While billions around the globe profess a faith, the precise number of who believes what and where reveals a fascinating and complex portrait of modern religious identity.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2023, Christianity has approximately 2.382 billion adherents worldwide, making it the largest religion.
- In the United States, 63% of the population identified as Christian in 2021 according to the Pew Research Center.
- Brazil has the largest Catholic population with 123 million members as of 2020.
- Islam has 1.907 billion followers globally as of 2023.
- Indonesia has the largest Muslim population with 241 million in 2023.
- Pakistan's Muslims number 225 million, 96% of population in 2023.
- Hinduism has 1.161 billion adherents worldwide in 2023.
- India has 1.093 billion Hindus, 79.8% of population per 2011 census projected 2023.
- Nepal's Hindu population is 81%, 24 million in 2023.
- Buddhism claims 500 million followers globally in 2023.
- China has 244 million Buddhists, 18% of population in 2023 estimates.
- Thailand 93% Buddhist, 66 million Theravada in 2023.
- Judaism has 15.2 million members globally in 2023.
- Israel has 6.8 million Jews, 74% of population in 2023.
- United States Jews 5.7-7.5 million, 1.7-2.4% in 2021.
Christianity remains the world's largest religion with billions of members across many nations.
Buddhism
1Buddhism claims 500 million followers globally in 2023.
Verified2China has 244 million Buddhists, 18% of population in 2023 estimates.
Verified3Thailand 93% Buddhist, 66 million Theravada in 2023.
Verified4Japan 67% Buddhist, 84 million cultural affiliation 2023.
Directional5Myanmar 88% Theravada Buddhist, 50 million in 2023.
Single source6Vietnam 14-50% Buddhist, 15-50 million in 2023 varying surveys.
Verified7Sri Lanka 70% Buddhist, 15 million Theravada 2023.
Verified8Cambodia 97% Buddhist, 16 million in 2023.
Verified9South Korea 23% Buddhist, 12 million in 2023.
Directional10India 0.7% Buddhist, 10 million including Neo-Buddhists 2023.
Single source11Laos 66% Buddhist, 5 million in 2023.
Verified12Malaysia 6% Buddhist, 2 million mainly Chinese 2023.
Verified13United States 1% Buddhist, 3.5 million in 2021.
Verified14Taiwan 35% Buddhist, 8 million in 2023.
Directional15Singapore 33% Buddhist, 1.8 million in 2023.
Single source16Australia 2.4% Buddhist, 600,000 in 2021 census.
Verified17Canada 1.4% Buddhist, 500,000 in 2021 census.
Verified18United Kingdom 0.5% Buddhist, 300,000 in 2021 census.
Verified19France 0.3% Buddhist, 200,000 in 2023 estimates.
Directional20Germany 0.3% Buddhist, 250,000 in 2023.
Single source21Russia 0.1% Buddhist officially, 1 million mainly in republics 2023.
Verified22Mongolia 53% Buddhist, 1.8 million in 2023.
Verified23Bhutan 75% Vajrayana Buddhist, 600,000 in 2023.
Verified24Nepal 9% Buddhist, 2.7 million in 2023.
Directional25Theravada Buddhists total 150 million worldwide in 2023.
Single sourceBuddhism Interpretation
While the global total of half a billion Buddhists is impressive, it's sobering to note that China alone accounts for nearly half of them, suggesting the world's most populous nation could theoretically solve a koan by committee.
Christianity
1As of 2023, Christianity has approximately 2.382 billion adherents worldwide, making it the largest religion.
Verified2In the United States, 63% of the population identified as Christian in 2021 according to the Pew Research Center.
Verified3Brazil has the largest Catholic population with 123 million members as of 2020.
Verified4Nigeria's Christian population reached 97 million in 2022.
Directional5In Mexico, 78% of the population, or about 99 million people, are Catholic in 2023.
Single source6The Philippines has 86 million Catholics, comprising 81% of its population as of 2022.
Verified7Russia has around 105 million Orthodox Christians in 2023 estimates.
Verified8In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Christians number 95 million, 95% of the population in 2023.
Verified9Ethiopia's Christian population is 77 million, including 44 million Orthodox in 2022.
Directional10Germany has 44 million Christians, 53% of population per 2022 census data.
Single source11Italy's Catholic membership stands at 48 million, 80% of population in 2023.
