The term Muslim Europe is used for the predominantly Muslim countries of Europe, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Kosovo, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. As well as Muslim majority regions in Europe, including western parts of North Macedonia, Sandžak region within Serbia and Montenegro, Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria,[1] and many Muslim majority republics within Russia such as Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. It is also used for the Muslim community in Europe. Islam has had a historical stronghold in the Balkans since the Ottoman wars in Europe.[2]
The number of Muslims in European countries is estimated at 44 million, or 5% of the total population.[7]