The Geopolitics of the Muslim World,

The Concept of Muslim World and Islamic World

 The terms "Muslim world" and "Islamic world" refer to the global community of individuals who practice Islam. In a modern geopolitical context, these terms typically refer to countries where Islam is widely practiced, although there is no standardized definition for inclusion. The term "Muslim-majority countries" is often used as an alternative.

History and Development of the Muslim World

The Muslim world has a rich and diverse history that spans over 1,400 years and encompasses a range of social, political, and cultural developments. Muslims follow the teachings of the Quran and believe in the prophecy of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which has resulted in the formation of different sects within Islam. The Islamic conquests established a powerful Arab empire across three continents, which had a profound impact on the Muslim world. In recent times, most Muslim-majority countries were colonized by European powers, and the post-colonial nations have adopted a variety of political and economic systems, influenced by both secular and religious forces.

Economic Status of the Muslim World

The combined GDP of 49 Muslim majority countries was $5.7 trillion in 2013, contributing 8% to the world's total. In 2020, the economy of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 member states, had a combined GDP of $22-$28 trillion, equal to 22% of the world GDP. 24.1% of the world population, or 1.8 billion people, identify as Muslim, with the highest percentage (91%) in the Middle East-North Africa region and the lowest (1%) in the Americas.

Demographic Distribution of the Muslim World

Muslims are mainly divided into Sunni (87-90%) and Shia (10-13%) denominations, with smaller groups such as Ibadis and non-denominational Muslims. The largest Muslim-majority country is Indonesia, where 13% of the world's Muslims reside, and the largest Muslim population in the world is in South Asia, where 31% of Muslims live. 

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There are also significant Muslim populations in the Middle East-North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Americas, Russia, China, and Europe. Islam is the fastest-growing major religion due to high birth rates and China and Nigeria have the second and largest Muslim populations outside of Muslim-majority countries.