The presence of Islam in America dates back to the early 16th century when Muslims arrived as part of the Spanish exploration of the Americas. African slaves brought to America during the transatlantic slave trade were also Muslims, and they played an important role in spreading Islam in the United States. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a wave of immigration from Muslim-majority countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. This led to the establishment of Muslim communities throughout the United States. In recent decades, there has also been a significant increase in the number of Muslims coming from South Asia, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. As of 2017, there were an estimated 3.45 million Muslims living in the United States, making up about 1.1% of the total population.