Christianity reaches about 2.63 billion people worldwide, and it includes major traditions such as Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Pentecostals/Charismatics. Shared beliefs like the Trinity and the Nicene Creed sit alongside differences in practice—ranging from daily prayer to how strongly Christians view Scripture. This page traces key milestones from the early councils through the Great Schism and shows how faith influences education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid.
Key Takeaways
- Roman Catholics number 1.36 billion, 50% of Christians.
- Eastern Orthodox Christians: 220 million worldwide.
- Anglicans: 85 million members in Anglican Communion.
- 90% of Christians affirm the Trinity as one God in three persons.
- 98% of US Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead bodily.
- 75% of global Christians believe the Bible is the literal word of God.
- The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD established the Nicene Creed, attended by 318 bishops.
- Constantine the Great converted to Christianity in 312 AD after the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
- The Edict of Milan in 313 AD legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire.
- In 2023, the global Christian population reached 2.63 billion, comprising 31.7% of the world's population.
- Christianity is the largest religion globally, with 2.6 billion adherents as of 2020.
- Between 2010 and 2020, the Christian population grew by 1.17%, slower than the global population growth of 1.26%.
- Christian charities provide 40% of global humanitarian aid.
- Christians operate 70% of leprosy hospitals worldwide.
- 34% of US hospitals are faith-based, mostly Christian.
Christianity counts about 2.63 billion people worldwide, and most affirm core beliefs like the Trinity and Jesus’ resurrection.
Related reading
01 · Category
Denominational Data28 stats
01
Roman Catholics number 1.36 billion, 50% of Christians.
02
Eastern Orthodox Christians: 220 million worldwide.
03
Anglicans: 85 million members in Anglican Communion.
04
Pentecostals/Charismatics: 644 million globally in 2023.
05
Baptists: 100 million worldwide.
06
Lutherans: 74 million members.
07
Methodists: 80 million globally.
08
Reformed/Presbyterians: 75 million.
09
Seventh-day Adventists: 22 million members.
10
Jehovah's Witnesses: 8.7 million active members.
11
Mormons (LDS): 17 million members.
12
Oriental Orthodox: 60 million adherents.
13
Evangelicals: 619 million, 24% of Christians.
14
Mainline Protestants: 90 million globally.
15
Non-denominational Christians: 450 million.
16
Coptic Orthodox: 10 million in Egypt alone.
17
Greek Orthodox: 9 million in Greece.
18
Assemblies of God: 69 million members.
19
Church of England: 26 million baptized members.
20
Southern Baptists: 14 million in US.
21
United Methodists: 12 million worldwide.
22
Jehovah's Witnesses publish in 1,000 languages.
23
Pentecostals grew from 1 million in 1900 to 644 million.
24
Catholic Church has 5,300 bishops worldwide.
25
Orthodox have 14 autocephalous churches.
26
Lutheran World Federation unites 148 churches.
27
World Evangelical Alliance represents 600 million.
28
Anglican Communion has 38 provinces.
Interpretation
Denominational Data Interpretation
The denominational picture shows how Christianity is both widely shared and highly diverse, with Roman Catholics alone at 1.36 billion making up about half of Christians while other major groups like Pentecostals or Charismatics at 644 million and Baptists at 100 million add substantial presence.
02 · Category
Doctrinal Beliefs24 stats
01
90% of Christians affirm the Trinity as one God in three persons.
02
98% of US Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead bodily.
03
75% of global Christians believe the Bible is the literal word of God.
04
62% of Christians worldwide pray daily.
05
58% of Christians attend religious services weekly.
06
80% of Catholics believe in transubstantiation of Eucharist.
07
45% of evangelicals believe in young-earth creationism (universe <10,000 years).
08
70% of Christians believe Satan is a real being.
09
65% affirm heaven exists as described in Bible.
10
59% believe hell exists for punishment.
11
92% of Christians believe Jesus is divine and God.
12
51% of US Christians believe Jesus will return in their lifetime.
13
85% hold to salvation by faith alone (sola fide).
14
40% of global Christians engage in speaking in tongues.
15
73% believe Holy Spirit is active in daily life.
16
68% of Pentecostals report divine healing experiences.
17
96% affirm virgin birth of Jesus.
18
89% believe in Jesus' miracles as historical.
19
55% interpret Genesis creation literally (day=24hrs).
20
82% believe prayer changes outcomes.
21
76% affirm original sin doctrine.
22
61% believe in predestination.
23
94% accept Jesus as Savior.
24
49% of evangelicals hold biblical inerrancy.
Interpretation
Doctrinal Beliefs Interpretation
Doctrinally, mainstream Christianity shows remarkable agreement with 90% affirming the Trinity and 98% of US Christians believing in Jesus’ bodily resurrection, yet it diverges more on authority and practice with only 75% viewing the Bible as literal and just 62% praying daily.
03 · Category
Historical Events29 stats
01
The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD established the Nicene Creed, attended by 318 bishops.
