Christianity accounts for 2.382 billion people. Islam follows with 1.98 billion adherents. These totals reflect steady global shares alongside sharp regional differences in growth and concentration.
Key Takeaways
- Global Buddhist population in 2020: 492 million, 6.6% world share
- In 2020, the global Christian population was estimated at 2.3 billion, comprising 31% of the world's total population of 7.8 billion
- Global Hindu population in 2020 was 1.09 billion, 15% of world total
- In 2020, the global Muslim population was 1.9 billion, 24% of world population
- Global unaffiliated population in 2020: 1.19 billion, 16% world share
Global populations are growing, and religious communities are shifting worldwide in size and distribution.
Related reading
01 · Category
Buddhism21 stats
01
Global Buddhist population in 2020: 492 million, 6.6% world share
02
2023 estimate: 507 million Buddhists worldwide, 6.4%
03
2010: 488 million Buddhists, 7% global
04
2050 projection: 486 million Buddhists, slight decline
05
China has 244 million Buddhists in 2023, 18% population
06
Thailand 64 million Buddhists in 2023, 93%
07
Japan 46 million Buddhists in 2023, 36%
08
Myanmar 48 million Buddhists in 2023, 88%
09
Vietnam 39 million Buddhists in 2023, 39%
10
Sri Lanka 14 million Buddhists in 2023, 70%
11
Asia-Pacific: 99% of Buddhists, 487 million in 2020
12
Buddhist growth rate 0.9% 2010-2020
13
Buddhist fertility rate 1.6 children per woman 2010-2015, lowest among majors
14
Buddhists under 15: 85 million in 2020
15
Cambodia 15 million Buddhists in 2023, 97%
16
Laos 6.4 million Buddhists in 2023, 66%
17
Bhutan 770,000 Buddhists in 2023, 75%
18
Mongolia 1.9 million Buddhists in 2023, 53%
19
South Korea 7 million Buddhists in 2023, 15%
20
Taiwan 35 million Buddhists/Taoists in 2023, 35%
21
United States 3.5 million Buddhists in 2023, 1%
Interpretation
Buddhism Interpretation
While Buddhism's global share gently wanes due to the lowest fertility rate among major religions, its profound Asian heartland remains steadfast, proving that spiritual influence is measured not merely in births but in the depth of its cultural roots.
02 · Category
Christianity30 stats
01
In 2020, the global Christian population was estimated at 2.3 billion, comprising 31% of the world's total population of 7.8 billion
02
As of 2023, there are approximately 2.382 billion Christians worldwide, representing 31.1% of the global population
03
In 2010, Christians numbered 2.2 billion globally, making up 31% of the world population
04
By 2050, the Christian population is projected to reach 2.9 billion, still the largest religious group
05
In 2023, the United States has the largest Christian population at 230 million adherents
06
Brazil's Christian population stands at 173 million in 2023, 88% of its national population
07
Mexico has 107 million Christians as of 2023, representing 92% of its population
08
Nigeria's Christian population is estimated at 97 million in 2023, about 50% of the country
09
Russia has 105 million Christians in 2023, primarily Orthodox, 71% of population
10
Philippines has 93 million Christians in 2023, 86% Roman Catholic
11
In Europe, Christians number 558 million in 2020, 75% of regional population
12
Sub-Saharan Africa's Christian population grew to 631 million by 2020, 62% regional share
13
Latin America's Christians total 531 million in 2020, 90% of population
14
North America's Christian population is 235 million in 2023, down from previous decades
15
Asia-Pacific has 287 million Christians in 2020, 7% regional share
16
The annual growth rate of global Christians was 1.18% from 2010-2020
17
Roman Catholics number 1.329 billion worldwide in 2023, largest Christian denomination
18
Protestants total around 900 million globally in 2023
19
Eastern Orthodox Christians are 220 million in 2023, mainly in Eastern Europe
20
Anglicans number 85 million worldwide in 2023
21
Pentecostals and Charismatics total over 600 million in 2023
22
Christians under 15 years old number 530 million globally in 2020
23
Christian fertility rate averages 2.6 children per woman in 2010-2015
24
84% of global Christians live in developing regions as of 2020
25
China has 70 million Christians in 2023, growing rapidly underground
26
India has 28 million Christians in 2023, 2% of population
27
Ethiopia's Christians total 52 million in 2023, 63% Orthodox
28
DR Congo has 83 million Christians in 2023, 95% of population
29
Germany has 45 million Christians in 2023, declining due to secularization
30
Italy's Christian population is 52 million in 2023, 83% Roman Catholic
Interpretation
Christianity Interpretation
Despite holding a steady third of humanity for decades, Christianity's future looks less like a global monolith and more like a vibrant, shifting mosaic—with its energetic growth in the global south quietly compensating for its yawn of decline in the secularizing west.
