When we talk about global migration, Muslim immigrants make up a big part of the story. Out of all international migrants, about 80 million are Muslims — that’s nearly a third of the world’s migrant population. They’ve spread to almost every continent, building communities, businesses, and cultural hubs. And yes, one of the surprising cultural exports that grew alongside them is hookah (shisha) culture.
Germany: Around 5.5 million Muslims live there (about 6–7% of the population), many from Turkey and the Middle East.
France: Roughly 5–6 million Muslims, mostly from North Africa, making it the biggest Muslim community in Western Europe.
UK: Muslim communities are concentrated in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and keep growing.
USA: A smaller share (about 1% of adults), but diverse — from African American Muslims to immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Canada: The Muslim population jumped to almost 5% of the population by 2021, more than double what it was in 2001.
Australia: Around 3% of the population, mostly living in big cities.
Everywhere, growth happens not only because of new arrivals, but also higher birth rates and family reunification.
Muslim immigrants didn’t just bring their languages, food, and traditions — they also carried hookah culture with them. Once found mostly in the Middle East or South Asia, now you can find shisha cafés in Berlin, London, Toronto, Los Angeles, Sydney — basically everywhere.
This isn’t just social life — it’s big business. The hookah/shisha market keeps expanding, with flavored tobacco, coconut charcoal, and herbal alternatives in demand. For Indonesia, that’s an opportunity: our coconut charcoal is already famous for being clean-burning and perfect for shisha.
What’s inspiring is how this culture has become truly global — bringing people together across countries and backgrounds. Indonesia, with its world-class coconut products, plays an important role in supporting this lifestyle, supplying the high-quality charcoal that fuels shisha worldwide.
Yes, challenges and debates around immigration exist in many countries, but alongside them we also see cooperation, shared experiences, and business opportunities. Despite differences, we can hope every country finds a peaceful way forward — and Indonesia continues to contribute positively to this global story.
At MinaCharcoal, we are proud to be part of this growing culture. By providing the best product, the best service, and a commitment to going global, we want to support the shisha community worldwide. Our coconut charcoal is more than just fuel — it’s a piece of Indonesia connecting with people everywhere who gather around the hookah.
