watershed for Muslim political representation in urban America.

New York also hosts major Muslim institutions, including the Islamic Center at NYU, one of the largest Muslim student organizations in the country, and dozens of full-time Islamic schools.

2. California

Estimated Muslim Population: 504,056 (1.28% of state)

California ranks second in total numbers but, because of its enormous overall population, Muslims make up a relatively small share at 1.28%. The community is concentrated in the Greater Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and parts of the Central Valley.

With 304 mosques statewide, California’s Muslim institutions range from massive multi-service centers like the Islamic Center of Southern California to smaller storefront prayer spaces in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. The state’s Muslim population is notably diverse, including large Persian, Afghan, Pakistani, Arab, and Indonesian communities.

Southern California is also a center for halal food businesses, with a growing number of halal restaurants and food trucks catering to Muslim and non-Muslim diners alike.

3. Illinois

Estimated Muslim Population: 473,792 (3.71% of state)

Illinois has the highest Muslim population density of any state, with 3.71% of residents identifying as Muslim. Nearly all of this is concentrated in the Chicagoland metropolitan area, which has one of the oldest and most culturally diverse Muslim communities in the Americas.

The Chicago area’s Muslim roots stretch back to the early 20th century, when immigrants from what was then the Ottoman Empire settled on the city’s South Side. Today, the community spans Palestinian, Pakistani, Bosnian, African American, and Rohingya populations, among others. The Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview and the Downtown Islamic Center are two of the most prominent institutions.

Chicago has also been a major center for African American Islam, with historical ties to the Nation of Islam — whose headquarters remain on the city’s South Side — and a large Sunni African American population.

4. New Jersey

Estimated Muslim Population: 321,652 (3.34% of state)

New Jersey punches above its weight. Despite being one of the smallest states by area, it ranks fourth in Muslim population and third in Muslim population share at 3.34%. The state’s 141 mosques serve communities concentrated in Paterson, Jersey City, Edison, and the suburbs of North Jersey.

Paterson — sometimes called “Little Ramallah” — has one of the densest Arab American populations outside of Michigan. Meanwhile, Central New Jersey is home to a large South Asian Muslim community, with Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian Muslim families making up a significant share of the population in towns like Edison, Woodbridge, and Old Bridge.

New Jersey also has a strong network of Islamic schools and weekend programs, and the state has seen a steady rise in Muslim candidates running for and winning local office in recent years.

5. Texas

Estimated Muslim Population: 313,209 (1.06% of state)

Texas rounds out the top five with over 313,000 Muslims. The community is spread across Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, with Houston’s Muslim population being particularly large and diverse. The Houston area alone has more than 80 mosques.

With 224 mosques statewide — the third-highest count in the nation — Texas reflects a community built largely by professional immigration. South Asian doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs have been a driving force, alongside Arab, Somali, and West African newcomers in recent decades.

Texas is also home to several prominent Muslim institutions, including the Islamic Society of North America’s regional hubs and multiple full-time Islamic schools. The state’s Muslim population share (1.06%) is relatively low because of Texas’s massive overall population of nearly 30 million.

6. Michigan

Estimated Muslim Population: 241,828 (2.37% of state)

Michigan’s Muslim community may be smaller in total numbers than the top five, but its cultural footprint is outsized. That is almost entirely because of Dearborn and Hamtramck, two cities in the Detroit metro area that have become national symbols of Muslim American life.

Dearborn is home to an estimated 59,000 Muslims — roughly 54% of the city’s population of about 110,000 — and houses the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in North America. In 2023, Dearborn officially became the first Arab-majority city in the United States. Nearby Hamtramck, where Muslims now make up over 70% of residents, elected an all-Muslim city council in 2021.

Michigan’s Muslim community is predominantly Arab American (Lebanese, Iraqi, Yemeni), but also includes significant Bangladeshi, Bosnian, and African American Muslim populations. The state is a frequent stop for national Muslim organizations and a key political battleground.

7. Maryland

Estimated Muslim Population: 188,914 (3.10% of state)

Maryland has the fourth-highest Muslim population share in the country at 3.10%, bolstered by its proximity to Washington, D.C. Many Maryland Muslims work in the federal government, international organizations, and the tech sector in the D.C.-Baltimore corridor.

The state’s Muslim population is spread across Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the Baltimore area. The community is ethnically diverse, with large numbers of Pakistani, Ethiopian, Somali, Egyptian, and West African Muslims. The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS Center), which straddles the Virginia-Maryland border, is one of the largest mosques in the region.

Maryland has also seen growing Muslim political engagement. The state is home to several Muslim-American advocacy organizations and has been a proving ground for Muslim candidates at the local and state level.

8. Virginia

Estimated Muslim Population: 169,371 (2.00% of state)

Virginia mirrors Maryland in many ways, with its Muslim community anchored in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County are home to the bulk of the state’s Muslim residents.

