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Australia's Muslim population has grown over the years, with Muslims from over sixty countries settling in the country. The first camel drivers who brought Islam to Australia in the 1860s were known as 'Afghans', although they hailed from several countries. In the 1920s and 1930s, Albanian Muslims immigrated to Australia due to their compatibility with the White Australia Policy. The Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s also led to an influx of Lebanese Muslims, who remain the largest Muslim group in Australia. As of 2016, there were 604,000 Muslims in Australia, making up 2.6% of the population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muslim Population in Australia | 813,392 people (3.2% of the Australian population) as of 2021 |
| Countries of Origin | Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Israel, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Albania, Sudan, Somalia, Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. |
| Australian States with Highest Proportion of Muslims | New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory |
| Cities with Highest Proportion of Muslims | Sydney (5.8%), Melbourne (4.2%) |
| Sects of Islam in Australia | Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Ahmadiyya, Alawite, Alevi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra, Druze |
| Islamic Associations in Australia | Hizb ut-Tahrir, a terrorist-linked Islamist group |
| Islamic Institutions in Australia | Mosques, Islamic schools, Islamic book shops |
| Challenges Faced by Muslims in Australia | Overrepresentation in jails, lower income compared to non-immigrant Australians, struggle with integration, anti-Muslim attitudes and violence |
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What You'll Learn
Muslim population growth in Australia
Islam was first formally established in Australia with the arrival of camel drivers in 1860, and later in 1866. These men, usually referred to as 'Afghans', brought camels for the Burke and Wills expedition and settled near Alice Springs, intermarrying with the Indigenous population. In the 1920s and 1930s, Albanian Muslims immigrated to Australia, reviving the Muslim community, which until that time had been in decline. During this period, Australia's immigration policy was broadened, allowing the acceptance of displaced white European Muslims, particularly from the Balkans.
In the 1970s, larger-scale Muslim migration began with the influx of Lebanese Muslims, which intensified during the Lebanese Civil War. Between 1971 and 1976, the number of Lebanese Muslims in Australia grew from 22,311 (0.17% of the population) to 45,200 (0.33%). Lebanese Muslims remain the largest and most prominent Muslim group in Australia, although Lebanese Christians form the majority of Lebanese Australians.
According to the 2016 Census, there were 604,200 Muslims in Australia, comprising 2.6% of the total population. This figure increased to 813,392 people or 3.2% of the population in the 2021 Census. Despite this growing presence, Australians tend to overestimate the size of the Muslim population in their country. A 2018 poll revealed that respondents believed Muslims made up 17% of the population when the actual figure was closer to 3%.
On a global level, Muslims have the highest fertility rate, with an average of 3.1 children per woman, contributing to the growth of the Muslim population in various countries. In the coming decades, the growth of Islam is expected to occur in regions with high fertility rates, such as sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the relatively younger age distribution of Muslims worldwide is another factor contributing to their projected faster growth compared to the overall world population.
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Muslim migration history
According to the 2021 Census, Muslims comprise 3.2% of the Australian population, or 813,392 people. This is a notable increase from the 2016 Census, which recorded 604,200 Muslims, or 2.6% of the population.
Muslims were among the earliest settlers of Norfolk Island when it was a British penal colony in the early 19th century. They arrived as early as 1796, having been employed on British ships. They eventually left the island and moved to Tasmania. From the mid-to-late 19th century, "Afghan" camel drivers migrated to Australia, coinciding with the country's importation of camels from 1840. Camels were used for exploration and, later, for transport in the vast deserts.
Between 1967 and 1971, during the dismantling of the White Australia policy, around 10,000 Turkish citizens settled in Australia. The government's attitude towards immigration shifted significantly in the 1970s, and with the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, a more multicultural approach was adopted. This shift paved the way for larger-scale Muslim migration, with Lebanese Muslims constituting a significant group from 1975 onwards. The Lebanese Civil War contributed to this, with the Lebanese Muslim population increasing from 22,311 (0.17%) in 1971 to 45,200 (0.33%) in 1976.
The diverse backgrounds of Muslim immigrants have shaped a pluralistic Islamic culture in Australia. According to Professor Michael Humphrey, the marginalisation experienced by Muslim working-class migrants has influenced much of the community's cultural and organisational aspects. While Australia's migration policy anticipated that migrants would assimilate and minimise their cultural expressions, the host society has often viewed Muslims as a force of "cultural resistance" against the perceived multicultural and secular nature of Australian culture.
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Islamophobia in Australia
According to the 2021 Census, Muslims comprise 3.2% of the Australian population, or 813,392 people. This is an increase from 2.6% in the 2016 Census, which equated to 604,200 people. Despite this, Australians have been shown to overestimate the size of the Muslim population in the country. A 2018 poll by Fairfax-Ipsos found that respondents believed Muslims made up 17% of the population, when the reality was around 3%. Almost half of the population wanted Muslim immigration cut, and 46% supported reducing immigration from Muslim countries. This indicates a significant level of Islamophobia in Australia.
The rise of militant Islam in Australia has also contributed to increasing Islamophobia, undoing efforts by Muslims to foster positive relations. Various polls and surveys have found high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia. A large-scale poll from 2011 found that 48.6% of Australians had a negative opinion of Islam, while a 2014 survey found that a quarter of Australians held anti-Muslim views, five times higher than for any other religion. Furthermore, 27% of Muslim Australians reported experiencing discrimination, the highest of any religion in the study.
