Which country has no Muslims
Figuring out which country has absolutely zero Muslims isn't as straightforward as you'd think. Depends on how you define "Muslim" — someone who actively practices, or someone who just culturally identifies? Census data gets messy too. Still, if you look at the best demographic research out there, including Pew's big global surveys, Vatican City is the one place everyone agrees has basically no Muslim population. Like, zero.
A handful of other nations and territories show Muslim populations under 0.1%, which is basically statistically invisible. These are mostly tiny island places with unique histories that just never saw a Muslim community take root.
Which country has the smallest percentage of Muslims?
So back in 2010, Pew did this report called "The Future of the Global Muslim Population" and Vatican City clocked in at 0.0%. Makes sense — it's the sovereign territory of the Catholic Church. The people living there are almost all clergy, Swiss Guards, or admin staff, and they're all Catholic. No mosques. No Islamic institutions. Nothing.
Right after Vatican City, you've got a few other spots with 0.0% or effectively zero Muslims:
- Vatican City: 0.0% Muslim
- Montserrat (UK Territory): 0.0% Muslim
- Tokelau (New Zealand Territory): 0.0% Muslim
- Niue (New Zealand Territory): 0.0% Muslim
- Cook Islands (New Zealand Territory): 0.0% Muslim
Are there any countries with zero mosques?
Yeah, a few. Either because there's barely any Muslims around, or because the law just doesn't allow it. Here's the list:
- Vatican City: Already covered — no Muslims, so no mosques needed.
- Slovakia: This one's interesting. Slovakia's the only EU country without a single mosque. Not because nobody wants one — there's a tiny Muslim community, maybe 0.1% of the population — but the law requires 20,000 signatures to register a religious group. They haven't hit that number.
- Monaco: There's a small Muslim population here (around 0.8%), but no official mosques. People just pray at home or drive over to Nice, France.
Is there any country where Islam is illegal?
Honestly, no country has a law that straight-up says "Islam is illegal." But some places make practicing it really hard. The closest you'll get:
- North Korea: The government watches all religious stuff like a hawk. The constitution says there's freedom of religion, but in reality, any organized religious activity gets monitored and squashed. Muslim population? Less than 0.1%. No known mosques.
- Eritrea: Only four religions are recognized: Islam, Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Evangelical Lutheran. Everything else is banned. And even the recognized ones get heavily controlled by the government.
- Maldives: Islam is the state religion, and the constitution says all citizens have to be Muslim. Non-Muslims can't become citizens, and practicing any other religion publicly is illegal.
What is the least religiously diverse country in the world?
Religious diversity — how many different groups have a real presence — gets measured by Pew and others. The least diverse are places where one religion totally dominates. Check this out:
| Country | Dominant Religion | Percentage of Population | Muslim Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vatican City | Christianity (Catholic) | 100% | 0.0% |
| Timor-Leste | Christianity (Catholic) | 99.6% | 0.1% |
| Armenia | Christianity (Armenian Apostolic) | 98.5% | 0.03% |
| Iceland | Christianity (Lutheran) | 98.0% | 0.2% |
| Maldives | Islam (Sunni) | 100% | 100% |
Funny enough, the Maldives is the only one on this list where Islam is the big player — 100% Muslim. So it's the least diverse but in the opposite direction.
Checklist: How to Verify a Country's Muslim Population
If you're digging into this yourself, here's what to keep in mind so you don't get led astray:
- Check multiple sources: Pew Research, CIA World Factbook, national census data.
- Understand the definition: "Muslim" can mean practicing, cultural, or ethnic identification.
- Look for census year: Populations change, so check the date of the data.
- Consider territories: Many "countries with no Muslims" are actually dependent territories (e.g., Tokelau, Niue).
- Check for legal restrictions: Some countries have Muslims but no mosques due to laws.
- Verify with academic studies: University demography departments often have more precise data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Japan a country with no Muslims?
No. Japan's got a small but growing Muslim population — around 200,000 people, which is about 0.15% of the population. There's over 100 mosques there now, most built in the last couple decades.
Does South Korea have any Muslims?
Yeah. About 200,000 Muslims, mostly foreign workers and immigrants. The native Korean Muslim population is tiny, but there are mosques, including the Seoul Central Mosque.
Is there any country where Muslims are not allowed to build mosques?
Yep. In Slovakia, legal hurdles block mosque construction completely. In parts of China, especially Xinjiang, the government has torn down mosques and cracked down on religious practice. And in Bhutan, the government hasn't allowed any mosques, even though there's a small Muslim community.
Which country has the most Muslims?
Indonesia takes the cake — over 230 million Muslims, about 87% of its population. Biggest Muslim-majority country in the world.
Are there any countries where the Muslim population is decreasing?
Yeah, some post-Soviet places like Armenia and Georgia have seen drops due to emigration and low birth rates. In Israel, the Muslim population is actually growing, but in European countries like Bulgaria and Albania, the percentage has gone down because of secularization and people leaving.
Short Summary
- Vatican City is the only country with 0.0% Muslims: Due to its nature as the Catholic Church's headquarters, no Muslim population exists.
- Several territories also have 0% Muslims: Montserrat, Tokelau, Niue, and the Cook Islands report no Muslim residents.
- Slovakia is the only EU country without a mosque: Legal hurdles prevent mosque construction despite a small community.
- No country makes Islam illegal: But North Korea, Eritrea, and Maldives severely restrict religious practice or require Islam as the state religion.
- Least religiously diverse countries: Vatican City (100% Catholic), Timor-Leste (99.6% Catholic), and Maldives (100% Muslim) top the list.