In 2025, Virginia made national history when Ghazala Hashmi won the race for lieutenant governor — becoming the first Muslim woman to win statewide office anywhere in the United States. It was a breakthrough that reflected the growing political power of Virginia’s Muslim voters, who are concentrated in the vote-rich suburbs of the D.C. metro area.

The Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church is one of the most prominent mosques in the region. Virginia is also home to the International Institute of Islamic Thought and several Islamic universities and seminaries.

9. Pennsylvania

Estimated Muslim Population: 149,561 (1.15% of state)

Pennsylvania’s Muslim population is split between two urban centers: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia has the larger and older community, with deep roots in the African American Muslim tradition. The city played a key role in the early growth of American Islam, and Warith Deen Mohammed’s movement had a strong base there.

Today, Philadelphia’s Muslim community also includes large numbers of South Asian, Arab, and West African immigrants. The city has a network of mosques, Islamic schools, and halal businesses, particularly along Chestnut Street and in the neighborhoods of West and North Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh’s Muslim community is smaller but growing, anchored by the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh and a large student Muslim population at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

10. Massachusetts

Estimated Muslim Population: 131,749 (1.90% of state)

Massachusetts rounds out the top 10 with nearly 132,000 Muslims, a population concentrated in the Greater Boston area. The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury is the largest mosque in New England and serves as a central gathering point for the community.

Boston’s Muslim population benefits from the city’s status as a global education hub. Students and faculty at Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and other institutions form a significant part of the community, and many stay after graduation. The state also has Somali, Moroccan, and South Asian immigrant communities in cities like Springfield, Worcester, and Lowell.

Massachusetts is one of only ten states where Muslims make up at least 1.9% of the population, and the community’s professional and academic orientation gives it political influence that exceeds its raw numbers.

Notable Mentions

Several states narrowly missed this list. Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the country (about 107,000 people of Somali descent as of 2024), has a Muslim population estimated at over 2% of the state. Minneapolis-St. Paul has become a national center for Somali American culture and commerce. Florida, with 157 mosques, has a fast-growing Muslim community across the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa metro areas. And Georgia — particularly metro Atlanta — has seen some of the steepest Muslim population growth of any region, driven by Sunbelt migration and African and South Asian immigration.

Key National Trends in 2026

Population Growth

The U.S. Muslim population has grown from an estimated 2.35 million in 2007 to approximately 4.45 million in 2020, according to the U.S. Religion Census. Pew Research Center projects continued growth, with Muslims expected to surpass Jews as the second-largest religious group in America by the early 2040s.

Political Power

The 2025 election cycle was a record-breaker: at least 42 Muslim Americans won races nationwide, according to CAIR — the highest number in U.S. history. That includes five mayors, four state legislators, two judges, and dozens of local officials. Four Muslims now serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Suburban Shift

Muslim communities are increasingly suburban. The 2020 U.S. Mosque Survey found that mosques in small towns declined from 20% in 2010 to just 6% in 2020, while suburban mosques grew significantly. This mirrors broader American demographic trends — and it means Muslim political influence is increasingly concentrated in swing-district suburbs.

Mosque Growth

The U.S. had 2,769 mosques as of the 2020 Mosque Survey, a 31% increase from 2,106 in 2010. New York (343), California (304), and Texas (224) lead the nation. The total is likely above 3,000 by 2026, based on the growth trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Muslims live in the United States in 2026?

The most recent nationwide count comes from the 2020 U.S. Religion Census, which estimated 4.45 million Muslims. Factoring in population growth, current estimates range from 4.5 to 5 million. Pew Research Center estimates Muslims make up slightly more than 1% of the U.S. adult population.

Which state has the highest percentage of Muslims?

Illinois leads with 3.71% of its population identifying as Muslim, followed by New York (3.62%), New Jersey (3.34%), and Maryland (3.10%). By contrast, the states with the highest raw numbers — California and Texas — have lower percentages because of their large overall populations.

What is the most Muslim city in America?

By percentage, Hamtramck, Michigan is considered the first Muslim-majority city in the U.S., with over 70% Muslim residents. Dearborn, Michigan is about 54% Muslim and has the largest mosque in North America. For more on Muslim communities in specific cities, see our top 10 U.S. cities with the largest Muslim populations.

How many mosques are there in the United States?

The 2020 U.S. Mosque Survey counted 2,769 mosques, up 31% from 2,106 in 2010. Growth has continued since then, and the current total is estimated to exceed 3,000.

Where do most Muslim immigrants to the U.S. come from?

About 72% of American Muslims are immigrants or second-generation Americans. The largest source countries include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Somalia, and Iran. The community also includes a large African American Muslim population with roots going back to the early 20th century.

Are Muslim communities in the U.S. growing?

Yes. The Muslim population has roughly doubled since 2007 and continues to grow through immigration and natural increase. Pew Research projects that Muslims will make up about 2.1% of the U.S. population by 2050, surpassing Jews as the nation’s second-largest religious group.