The world's fastest-growing religion is ...

By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor

Updated 2328 GMT (0728 HKT) April 3, 2015

The annual Hajj pilgramage draws more than 2 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – The annual Hajj pilgramage draws more than 2 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world.
Hide Caption
1 of 8
Handling a crowd of that magnitude hasn't always been easy, especially in light of public health scares and terrorism threats. To accomplish such a feat goes off without a hitch, Saudi has had to go high-tech.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – Handling a crowd of that magnitude hasn't always been easy, especially in light of public health scares and terrorism threats. To accomplish such a feat goes off without a hitch, Saudi has had to go high-tech.
Hide Caption
2 of 8
Saudi officials have long employed live crowd analytics software CrowdVision to manage the throng with real-time data.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – Saudi officials have long employed live crowd analytics software CrowdVision to manage the throng with real-time data.
Hide Caption
3 of 8
While various health crises -- namely MERS and Ebola -- have cast a shadow over this year's proceedings, organizers employed a medical army to address any health issues that might arise.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – While various health crises -- namely MERS and Ebola -- have cast a shadow over this year's proceedings, organizers employed a medical army to address any health issues that might arise.
Hide Caption
4 of 8
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this year there were 180 ambulances on standby, as well as 22,000 health care professionals, 141 health centers, 25 hospitals with 5,250 beds, and 19,000 units of varying blood types.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this year there were 180 ambulances on standby, as well as 22,000 health care professionals, 141 health centers, 25 hospitals with 5,250 beds, and 19,000 units of varying blood types.
Hide Caption
5 of 8
Traffic used to be a much bigger problem around the holy sites. Authorities have 15,000 buses on standby. A metro line completed in 2011 has helped to take some of the burden off the roads.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – Traffic used to be a much bigger problem around the holy sites. Authorities have 15,000 buses on standby. A metro line completed in 2011 has helped to take some of the burden off the roads.
Hide Caption
6 of 8
To safeguard against the possibility of a terrorist attack, officials installed thousands of CCTV cameras throughout Saudi Arabia, focusing on the holy sites, and employed facial recognition technology.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – To safeguard against the possibility of a terrorist attack, officials installed thousands of CCTV cameras throughout Saudi Arabia, focusing on the holy sites, and employed facial recognition technology.
Hide Caption
7 of 8
They also employed 60,000 security troops.
Photos:
Managing the crowds at the Hajj – They also employed 60,000 security troops.
Hide Caption
8 of 8
Hajj crowds Mecca grand mosqueHajj crowds Mecca grand mosqueHajj Saudi crowd at Grand MosqueHajj Saudi face masksHajj Saudi face masksHajj Saudi Arabia traffic Hajj Saudi security contorl roomHajj Saudi police force

Story highlights

  • Islam, the world's fastest-growing faith, will leap from 1.6 billion to 2.76 billion by 2050, according to the Pew study
  • Study collected data from 234 countries and territories; predicts fate of five major faiths -- Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam -- as well as folk religions and atheists

(CNN)If tech futurists are to be believed, by the year 2050, robots will do many of our errands and drive our cars. If a new study on religious trends is to be believed, many of those robot-controlled cars will stop and park at mosques and churches.

Yes, despite predictions that religion will go the way of dinosaurs, the size of almost every major faith -- sorry, Buddhists -- will increase in the next 40 years, according to a study released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
    The biggest winners, Pew predicts, will be Islam and Christianity.
      More than 1,000 people formed a "ring of peace" around the Norwegian capital's synagogue on February 21, 2015. Young Muslims took the initiative after a series of attacks against Jews in Europe.
      Photos: Muslims form 'Ring of peace' at Oslo synagogue
      More than 1,000 people formed a "ring of peace" around the Norwegian capital's synagogue on February 21, 2015. Young Muslims took the initiative after a series of attacks against Jews in Europe.
      Photos: Muslims form 'Ring of peace' at Oslo synagogue
      More than 1,000 people formed a "ring of peace" around the Norwegian capital's synagogue on February 21, 2015. Young Muslims took the initiative after a series of attacks against Jews in Europe.
      Hide Caption
      1 of 4
      The peaceful protest follows the shooting at a free speech debate and synagogue in Denmark that left <a href="http://cnn.com/2015/02/14/europe/denmark-shooting/">two people dead and five wounded.</a>
      Photos: Muslims form 'Ring of peace' at Oslo synagogue
      The peaceful protest follows the shooting at a free speech debate and synagogue in Denmark that left two people dead and five wounded.
      Hide Caption
      2 of 4