02
Constantine the Great converted to Christianity in 312 AD after the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
03
The Edict of Milan in 313 AD legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire.
04
The Great Schism of 1054 split Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
05
The Protestant Reformation began with Martin Luther's 95 Theses in 1517.
06
The Council of Trent (1545-1563) had 25 sessions with over 1,000 participants.
07
The King James Bible was published in 1611, translated by 47 scholars.
08
The First Great Awakening in America spanned 1730s-1740s, led by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.
09
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) produced 16 documents attended by 2,500 bishops.
10
The Crusades consisted of 9 major campaigns from 1095 to 1291.
11
The Inquisition began in 1231 under Pope Gregory IX.
12
The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 mandated annual confession for Catholics.
13
Christianity became the Roman Empire's state religion in 380 AD via Edict of Thessalonica.
14
The Apostle Paul wrote 13 epistles in the New Testament between 50-60 AD.
15
The Book of Revelation was written around 95 AD by John of Patmos.
16
The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD defined Christ's two natures, attended by 520 bishops.
17
The Great Schism of 1054 involved mutual excommunications by Cardinal Humbert and Patriarch Michael Cerularius.
18
The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) killed 8 million, largely religious conflict.
19
The Methodist movement founded by John Wesley in 1738 grew to 80 million adherents today.
20
The Scopes Trial in 1925 debated evolution vs. creationism in US courts.
21
Vatican II's Lumen Gentium document affirmed collegiality of bishops.
22
The Lausanne Covenant of 1974 signed by 2,700 evangelical leaders.
23
Pentecostalism originated at Azusa Street Revival in 1906, lasting 3 years.
24
The Nicene Creed was ratified by 300 bishops in 325 AD.
25
Jesus' crucifixion dated to around 30-33 AD under Pontius Pilate.
26
The Apostles' Creed dates to 2nd century, used in baptismal rites.
27
The Diet of Worms in 1521 condemned Luther, attended by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
28
The Athanasian Creed formulated in 5th century, 44 lines long.
29
Trinity doctrine formalized at Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.
Interpretation
Historical Events Interpretation
Across these historical events, major turning points repeatedly cluster around formal power shifts and organized consensus, from 318 bishops at Nicaea in 325 to the Edict of Milan in 313 and the 1,000 plus participants at the Council of Trent, showing how Christianity’s development was shaped again and again by institutions at the center of public life.
More related reading
04 · Category
Population Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, the global Christian population reached 2.63 billion, comprising 31.7% of the world's population.
02
Christianity is the largest religion globally, with 2.6 billion adherents as of 2020.
03
Between 2010 and 2020, the Christian population grew by 1.17%, slower than the global population growth of 1.26%.
04
In 2020, there were 1.30 billion Catholics worldwide.
05
Sub-Saharan Africa had 670 million Christians in 2020, 24% of the global total.
06
Europe had 553 million Christians in 2020, down from 76% of world Christians in 1910 to 26% today.
07
Latin America has 545 million Christians, representing 20% of global Christians in 2023.
08
Asia has 416 million Christians, 16% of the world total as of 2023.
09
North America has 238 million Christians in 2023.
10
Oceania has 28 million Christians, 1% of global total in 2023.
11
The median age of Christians worldwide is 30 years, younger than the global median of 31.
12
48% of Christians live in the Global South as of 2020.
13
Christianity's share of world population was 34.8% in 1970, declining to 31.7% in 2023.
14
There are 2.5 million Christian missionaries worldwide as of 2023.
15
37,000 Christian denominations exist globally in 2023.
16
Annual growth rate of Christians is 1.08% from 2023-2025.
17
1.3 million Christians converted annually between 2000-2013.
18
In the US, 65% identified as Christian in 2020.
19
Brazil has 173 million Christians, the largest national population.
20
Mexico has 107 million Christians in 2023.
21
Russia has 105 million Christians.
22
Nigeria has 98 million Christians in 2023.
23
Philippines has 93 million Christians.
24
DR Congo has 89 million Christians.
25
Germany has 71 million Christians.
26
Ethiopia has 66 million Christians.
27
Italy has 65 million Christians.
28
UK has 60 million Christians.
29
South Korea has 30% Christian population, about 15 million.
30
China has an estimated 70 million Christians in 2023.
Interpretation
Population Statistics Interpretation
From the Population Statistics perspective, Christianity still holds the largest share with 2.63 billion people in 2023 or 31.7% of the world, yet its growth from 2010 to 2020 was slower at 1.17% compared with 1.26% globally, while regions like Sub-Saharan Africa account for 670 million Christians and Europe has fallen to 26% of the world’s Christians.
report visual · Comparison
Share of Christians by major groups
Roman Catholics and Evangelicals make up two of the largest Christian shares.
Eastern Orthodox Christians: 220 million worldwide.220
Roman Catholics number 1.36 billion, 50% of Christians.
50%
Evangelicals: 619 million, 24% of Christians.
24%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Christianity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/christianity-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Christianity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/christianity-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Christianity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/christianity-statistics.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level