German Muslims more numerous and integrated in public life, study says

TRIER, Germany (RNS/ENI) Germany has nearly million more Muslims than previous estimates, according to a new study. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Germany concluded that up to 4.3 million people– 5 percent of German’s 82 million people — are Muslims. More than half have German nationality and have integrated into German society […]

TRIER, Germany (RNS/ENI) Germany has nearly million more Muslims than previous estimates, according to a new study.

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Germany concluded that up to 4.3 million people– 5 percent of German’s 82 million people — are Muslims.

More than half have German nationality and have integrated into German society more than had been expected, according to the study.


For instance, nearly half belong to a German society or organization. Social, political, sport and even carnival life in Germany is predominantly organized by societies.

The vast majority of the country’s Muslims — 98 percent — live in former West German territory, including Berlin, the current capital that was divided in the Cold War era.

The study concludes that the willingness of Muslims to integrate is lower than their peers from other religions, who hail from the same countries. The majority of the Muslims questioned for the study called themselves devout. Fourteen percent said they are not religious.

A minority, 20 percent, belong to religious societies or parishes, and only a third of those questioned regularly attend religious events. The Muslim headscarf, which is seen as polarizing in some European countries, is not worn by 70 percent of Muslim women.

The study showed that 76 percent of Muslims favor Islamic religious instruction at schools.

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