Report: 1/5 of EU will be Muslim by 2050
Telegraph says findings led to allegations that policy-makers failing to confront widespread challenges of 'demographic time bomb'
Rising levels of immigration from Muslim countries and low birth rates among Europe's indigenous population means that by 2050 the total population of the 27 EU countries will be 20% Muslim, according to forecasts cited by the London-based Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
Data gathered by the Telegraph indicate that Britain, Spain and Holland will have an even higher proportion of Muslims in a shorter amount of time.
Last year the figure stood at 5%, the London-based daily reported.
The report said that Britain, which currently has 20 million fewer people than Germany, is also projected to be the EU's most populous country by 2060, with 77 million people.
"The findings have led to allegations that policy-makers are failing to confront the widespread challenges of the 'demographic time bomb'," the Telegraph said in its report.
The British daily quoted experts as saying that there has been a lack of debate on how the population changes will affect areas of life from education and housing to foreign policy and pensions.
"Although some polls have pointed to a lack of radicalization in the Muslim community, little attention is being given to the integration of migrants, it is claimed, with fears of social unrest in years to come," according to the report.
