A global Pew Research Survey of 36 countries released March 26 revealed a striking trend: while many people raised as Christians are leaving their faith, nearly all Muslims remain within Islam. Most of these religious conversions to Islam are happening in the United States—and notably, many are former Christians.
The U.S. has the world’s highest conversion rate to Islam, with 20% of Muslim Americans saying they were raised in another faith or with no religion at all. Among these converts, Latinos—mostly of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent—are joining Islam in growing numbers. A 2020 survey found that 9% of converts were Latino, up from 5% in 2017.
Some experts link this trend to shifting family dynamics. Around one-third of Hispanic households are led by single mothers, while Muslims in the U.S. are less likely to be divorced. However, theology appears to play a larger role in conversions. About 95% of Latino Muslim converts cited monotheism, and 94% said they sought a more direct connection to God.
Organizations like IslamInSpanish in Houston are actively reaching out to Latino communities. In 2021, they opened what they claim is the first Spanish-language mosque in the U.S., helping bridge culture and faith.
Dr. Craig Considine, a Catholic and Islamic Studies lecturer at Rice University, described Islam’s appeal to disillusioned Catholics: “Daily prayer, bans on alcohol and gambling—it’s food for the soul and brain.” He noted Islam’s strong sense of community mirrors what Irish and Italian Catholics once built in America.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church’s response to this shift has been lackluster. Author Robert Spencer criticized the Church for doing “absolutely nothing” to counter conversions, blaming post-Vatican II confusion and Pope Francis’ interfaith gestures for weakening evangelistic efforts. “While Muslims work to convert Catholics, Church leaders assume Muslims are partners in faith,” he warned.
In places like South Florida, with a high Hispanic population, the trend is especially visible. Wilfredo Ruiz, a Puerto Rican convert and CAIR attorney, pointed to cultural ties between Latinos and Islam: “Our language has over 4,000 Arabic-derived words. Rediscovering Islam feels like reconnecting with our roots.”
Globally, Spain—once a Catholic stronghold—has seen the sharpest losses from "religious switching". Outside the U.S., Kenya also showed a notable rate of conversion to Islam.
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Dr. Jules Gomes, (BA, BD, MTh, PhD), has a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Cambridge. Currently a Vatican-accredited journalist based in Rome, he is the author of five books and several academic articles. Gomes lectured at Catholic and Protestant seminaries and universities and was canon theologian and artistic director at Liverpool Cathedral. This article has been cross-posted with the author’s permission from The Stream.