Demographic Shift of Europe: Spain witnessed 10 times increase in Muslim Population in last 3 decades

The experts have analysed that Europe faces a rapid transition in its demography. Recently, the Secretary of the Islamic Commission of Spain said that the Muslim population living in Spain has increased ten times in the last 30 years, exceeding 2.5 million. According to unofficial figures, about 3 million Muslims are living in Spain.

It has been reported that Mohamed Ajana told Anadolu Agency that Muslim population in Spain, which was seen as purely immigrants in the past, now has an important place among Spanish citizens. He stated that more than one million Muslims in the country are Spanish citizens; some are immigrants and others are of Spanish origin.

Further explaining that Muslims from Morocco, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Senegal, and Algeria are in the majority, he shared the information that the majority of the Muslim population in Spain lives in industrialised regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, and Madrid.

Ajana also said that there are currently 53 Islamic federations serving the Muslim community in Spain and that there are about 2,000 mosques.

He said the main problems that Muslims face are obtaining permits and licenses to construct mosques, the existence of only 40 Muslim cemeteries despite the increase in population, education, and Islamophobia. Spain being the southern frontier of Europe and geographic proximity to the North African region has become an enabler of the modest population of Muslims to dominate the demography now.

Many have anticipated that Europe is also changing culturally, politically and economically. Due to higher birth rates in Muslims and immigration amongst the community still swiftly augmenting. This is easily changing the face of Europe. The non-Muslim population is being outnumbered quickly. The religious composition is too changing the social fabric of European society now. Christianity is the dominant religion, however, Islam is catching up fast.

Spain has also joined the list of European countries where Muslim population has seen exponential rise. The refugee inflow is one the reasons why Europe faced a lot of shifts in the population. The European countries have tightened their policies to control the inflow. However, countries like France, Germany, Belgium, England, the Nordic countries, etc have already begun to view dramatic changes in their population structure. They all are facing the issues and phenomena of extremism and radicalism.