Verified12United Kingdom Christians number 46 million, 59% in 2021 census.
Verified13South Korea has 14 million Christians, 29% of population in 2023.
Verified14Angola's population is 93% Christian with 35 million adherents in 2023.
Directional15Zambia has 96% Christian membership, about 19 million people in 2022.
Single source16Rwanda's Christians make up 94% of 14 million population in 2023.
Verified17Papua New Guinea has 97% Christians, 9 million in 2023.
Verified18East Timor is 97% Catholic with 1.3 million members in 2022.
Verified19Argentina has 76% Catholics, 35 million in 2023.
Directional20Colombia's Catholic population is 79%, 40 million in 2022.
Single source21Spain has 59% Catholics, 28 million registered in 2023.
Verified22Poland's 87% Catholic population totals 33 million in 2023.
Verified23Ukraine has 68% Christians, about 27 million in 2022 pre-war estimates.
Verified24Australia Christians are 44%, 11 million in 2021 census.
Directional25Canada has 53% Christians, 19 million in 2021 census.
Single source26South Africa Christians 80%, 48 million in 2022.
Verified27Kenya 85% Christians, 46 million in 2023.
Verified28Tanzania Christians 61%, 38 million in 2023.
Verified29Ghana 71% Christians, 22 million in 2021 census.
Directional30Pentecostals worldwide number over 279 million in 2023.
Single sourceChristianity Interpretation
Christianity continues to claim the title of 'world's most popular club,' yet its membership roster reads less like a monolithic empire and more like a wildly diverse franchise operation, with local branches from Brazil to Nigeria often outpacing the historic home offices in both fervor and numbers.
Hinduism
1Hinduism has 1.161 billion adherents worldwide in 2023.
Verified2India has 1.093 billion Hindus, 79.8% of population per 2011 census projected 2023.
Verified3Nepal's Hindu population is 81%, 24 million in 2023.
Verified4Bangladesh Hindus 8%, 13 million in 2023.
Directional5Pakistan Hindus 2%, 5 million in 2023.
Single source6Indonesia Hindus 1.7%, 4.2 million mainly in Bali 2023.
Verified7Sri Lanka Hindus 12.6%, 2.6 million Tamils in 2023.
Verified8Malaysia Hindus 6.3%, 2 million mainly Indian origin 2023.
Verified9United States Hindus 2.4 million, 0.7% in 2021.
Directional10Mauritius 48% Hindu, 600,000 in 2023.
Single source11Fiji Hindus 27%, 250,000 in 2023.
Verified12Guyana 25% Hindu, 200,000 in 2023.
Verified13Trinidad and Tobago 22% Hindu, 300,000 in 2023.
Verified14Canada Hindus 830,000, 2.3% in 2021 census.
Directional15United Kingdom Hindus 1 million, 1.7% in 2021 census.
Single source16Australia Hindus 684,000, 2.7% in 2021.
Verified17South Africa Hindus 1%, 1 million in 2022.
Verified18Singapore Hindus 5%, 300,000 in 2023.
Verified19Myanmar Hindus 0.5%, 400,000 in 2023.
Directional20Qatar Hindus 14%, 300,000 expatriates in 2023.
Single source21UAE Hindus 6.6%, 1 million in 2023.
Verified22Kuwait Hindus 4.5%, 200,000 in 2023.
Verified23Oman Hindus 5.5%, 250,000 in 2023.
Verified24Saudi Arabia Hindus 1.5%, 500,000 expatriates 2023.
DirectionalHinduism Interpretation
Hinduism boasts a global family of over a billion souls, with India as its sprawling ancestral home, while its diaspora—from the peaks of Nepal to the islands of Fiji and the skyscrapers of the Gulf—paints a vivid map of devotion, trade, and migration across the continents.
Islam
1Islam has 1.907 billion followers globally as of 2023.
Verified2Indonesia has the largest Muslim population with 241 million in 2023.
Verified3Pakistan's Muslims number 225 million, 96% of population in 2023.
Verified4India has 200 million Muslims, 14.2% of population per 2011 census updated 2023.
Directional5Bangladesh Muslims 91%, 153 million in 2023.
Single source6Nigeria Muslims 50%, 106 million in 2023 estimates.
Verified7Egypt's Muslim population is 90 million Sunni, 95% total in 2023.
