This week, the Pew Research Center released a new report on Muslim Americans. There are 1.4 million (0.6%) estimated Muslim Americans age 18+ currently living in the United States. Some interesting statistics about them are:

Origins

• 65% are foreign-born
• 35% are native-born
  >> 7% second-generation
  >> 28% third-generation+

Gender

• 54% Male
• 46% Female

Age

• 30% 18-29
• 26% 30-39
• 31% 40-54
• 13% 55+

Religion

• 77% have always been a Muslim
• 23% converted to Islam
  >> 67% of Muslim converts in the U.S. came from Protestant churches
  >> 49% of Muslim converts in the U.S. were converted before age 21
• 72% say religion is “very important” in “my life”
  >> vs. 60% (-12%) of U.S. Christians
• 61% pray every day
  >> vs. 70% (+9%) of U.S. Christians
• 40% attend mosque at least once a week
  >> vs. 45% (+5%) of U.S. Christians attending church at least once a week

Mindsets

• 51% are very concerned about the rise of Islamic extremism globally
• 47% say they think of themselves first as a Muslim, rather than as an American
  >> vs. 42% (-5%) of U.S. Christians think of themselves first as a Christian, rather than as an American
• 28% say they think of themselves first as Americans
  >> vs. 48% (+20%) of U.S. Christians think of themselves first as Americans
• 8% say suicide bombings against civilian targets are justifiable often (1%) or sometimes (7%) in order to defend Islam
  >> 15% under age 30 say they are justifiable
  >> 6% age 30 or older say they are justifiable
• Muslim Americans under the age of 30 are much more religiously observant and more accepting of Islamic extremism than are older Muslim Americans.

Hardships

• 26% say that people have acted suspicious of them
• 25% have been a victim of discrimination as a Muslim in the U.S.
• 15% have been called an offensive name

For more insight, read the full 108 page report. If the American church wants to reach Muslim Americans, it is important that they take the time to understand them.

Additional Reading:
- Competing Religions :: Christianity vs. Islam
- Islam and Community 

[via DallasNews Religion]