A Californian Muslim family

Pew Research has conducted a nationwide survey of Muslim Americans. Results find a diverse population with decidedly American values and views based, on economic status (middle-class) and education levels (high).

Survey data and available Census Bureau data suggests the total population of Muslims in the US is 2.35 million. Overall, Muslim Americans have a positive outlook on society at large. 71 percent believe that ambitious people in the US can meet their goals if they are willing to work hard.

Approximately 65 percent of adult Muslims were born outside of the United States. A large proportion of these are Arab, Pakistani or South Asian. Among those native-born, roughly half are African-American, a large number of which are converts.

A two-to-one percentage of Muslim Americans, versus Christian Americans, experience no qualms about balancing a devout religious life and modern American living. This is in part because Christians who identify religion as "very important" in their lives are more likely than Muslims to identify with their religion before identifying with their nationality. By roughly two-to-one (59 vs 30 percent), Christians who say religion is very important identify first as Christians.
Despite a variety of sects and practices within the Muslim faith, Muslims are only slightly more likely than Christians to cite religion as "very important" in their lives (72 vs 60 percent) and are almost equally likely to attend religious services during the week (40 percent vs 45 percent).

Moreover, 24 percent of Muslim Americans have a college degree, including 10 percent that have gone on to graduate study. These figures mirror the American population.

Economic figures also closely follow the curve of the populace. 41 percent report a household income of $50,000 or more per year, as do 44 percent of Americans overall. And while 17 percent of Americans report an income of $100,000, 16 percent of Muslim Americans can say the same.
Total levels of support for extremism among Muslim Americans is lower than in other countries, such as Western Europe. 53 percent of Muslim Americans do admit is is harder to be Muslim in the US post-September 11. Most feel the government singles Muslims out for surveillance.

The US-led "war on terror" is considered by few to be a sincere effort to reduce terrorism. 75 percent of Muslim Americans feel the US's entry into Iraq was the wrong decision, versus 47 percent of the American population in general. Only 40 percent believe Arab groups carried out the attacks conducted on 9/11.

Concerns about Muslim extremism among American Muslims are 10 percentage points lower than the American populace overall, at 36 percent vs 46 percent, respectively.

Finally, Muslim Americans are reportedly moderate about divisive Muslim/Westerner issues, and exhibit a strong preference for the Democratic party. Over 72 percent of the Muslim American population voted for Kerry in the 2004 elections.
Image courtesy of usinfo.state.gov.