Index| Group | Where | Number of Adherents |
% of total pop. |
Number of congreg./ churches/ units |
Number of countries |
Year | Source | Quote/ Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunni | Kuwait | 1,166,900 | 70.00% | - | - | 1983 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 219. | "Population: 1,667,000. Religion: Nearly all Moslems; majority Sunni with about 30% Shi'ite. " |
| Sunni | Kuwait | - | 63.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Kuwait | 940,000 | 80.00% | - | - | 1992 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | 1992 estimate 1,175,000 [total pop.]. Most Kuwaitis are Sunni Muslims. About 20 percent of citizens are Shia Muslims. Most foreigners are also Muslims, the majority Sunni. |
| Sunni | Kuwait | 930,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Kuwait | 825,421 | 45.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%; Total population: 1,834,269 (July 1997 est.) note: includes 1,381,063 non-nationals (July 1997 est.) |
| Sunni | Lebanon | 220,000 | 20.00% | - | - | 1932 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 168. | Table: "Estimated Demographic Change in Lebanon, 1932 - 1980 "; "Based on population of 1.1 million. " |
| Sunni | Lebanon | - | 20.00% | - | - | 1932 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 167. | "A national census in 1932... The census defined the Maronite and the Sunni Moslem communities as the two largest sectarian groups (30% and 20% of the population, respectively)... " |
| Sunni | Lebanon | 468,000 | 18.00% | - | - | 1980 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 168. | Table: "Estimated Demographic Change in Lebanon, 1932 - 1980 "; "Based on population of 2.6 million, not including 350,000 Palestinians. " |
| Sunni | Lebanon | 890,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Libya | 3,630,000 | 99.00% | - | - | 1984 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | Est. 3.63 million [total pop.] (1984). Islam official religion; nearly entire population adheres to Sunni branch of Islam. |
| Sunni | Libya | - | 97.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Libya | 5,280,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Libya | 5,478,908 | 97.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Sunni Muslim 97%; Total pop.: 5,648,359 (July 1997 est.) note: includes 305,959 non-nationals (July 1997 est.). |
| Sunni | Macedonia | 590,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Maldives | - | 100.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Maldives | 266,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Maldives | - | - | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Sunni Muslim; Total pop.: 280,391. |
| Sunni | Maldives | 260,000 | 100.00% | - | - | 1998 | *LINK* "Maldives: Government helps Christianity to undesired popularity " in DAWN Fridayfax 1998 #30; original source: WEF Religious Liberty Conference and others. | The Maldive Islands have a population of some 260,000, and have been an officially 100% Sunnite Moslem nation for over 800 years. |
| Sunni | Maldives | 230,000 | 100.00% | - | - | 1999 | Camerapix. Spectrum Guide to Maldives. Brooklyn, NY: Interlink Books (1999); pg. 17. | "Today over 230,000 Maldivians clearly display a diverse mix of African, Malaysian, Indian and Arabic influence in their facial features... In the twelfth century, Maldives converted to Islam, and today the country is 100 per cent Sunni Muslim. " |
| Sunni | Maldives | - | 100.00% | - | - | 1999 | Camerapix. Spectrum Guide to Maldives. Brooklyn, NY: Interlink Books (1999); pg. 282. | "Religion. Maldives is 100 per cent Sunni Muslim. Islam is the religion of the state and the backbone of society. Only Muslims are allowed to marry or become citizens. " |
| Sunni | Mauritania | 1,800,000 | 99.00% | - | - | 1987 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | Est. 1.8 million [total pop.] (1987). Virtually entire population Sunni Muslims and adhere to Maliki rite. |
| Sunni | Mauritania | 2,320,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Mauritania | 2,200,000 | 100.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 294, 296. | "Location: Mauritania; Population: 2.2 million; Religion: Islam (Sunni Muslim) "; Pg. 296: "All Mauritanians are Sunni Muslims and have adhered to Islam since the 9th century AD. Mauritania's Constitutional Charter of 1985 declared Islam to be the state religion. " |
| Sunni | Mauritius | 168,188 | 15.20% | - | - | 1993 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | 1,106,516 [total pop.] (1993). Hindu (49 percent), Christian (27 percent Roman Catholic, 0.5 percent Protestant), Muslim (16 percent, of which 95 percent Sunni), and other (7.5 percent). |
| Sunni | Mayotte | - | 97.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Mayotte | 119,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | New Caledonia | - | 4.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Niger | - | 80.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Niger | 9,340,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Oman | 226,600 | 20.00% | - | - | 1983 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 220. | "Population: 1,133,000. Religion: Moslem, majority Ibadhi sect, approx. 20% Sunni. "; "Expatriate labor... at least 200,000 workers. Most come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Sri Lanka. " [presumably not counted in pop. totals] |
| Sunni | Pakistan | 100,130,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Pakistan | 101,782,680 | 77.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Total population: 132,185,299 (July 1997 est.) Note: no national census has been conducted since 1981. Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%. |
| Sunni | Qatar | - | - | - | - | 1992 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | 484,387 [total pop.] (1992). Most Qataris follow Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam. Of remaining Muslims, Arabs, Pakistanis, and Afghans are Sunni, while Iranians are mainly Shia. Other religious groups include Hindus (mostly Indian) and Christians. |
