Snapshot of Muslims in America

Al-Jazeerah Arabic  الجزيرة

Arab Cartoonists

Articles

Columnists

Contact us

Documents

Editorials 

Essays

Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine

Islam

letters to the editor

Media Watch

Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah

News Photos

News Archives 

Opinion Editorials

Poetry

Women in News


 

Cornell University Study on American Muslims 

 

  • Survey design and analysis by Cornell University
  • Mailing list by ISNA and CAIR
  • Research sponsored by Bridges TV
  • Survey sent to 5,000 random recipients
  • Industry average: 3% to 5% response rate
  • Cornell University study: 15% response rate
  • Is high response rate proxy for high demand for TV
  • The study has heavier Immigrant Muslim bias.
  • Survey conducted in April 2002

 

8 Million Muslims in North America

Four Even Quadrants

National Average1

African American

24%

Arab Americans

26%

South Asian

26%

All Other

25%

Total

100%

 

  • 7 million in the U.S.; 1 million in Canada.
  • Larger than Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland & Sweden.
  • Annual growth rate of 6% versus 0.9% for total U.S.2
  • Interaction between Indigenous and Immigrant Muslims is limited.
  • Same size community as Hispanics 25 years ago. 

1Zogby International, August 2000           2 U.S. Census Data 2000

 

American Muslims are Younger

  • 67% of adult American Muslims are under 40 years old
  • 67% of the adult American population is over 40 years old3
  • American Muslims are younger and future of America: 

 

Adult Age

American Muslim1

American Muslims2

Total Americans3

18-29

39.8%

26.1%

14.1%

30-49

49.5%

52.4%

31.1%

50-64

6.4%

16.7%

27.7%

65+

1.0%

4.8%

27.2%

 

1Cornell University   2Zogby International, August 2000           3 U.S. Census Data 2000

 

American Muslims are Well-Educated

  • 67% of American Muslims have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • 44% of Americans have a Bachelor’s degree or higher3
  • The Variance for Advanced Degrees is even greater.
  • One in ten American Muslim HH has a physician / medical doctor 

 

Maximum Education

American Muslims1

American Muslims2

Total Americans3

Advanced Degree

42.7%

32.1%

8.6%

Bachelor’s

35.2%

30.0%

35.1%

Some College

9.5%

19.4%

32.3%

High School

10.1%

14.1%

18.9%

No HS Diploma

2.4%

4.7%

4.7%

 

1Cornell University   2Zogby International, August 2001     3 Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 2001 

 

American Muslims are Affluent

  • U.S. Average income is $42,158 per year (U.S. Census 2000)
  • 66% of American Muslim HH’s earn over $50,000 / year
  • 26% of American Muslim HH’s earn over $100,000 / year
  • Annual Household Income range for American Muslims: 

 

Annual Income

% of HH

Cumm

Under $25,000

13%

100%

$25K-$50K

21%

87%

$50K-75K

22%

66%

$75K-100K

18%

44%

$100K-$150K

14%

26%

$150K-250K

7%

12%

Over $250K

5%

5%

 

Source: Cornell University April 2002

 

Top 10 Occupations of American Muslims

 

Rank

Occupation

Percent

1

Student

20.2%

2

Engineer

12.4%

3

Physician/Dentist

10.8%

4

Homemaker

10.0%

5

Programmer

7.0%

6

Corporate Manager

6.4%

7

Teacher

6.4%

8

Small Business Owner

4.4%

9

Researcher

4.1%

10

Admin. Assistant

2.8%

 

Total

84.5%

Source: Cornell University April 2002

Under-Represented Occupation

s for Muslims

Occupation

Percent

Journalist/Editor

1.1%

Attorney/Lawyer

0.8%

Director/Producer/Actor

0.6%

 

  • American Muslims are under-represented in occupations that  make public policy and influence public opinion
  • Few American Muslims pursue Print/TV/Film media
  • American Muslims are unlikely to be in state legislatures and courts where laws are made and practiced. 

Source: Cornell University April 2002

Market Analysis of American Muslims

  • A sizable market with 8 million people
  • 2.3 million households in North America
  • Growing at 6% annual growth rate.
  • Will double to 16 million by 2014.
  • Bigger than Norway, Finland, Denmark or Sweden.
  • Growth Factors: birth rates, conversions & immigration.
  • A younger, well-educated and affluent target market.
  • 25% larger family size than U.S. average.

Source: Cornell University April 2002.

 

 

 


http://www.aljazeerah.info

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.