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Muslim demographics in Australia
Islam was first formally established in Australia in the 19th century, when camel drivers from several countries, usually known as 'Afghans', arrived with camels for expeditions and to work on the railways. Since then, Muslims from over sixty countries have settled in Australia, including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Iran, Fiji, Albania, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, among others. As of the 2021 Census, there were 813,392 Muslims in Australia, making up 3.2% of the population. This is an increase from 2016, when 604,000 Muslims made up 2.6% of the population, and from 2011, when 476,000 Muslims made up 2.2% of the population.
The largest groups of Muslim immigrants in Australia are from Lebanon (10%) and Turkey (8%). Muslims have also come from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Iran, and Fiji. Most Australian Muslims are Sunni, although there are small communities of Shias, Sufis, and Ahmadiyya. There are a variety of Islamic associations in Australia, including Hizb ut-Tahrir, a terrorist-linked Islamist group that functions legally in Australia but is outlawed in many Muslim nations.
Muslims face many challenges in Australia. They often earn significantly less than non-immigrant Australians and may not be given the same opportunities as other immigrants. Many struggle to support their families and provide their children with a decent future. Muslims are overrepresented in jails in New South Wales and Victoria, and many struggle to integrate. Anti-Muslim sentiment has grown significantly among Australians since the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the 2005 bombings in Bali, which killed 82 Australians. In some polls, as many as 10% of non-Muslim Australians exhibit hostile attitudes towards Muslims, and Muslim organizations have criticized the Prime Minister's remarks on this issue.
Despite these challenges, Islamic life in Australia is developing. In November 2014, up to 3,000 Shi'a Muslims marched in Sydney on the annual Ashura Procession to mark the death of the prophet's grandson. There are also Muslims from smaller non-mainstream sects of Islam, including approximately 20,000 Alawites from Turkish, Syrian, and Lebanese backgrounds, and an unspecified number of Ismailis. The Druze, a religion that began as an offshoot of 11th-century Ismaili Islam, is reported to have around 20,000 followers in Australia.
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Islamic associations in Australia
Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with around 23% of the global population following it. In Australia, the Muslim population is much smaller, making up 3.2% of the population, or 813,392 people, according to the 2021 Census. This is an increase from 2.6% in 2016, when the Muslim population was 604,200. Despite this, Australians have been shown to overestimate the size of the Muslim population in their country.
There are a number of Islamic associations in Australia, each with its own focus and goals. Here are some of the key organisations:
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC)
AFIC is the national peak Islamic community organisation in Australia, celebrating its 56th anniversary in 2020. It represents and serves the needs of Australian Muslims, aiming to build a society free of discrimination where all people can fulfil their potential. AFIC also runs Halal certification services, ensuring that products meet Islamic requirements.
Muslim Women's Association (MWA)
The MWA was formed in 1983 and includes women activists from Lebanon, Turkey, Singapore, Egypt, and other Muslim countries. The group supports women who suffer from domestic violence or abuse and has established childcare centres in local communities. According to its 2013 annual report, the MWA operates on a yearly budget of approximately $950,000 AUD.
Muslim Women's National Network Australia (MWNNA)
MWNNA is a Sydney-based association representing a network of progressive Muslim women's organisations and individual Muslim women across all ethnic backgrounds. Founded in 1990, it runs events and projects for Muslim women and represents their views to media and government organisations.
Australian National Imams Council (ANIC)
ANIC is the sole national organisation of Imams and Islamic scholars with broad community representation in Australia. It aims to strengthen the Australian Muslim community by preserving Islam and fostering a strong Islamic identity. ANIC organises events, workshops, and training programs, and offers a range of services to support the community.
Islamic Community Milli Görüş Australia (ICMG)
The ICMG is an Islamic community that organises the religious lives of Muslims, aiming to maintain Islamic teachings and communicate religious duties. It also addresses issues regarding Muslims and represents their interests, with the goal of improving their living circumstances and providing for their fundamental rights.
Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia
Based in Bankstown, Sydney, this organisation was established in 2004 as an "independent and moderate, symbol of hope for Australian Sunni Muslims". It is also known as Darul-Fatwa and provides fatwas, or Islamic verdicts.
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Frequently asked questions
As of the 2021 Census, there are 813,392 Muslims in Australia, making up 3.2% of the population.
No. The number of Muslims in Australia increased after its immigration laws were changed in 1975 to accept non-white immigrants. In the 2016 Census, the Muslim population was recorded to be 604,200, or 2.6% of the total population. In 2011, this figure was even lower, with Muslims representing 2.2% of the population.
Australian Muslims have settled from over sixty countries. While a large number come from Bosnia, Turkey, and Lebanon, there are also Muslims from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Iran, Fiji, Albania, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more.
Muslims in Australia often struggle to integrate and are over-represented in jails in New South Wales and Victoria. Anti-Muslim sentiment has grown since the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the 2005 Bali bombings, with some Muslims reporting fear of being mistreated in public and becoming victims of anti-Muslim violence. Muslims in Australia also generally earn significantly less than non-immigrant Australians.