Verified8Turkey has 84 million Muslims, 99% of population in 2023.
Verified9Iran 99% Muslim, 84 million Shia majority in 2023.
Directional10Algeria Muslims 99%, 43 million in 2023.
Single source11Iraq 97% Muslim, 42 million with Shia majority in 2023.
Verified12Afghanistan 99.7% Muslim, 41 million in 2023.
Verified13Morocco 99% Sunni Muslim, 37 million in 2023.
Verified14Saudi Arabia 93% Sunni, 35 million total Muslims in 2023.
Directional15Uzbekistan 96% Muslim, 34 million in 2023.
Single source16Yemen 99% Muslim, 33 million in 2023.
Verified17Malaysia 63% Muslim, 22 million in 2023.
Verified18Niger 99% Muslim, 26 million in 2023.
Verified19Mali 95% Muslim, 21 million in 2023.
Directional20Syria 87% Muslim, 18 million in 2023 pre-war adjusted.
Single source21Senegal 97% Muslim, 17 million in 2023.
Verified22Somalia 99.8% Sunni Muslim, 17 million in 2023.
Verified23United Arab Emirates 76% Muslim, 8 million in 2023.
Verified24France has 5.7 million Muslims, 8.8% of population in 2023 estimates.
Directional25United Kingdom Muslims 4 million, 6.5% in 2021 census.
Single source26India Shia Muslims number 40-50 million in 2023.
Verified27Global Shia population is 200 million, 10-13% of Muslims in 2023.
VerifiedIslam Interpretation
While nearly two billion strong globally, the faith's heartland beats strongest in the East, revealing a Muslim world far from monolithic, with Indonesia leading the prayer call and its followers forming significant, sometimes majority-minority, communities from Pakistan to Paris.
Other
1Judaism has 15.2 million members globally in 2023.
Verified2Israel has 6.8 million Jews, 74% of population in 2023.
Verified3United States Jews 5.7-7.5 million, 1.7-2.4% in 2021.
Verified4France 440,000 Jews, 0.7% in 2023 estimates.
Directional5Canada 400,000 Jews, 1% in 2021 census.
Single source6United Kingdom 270,000 Jews, 0.4% in 2021 census.
Verified7Argentina 175,000 Jews in 2023.
Verified8Russia 150,000 Jews, 0.1% in 2023.
Verified9Germany 118,000 Jews in 2023.
Directional10Australia 100,000 Jews, 0.4% in 2021.
Single source11Brazil 90,000 Jews in 2023.
Verified12South Africa 52,000 Jews in 2023.
Verified13Ukraine 43,000 Jews in 2023 pre-war.
Verified14Hungary 46,000 Jews in 2023.
Directional15Mexico 40,000 Jews in 2023.
Single source16Netherlands 30,000 Jews, 0.2% in 2023.
Verified17Sikhism has 25-30 million followers worldwide in 2023.
Verified18India Sikhs 20.8 million, 1.7% per 2011 census projected.
Verified19Canada 770,000 Sikhs, 2.1% in 2021 census.
Directional20United Kingdom 520,000 Sikhs, 0.9% in 2021 census.
Single source21United States 280,000 Sikhs, 0.1% in 2021.
Verified22Australia 210,000 Sikhs, 0.8% in 2021.
Verified23New Zealand 40,000 Sikhs, 0.8% in 2018 census updated.
Verified24Unaffiliated/Non-religious number 1.193 billion globally in 2023.
Directional25China unaffiliated 700 million, 52% in 2023.
Single source26United States "nones" 26%, 70 million in 2021.
Verified27Japan 60% unaffiliated, 75 million in 2023.
Verified28Czech Republic 59% non-religious, 6 million in 2021 census.
VerifiedOther Interpretation
The world's Jewish population is a remarkable study in concentrated survival, constituting a nation-sized global diaspora where nearly half the world's Jews live in Israel, another half in a handful of other nations, yet collectively form just 0.2% of humanity—a testament to their enduring, outsized cultural and historical impact.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 3WORLDPOPULATIONREVIEWworldpopulationreview.comVisit source
- Reference 4PEWFORUMpewforum.orgVisit source
- Reference 5VATICANNEWSvaticannews.vaVisit source
- Reference 6ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 7STATEstate.govVisit source
- Reference 8ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 9STATCANwww12.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 10CBScbs.gov.ilVisit source