| Sunni | Qatar - native | 100,000 | 100.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 646-647. | "There are only about 100,000 native-born Qataris. Most people in Qatar live in the cities... "; Pg. 647: "At least 95% of the total population of Qatar is Islamic, and native-born Qataris are 100% Sunni Muslims of the Wahhabi sect. Wahhabis are a fundamentalist and puritanical branch of Islam which is prevalent in Saudi Arabia. A somewhat more moderate form is found in Qatar. " |
| Sunni | Saudi Arabia | 10,332,630 | 99.00% | - | - | 1983 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 158. | "Population: 10,437,000. Religion: 99% Sunni Moslem. " |
| Sunni | Saudi Arabia | 11,685,000 | 95.00% | - | - | 1992 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | 1992: 16.9 million, of whom 12.3 million Saudi nationals, 4.6 million resident foreigners. Strict Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam, the official faith of about 95 percent of Saudis. Remainder are Shia. Public worship by non-Muslims prohibited. |
| Sunni | Saudi Arabia | 17,590,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Saudi Arabia | 13,600,000 | 85.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 676-677. | "Location: Saudi Arabia; Population: 10 to 16 million "; Pg. 677: "Most Saudis (85%) are Sunni Muslims; the rest are Shiite. " |
| Sunni | Saudi Arabia | 16,000,000 | 100.00% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 676-677. | "Location: Saudi Arabia; Population: 10 to 16 million "; Pg. 677: "Most Saudis (85%) are Sunni Muslims; the rest are Shiite. " |
| Sunni | Senegal | - | 91.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Senegal | 8,020,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Sierra Leone | - | 39.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Sierra Leone | 2,770,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Somalia | - | 100.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Somalia | 6,790,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Somalia | 6,590,325 | 100.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Total population: 6,590,325 (July 1997 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census. Religions: Sunni Muslim. |
| Sunni | Somalia | 7,000,000 | 99.90% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 386. | "Location: Somalia; Population: More than 7 million "; "The official state religion of Somalia is Islam, and almost 100% of the Somali population are Sunni Muslim. " |
| Sunni | Sudan | 18,375,000 | 75.00% | - | - | 1988 | Bratvold, Gretchen (ed). Sudan ...in Pictures (Visual Geography Series). Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lerner Publications Co. (1988); pg. 38, 42. | Pg. 38: "24.5 million inhabitants of Sudan... "; Pg. 42: "Muslims... make up about 75% of the total Sudanese population. Approximately 95% of the northern provinces consist of Arabic-speaking Muslims... Sudanese Muslims are of the Sunni--or traditional--sect... " |
| Sunni | Sudan | 22,680,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Sudan | 22,815,888 | 70.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Total population: 32,594,128. Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum) |
| Sunni | Sudan | 23,485,386 | 70.00% | - | - | 1999 | *LINK* "Statistics - Republic of Sudan " in SIM NOW, April 1999 (vol. #86); (viewed online 6 July 1999); SIM International web site. | "Population: 33,550,552... Religion: 70% Sunni Muslim, 19% Christian, 9.9% traditional religions, 1.1% non-religious " |
| Sunni | Syria | 6,376,500 | 65.00% | - | - | 1983 | Tarr, David R. & Bryan R. Daves (editors). The Middle East (6th Ed.); Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. (1986); pg. 180. | "Population: 9,810,000. Religion: 87% Moslem, 13% Christian. "; "at least 65% of the population are Sunni Moslems. " |
| Sunni | Syria | 7,748,600 | 73.10% | - | - | 1986 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | Approx. 10.6 million in 1986, incl. about 250,000 Palestinian refugees. About 13 to 15 percent of Muslims are Alawis; less than 1 percent, Shias; and remainder, Sunnis. |
| Sunni | Syria | 10,950,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Syria | 11,942,045 | 74.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Total population: 16,137,899. Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo). |
| Sunni | Syria | 9,392,500 | 72.25% | - | - | 1998 | Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 3 - Asia & Oceania. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998); pg. 724-725. | "Location: Syria; Population: about 13 million "; Pg. 725: "The majority religion in Syria is Islam: 85% of the population is Muslim (80-85% Sunni, 11% Alawi)... " |
| Sunni | Tajikistan | 4,760,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Tajikistan | 4,756,722 | 80.00% | - | - | 1997 | *LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) | Total population: 5,945,903. Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5% |
| Sunni | Togo | 520,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Tunisia | - | 99.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | Tunisia | 9,010,000 | - | - | - | 1996 | 1997 Britannica Book of the Year; pg. 781-783. | Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
| Sunni | Turkey | - | 85.00% | - | - | 1988 | *LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: Reach Out to the Muslim World, International Students, Inc. Spring/Summer 1988.); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) | Total population: 51,400,000. Muslim 99.5% (Sunni Muslim 85%, Alevi Shiite, 14%) Christian 0.3 % (Chiefly confined to national and foreign minorities) Other 0.2%. |
| Sunni | Turkey | - | 99.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | United Arab Emirates | - | 80.00% | - | - | 1992 | Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994); pg. 581-584. | Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
| Sunni | United Arab Emirates | 1,425,600 | 64.80% | - | - | 1993 | *LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies | Est. at 2.7 million in mid-1993. Foreigners (mostly male workers) were 88% of pop. Most citizens Sunni Muslims. About 60 percent of foreign population Sunnis; 20 percent Shia Muslims; 20 percent Hindus, Christians, and other. |