03 · Category
Hinduism25 stats
01
Global Hindu population in 2020 was 1.09 billion, 15% of world total
02
As of 2023, Hindus number 1.16 billion worldwide, 14.9% global share
03
In 2010, Hindu population was 966 million, 14% of world
04
By 2050, Hindus projected at 1.4 billion
05
India has 1.09 billion Hindus in 2023, 79% of national population
06
Nepal's Hindus total 28 million in 2023, 81% of population
07
Bangladesh has 13 million Hindus in 2023, 8% share
08
Indonesia's Hindu population is 4.2 million in 2023, mainly Bali, 1.6%
09
Pakistan has 4 million Hindus in 2023, 2% of population
10
Sri Lanka's Hindus number 2.7 million in 2023, 12.6%
11
Asia-Pacific holds 99% of global Hindus, 1.08 billion in 2020
12
Hindu growth rate 0.7% annually 2010-2020
13
Hindu fertility rate 2.3 children per woman 2010-2015
14
Hindus under 15: 272 million in 2020
15
Mauritius has 600,000 Hindus in 2023, 48% of population
16
Fiji's Hindu population 274,000 in 2023, 27%
17
Guyana has 190,000 Hindus in 2023, 24%
18
Trinidad and Tobago 300,000 Hindus in 2023, 18%
19
Malaysia 1.9 million Hindus in 2023, 6%
20
South Africa 1 million Hindus in 2023, 1.2%
21
United Kingdom 1 million Hindus in 2023, 1.7%
22
United States 2.5 million Hindus in 2023, 0.7%
23
Canada 830,000 Hindus in 2023, 2.3%
24
Australia 684,000 Hindus in 2023, 2.7%
25
UAE 1 million Hindus in 2023, expatriates
Interpretation
Hinduism Interpretation
While Hinduism's soul remains anchored in India and Nepal, its story is one of steadfast growth and global diffusion, proving that a billion-plus adherents can both dominate a subcontinent and quietly become a significant minority from Mauritius to Manhattan.
More related reading
04 · Category
Islam26 stats
01
In 2020, the global Muslim population was 1.9 billion, 24% of world population
02
As of 2023, Muslims number approximately 1.98 billion worldwide, 24.9% of global population
03
In 2010, the Muslim population stood at 1.6 billion, 23% of world total
04
By 2050, Muslims are projected to reach 2.8 billion, nearly equaling Christians
05
Indonesia has the largest Muslim population at 241 million in 2023, 87% of country
06
Pakistan's Muslims total 225 million in 2023, 96% Sunni
07
India has 211 million Muslims in 2023, 15% of population
08
Bangladesh has 153 million Muslims in 2023, 91% of population
09
Nigeria's Muslim population is 99 million in 2023, 50% of country
10
Egypt has 95 million Muslims in 2023, 90% Sunni
11
Middle East-North Africa's Muslims number 341 million in 2020, 93% regional share
12
Asia-Pacific Muslims total 1.1 billion in 2020, 62% global total
13
Sub-Saharan Africa has 248 million Muslims in 2020, 30% regional population
14
Europe's Muslim population is 44 million in 2020, 6% share
15
Global Muslim growth rate was 1.84% annually 2010-2020
16
Sunni Muslims comprise 87-90% of global Muslims, about 1.7 billion in 2023
17
Shia Muslims total 200-300 million worldwide in 2023, mainly in Iran/Iraq
18
Muslim fertility rate averages 2.9 children per woman 2010-2015
19
Muslims under 15 years: 422 million in 2020
20
Iran has 84 million Muslims in 2023, 99% Shia
21
Turkey's Muslims number 84 million in 2023, 99% Sunni
22
Saudi Arabia has 35 million Muslims in 2023, 100% officially
23
Algeria's Muslim population is 43 million in 2023, 99% Sunni
24
Iraq has 41 million Muslims in 2023, 60-65% Shia
25
Afghanistan's Muslims total 41 million in 2023, 99.7% Sunni
26
Morocco has 37 million Muslims in 2023, 99% Sunni
Interpretation
Islam Interpretation
While remaining firmly second place in the global faith race, Islam’s youthful energy and robust fertility suggest it’s not just growing, but actively stretching the finish line tape for 2050.
05 · Category
Other and Unaffiliated21 stats
01
Global unaffiliated population in 2020: 1.19 billion, 16% world share
02
2023: 1.2 billion religiously unaffiliated, 15.6%
03
2010: 1.13 billion unaffiliated, 16%
04
China has 700 million unaffiliated in 2023, 52%
05
Japan 72 million unaffiliated in 2023, 57%
06
United States 100 million unaffiliated in 2023, 29%
07
Global Jews: 14.7 million in 2020, 0.2%
08
2023 Jewish population: 15.7 million
09
Israel 6.8 million Jews in 2023, 74%
10
United States 5.7 million Jews in 2023
11
Folk religions 430 million in 2020, 6%
12
Chinese folk religions 394 million in 2023
13
African traditional religions 100 million in 2023
14
Sikhs 25 million globally in 2020
15
India 23 million Sikhs in 2023, 1.7%
16
Canada 770,000 Sikhs in 2023, 2%
17
Other religions total 61 million in 2020, 1%
18
Baha'is 8 million worldwide in 2023
19
Jains 4.5 million, mostly India 2023
20
Shintoists 2-4 million in Japan 2023
21
Zoroastrians under 200,000 globally 2023
Interpretation
Other and Unaffiliated Interpretation
While China and Japan are quietly leading a secular majority movement, the world's religious landscape is otherwise a stubbornly stable tapestry where, despite massive population growth, the pie slices of belief are barely budging, proving that faith and identity are far stickier than the latest headlines suggest.
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
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). World Religion Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-religion-population-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "World Religion Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/world-religion-population-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "World Religion Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/world-religion-population-statistics.
Sources & references
11 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level