Religion in Macedonia - Islam in Macedonia

Islam in Macedonia

Islam has had a significant influence in Macedonia since the Ottoman invasions in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many Turks settled in Macedonia and introduced aspects of Islamic culture. Most Albanians and some ethnic Macedonians converted to Islam, these Macedonian Muslims or Torbeši generally retained their Macedonian culture and customs while many were assimilated as Turks. By the 19th most of the cities were primarily populated by Muslims. The Šarena Džamija in Tetovo is a legacy of the country's Ottoman past. Macedonia's Muslim population was approximately 500,000 in 2002. Today, Muslims form approximately 33,33% of the nation's total population.