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The precise number of Muslims in Africa is unknown as statistics regarding religious demography in Africa are incomplete. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest religion in Africa, with Christianity having the second largest number of adherents. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Islam is the largest religion in Africa with about 45 % of the population being Muslims, in contrast to 40 % being Christians and less than 15 % being non-religious or adherents of African traditional religions. Islam is still increasing in Africa as many Africans Bantu speakers embrace Islam especially in the central and eastern part of Africa. The long and rich history in of these religions in the continent has proved to be the source of numerous conflicts, primarily in countries where there is no clear majority, such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire.

History

The history of Islam in Africa begins in the earliest days of Islam, when Muslims fleeing persecution in Mecca arrived in Ethiopia. Islam spread to Africa via passages through the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt and well as through Islamic Arab and Persian traders and sailors. Islam's first muezzin, Bilal ibn Ribah, was also of East African descent.

Islam in Africa probably doubled, between 1869 and 1914.^[1] Despite its large contribution to the makeup of the continent, Islam is predominantly concentrated in North Africa, West Africa and East Africa. This has provided an increasing difference between the culture and laws of different parts of Africa.

Islamic population in Africa

**Islam in Africa**
Region	Total Population	Muslims	% Muslim	% of Muslim total
Central Africa	83,121,055	12.6 million	15.1%	3.1%
East Africa	193,741,900	66.4 million	34.3%	16.5%
North Africa	202,151,323	180 million	89.1%	44.8%
Southern Africa	137,092,019	8.9 million	6.5%	2.2%
West Africa	268,997,245	134.0 million	49.8%	33.3%
Total	885,103,542	402.0 million	44.86%

Islamic population in Africa by country and population percentage

Country	Population
Somalia	100%
Mauritania	100%
Western Sahara	100%
Algeria	99%
Djibouti	99%
Tunisia	98%
Morocco	98.7%
Libya	97%
Senegal	95%
Egypt	90%
The Gambia	90%
Mali	94%
Niger	96%
Guinea	92%
Sudan	81%
Chad	70%
Sierra Leone	65%
Burkina Faso	65%
Nigeria	54%
Eritrea	50%
Ethiopia	33%
Guinea-Bissau	50%
Cote D'Ivoire	60%
Tanzania	51%
Benin	35%
Cameroon	40%
Liberia	30%
Togo	13%
Malawi	40%
Mozambique	50%
Ghana	16%
Rwanda	20%
Uganda	10%
Central African Republic	22%
Gabon	17%
Democratic Republic of the Congo	25%
Namibia	8%
Lesotho	10%
South Africa	11%
Zambia	24%
Angola	5%
Kenya	42%
Botswana	10%
Republic of the Congo	20%
Swaziland	30%
Zimbabwe	6%

References

^ Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0-618-42770-8

islam in the Gambia,98%

[1] Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0-618-42770-8

[1]

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-The precise number of [[Muslims]] in [[Africa]] is unknown as statistics regarding religious demography in Africa are incomplete. According to the [[World Book Encyclopedia]], Islam is the largest religion in Africa, with [[Christianity]] having the second largest number of adherents.  According to [[Encyclopedia Britannica]], Islam is the  largest religion in Africa with about 52 % of the population being Muslims, in contrast to 40 % being Christians and less than 15 % being non-religious or adherents of [[African traditional religion]]s. Islam is still increasing in Africa as many Africans Bantu speakers embrace Islam especially in the central and eastern part of Africa. The long and rich history in of these religions in the continent has proved to be the source of numerous conflicts, primarily in countries where there is no clear majority, such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire.
+The precise number of [[Muslims]] in [[Africa]] is unknown as statistics regarding religious demography in Africa are incomplete. According to the [[World Book Encyclopedia]], Islam is the largest religion in Africa, with [[Christianity]] having the second largest number of adherents.  According to [[Encyclopedia Britannica]], Islam is the  largest religion in Africa with about 45 % of the population being Muslims, in contrast to 40 % being Christians and less than 15 % being non-religious or adherents of [[African traditional religion]]s. Islam is still increasing in Africa as many Africans Bantu speakers embrace Islam especially in the central and eastern part of Africa. The long and rich history in of these religions in the continent has proved to be the source of numerous conflicts, primarily in countries where there is no clear majority, such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire.
 ==History==