Report on Chinese Muslim population
Beijing, Muharram 14/Apr 19 (IINA), 2000 - The number of Muslims in China is estimated at 200 million at the moment. Muslim traders introduced Islam to China way back in 681 AD, and there are ancient mosques in China that are over a thousand years old.
The Deputy President of the Chinese Muslim Society told ALDAWA that there are 3,500 mosques in China at the moment, with the number of Imams standing at 4,000. He said that Muslims in China are now living in state of relief and openness, particularly for the last twenty years, adding that before that they were being persecuted and oppressed. He said now new mosques are being built, and the number of Muslims is on the increase in the country as a whole, with many Muslims attending mosques and prayers regularly.
The Deputy President of the Chinese Muslim Society went on to say that there nine Islamic universities in China at the moment, and attached to every mosque is a Quran schools. This means that there are 3,500 Quran schools, in which the Quran, Hadith and the Islamic doctrine are being taught, with attendance being on the increase. Furthermore, he said, there are Chinese Muslim students pursuing further Islamic Studies at universities in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria, at the same time learning the Arabic language.
The majority of Chinese Muslims are involved in commerce and industry, and cooperation between China and Islamic countries has its salutary and positive effect on the Muslim community in China, said the Deputy President.
He appealed for an increase in the number of scholarships that are extended to Chinese students, and also support for Islamic schools and universities, in addition to the sending of Daawa activists and supporting the Islamic publications that are published in China.
He pointed out that the Chinese government does give support to the Islamic schools, and also repairs mosques.
The official number of Muslims in China is 16 million as of 1980. However the 1949 census place the figure at 45-50 million, and the 1938CE (1356 AH) China Year book put it at 50 million. Given that the population of China has doubled since the 1950's if we are to accept the 1938 and 1949 figures, either the current Muslim population in China is 100 million or the Muslim populatin shrunk by a third whilst the rest of China doubled. Some estimates place the number at 200 million. While other estimates place the number at 400 million.

Mosque's are filled to capacity salah being offered on the street's
In addition figures have been derived based on the China Islamic Association's record of Mosques in 1955CE (1374 AH). In 1955CE (1374 AH) there were approximately 40,000 registered Mosques ,(this figure excludes Musalah).
Given that it takes a congregation of around 500 to create a mosque,

Mosque congregation in China
the number of 40,000* 500 = 20 million. This is considered a underestimate as in Beijing alone there were an estimated 80,000 Muslims spread over 42 mosques. ie 2,000 Muslims per Mosque. Given the tripling of the Population of China, and the one child policy the figure of 40 million is a very conservative figure based on the above evidence

xian mosque

huaisheng mosque