Projected number of Muslims too high, says George Gallup

[David Virtue]

PROJECTED NUMBER OF MUSLIMS MAY BE FAR TOO HIGH

By George Gallup

Although some scholars estimate that the Muslim population is as high
as six million, Gallup surveys over the last decade suggest that the
actual figure is much lower.

A cumulative sample of 25,000 persons, 18 and older, interviewed in
national Gallup surveys between 1990 and 2001 shows 55% of Americans
saying they are Protestants and 25% saying they are Roman Catholics.
Two percent give their religious affiliation as Jewish, while one
percent align themselves with an Orthodox Church. One percent say they
are Mormons. Those who give their affiliation as Muslim falls below one
percent, as do the percentage of Americans who day they are Hindus or
Buddhists.

Over the same period of time, Gallup Youth surveys of teens, 13-17,
also show the percentage of Muslims in this age group to fall under one
percent.

On the basis of these surveys, one could tentatively conclude that the
actual number of Muslims in the total population at the present time
likely approaches three million, about half the figure projected by
some scholars.

END