Muslim population in Austria sees strong upward growth

The number of Muslims living in Austria rose rapidly to reach an approximate 700,000 people, or 8 percent of the population, figures from the Interior Ministry showed Thursday.

As official statistics are estimates. The last time such statistics were taken in 2001, the total was 346,000, meaning the Muslim population has since doubled, data showed.

The ministry had most recently assumed about 600,000 Muslims to be in the country.

Reasons for the strong growth in numbers have been migration to Austria, a high birth rate, as well as about 100,000 refugees who came to Austria during the recent migrant crisis, the vast majority of whom were Muslims.

Of the 8.77 million people living in the country, the vast majority are still Roman Catholic, numbering 5.16 million or 59 percent of the total.

Orthodox Christians number is about 500,000, evangelicals about 303,000, and the Jewish community about 15,000. Endit