Majority of Muslims prefer a secular state

A study by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) analyzing constitutions in the “Muslim world” concludes that the majority of Muslims in the world by sheer numbers, at least, prefer living within a nation where a secular constitution is dominant.

According to the study (an update of one done in 2005), approximately 44% of the world’s Muslim population live in 23 majority Muslim countries that have declared Islam to be the state religion.

However, the remaining 56% live in countries that either proclaim the state to be secular or make no pronouncements concerning an official state religion.

The USCIRF 2012 study can be read here.