Rising Religious Conservatism Among Young Muslims in France Revealed by New IFOP Survey

A recent survey conducted by the French polling institute IFOP highlights a significant increase in religious rigorism and conservatism among young Muslims in France. As of 2025, Muslims constitute 7% of the adult population in France, with one in four identifying as "extremely" or "very" religious. This trend is particularly pronounced in the 15-24 age group, where 30% consider themselves very religious.

The survey results, collected between August and September 2025 from 1,005 self-identified Muslims within a larger national sample, reveal that over half of young Muslims prioritize Islamic rules over French secular laws, indicating a preference for Sharia law in this demographic. Furthermore, adherence to religious practices is rising sharply: 83% of young Muslims strictly observe Ramadan, and 50% of Muslim women aged 18-24 now wear the hijab, up from just 16% in 2003.

These findings align with a broader shift towards stricter interpretations of Islam among the youth and contrast with older Muslim generations, who exhibit less religious rigorism. The study also points to a hardening of positions on gender mixing and a growing sympathy towards radical currents within political Islam.

The survey has reignited debates on Islam in France, coinciding with the November 2015 jihadist attack commemorations and incidents such as the May 2025 killing of Aboubakar Cissé inside a mosque. François Kraus, IFOP’s political and news division director, emphasized that these data challenge narratives of secularization among French Muslims, instead revealing intensifying religious practices amid concerns about integration and social cohesion.

The emerging religiosity and rigorism among young Muslims raise important questions regarding interfaith relations and the future of societal integration in France, signaling potential challenges for the French Republic’s secular framework.