As we navigate a world of over 7.6 billion people, the tapestry of global faith is woven with remarkable numbers, from Christianity's 2.38 billion followers to Islam's rapidly growing community of 1.91 billion.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, Christians comprised 31.1% of the global population, equating to about 2.38 billion people out of 7.66 billion total world population.
- Muslims accounted for 24.1% of the world's population in 2020, totaling approximately 1.84 billion individuals.
- The unaffiliated population was 15.9% globally in 2020, numbering around 1.22 billion people.
- In 2020, there were 2.3 billion Christians worldwide, making it the largest religion.
- Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 631 million Christians as of 2020, 26% of global total.
- Brazil has the largest Catholic population at 123 million in 2020.
- Muslims worldwide totaled 1.9 billion in 2023, 24% of global population.
- Indonesia has the largest Muslim population at 229 million (87%) in 2020.
- Pakistan: 200 million Muslims (96%) in 2020.
- Hindus totaled 1.2 billion worldwide in 2023, 15% of global population.
- 94% of Hindus live in India, 1.09 billion in 2020.
- Nepal: 81% Hindu, 23 million in 2020.
- Unaffiliated (nones) reached 1.19 billion in 2020, 16% globally.
- China: 700 million unaffiliated or folk religionists in 2020.
- Japan: 57% unaffiliated or multiple, 72 million in 2020.
Christianity leads global religious population but Islam is rapidly gaining ground.
Christianity
- In 2020, there were 2.3 billion Christians worldwide, making it the largest religion.
- Sub-Saharan Africa hosts 631 million Christians as of 2020, 26% of global total.
- Brazil has the largest Catholic population at 123 million in 2020.
- United States Christian population: 243 million (65% of national pop) in 2020.
- Evangelicals worldwide: 619 million in 2020.
- Catholics: 1.36 billion globally in 2020, per Vatican stats.
- Orthodox Christians: 260 million in 2020, mostly in Eastern Europe.
- Protestants: 800-900 million worldwide in 2020.
- Nigeria: 102 million Christians (50% of population) in 2020.
- Philippines: 93% Christian, 86 million Catholics in 2020.
- DR Congo: 95% Christian, 63 million adherents in 2020.
- Ethiopia: 63% Christian, 38 million in 2020.
- Growth rate of Christianity: 1.08% annually 2000-2010.
- China underground Christians estimated at 100 million in 2020.
- Anglican Communion: 85 million members worldwide in 2020.
- Seventh-day Adventists: 22 million globally in 2020.
- Jehovah's Witnesses: 8.7 million active members in 2020.
- Mormons (LDS): 16.8 million worldwide in 2020.
- Christian population in Europe declined to 558 million (71%) by 2020 from 95% in 1900.
- Latin America Christians: 531 million (90%) in 2020.
- Asia Christians: 389 million (7%) in 2020.
- North America: 235 million Christians (77%) in 2020.
- Oceania Christians: 27 million (70%) in 2020.
- Independent churches: 437 million members globally in 2020.
- Christian women outnumber men 2:1 in global church attendance.
- Bible translation: full Bible in 704 languages as of 2020.
Christianity Interpretation
While Africa and Latin America are now largely driving global Christianity's numbers, a glance at the pews reveals a faith that is increasingly female, diversely translated, and less European, proving the gospel’s address has changed even if the message hasn't.
Global Overview
- In 2020, Christians comprised 31.1% of the global population, equating to about 2.38 billion people out of 7.66 billion total world population.
- Muslims accounted for 24.1% of the world's population in 2020, totaling approximately 1.84 billion individuals.
- The unaffiliated population was 15.9% globally in 2020, numbering around 1.22 billion people.
- Hindus made up 14.9% of the world population in 2020, about 1.14 billion adherents.
- Buddhists represented 4.1% of global population in 2020, totaling roughly 314 million people.
- Folk religions constituted 5.6% worldwide in 2020, approximately 430 million followers.
- Other religions (Jews, Sikhs, etc.) were 1.2% of world population in 2020, about 92 million.
- Global religious population projected to grow from 5.8 billion in 2010 to 8.1 billion by 2050.
- By 2050, Muslims expected to nearly equal Christians at 2.76 billion and 2.92 billion respectively.
- Unaffiliated projected to decline from 16% in 2010 to 13% by 2050 globally.
- World population by religion in 2023: Christians 2.38 billion (30%)
- 2023 global stats: Muslims 1.91 billion (24%)
- Hindus worldwide 1.16 billion (15%) as of 2023 estimates.
- Buddhists globally around 520 million (7%) in 2023.
- Non-religious and atheists: 1.2 billion (15%) in 2023.
- Jews: 14.8 million (0.2%) of world population in 2023.
- Sikhs: 25-30 million globally (0.3-0.4%) in 2023.
- Global religiously unaffiliated grew by 66 million from 2010-2020.
- Median age of global Muslim population is 24 years in 2020, youngest major group.
- Christianity's share of world population declined from 32% in 2000 to 31% in 2020.
- Sub-Saharan Africa had 24% of world's Christians in 2020, up from 9% in 1910.
- Asia-Pacific region holds 62% of global Hindu population in 2020.
- Europe's unaffiliated population is 25% of its total, highest regional share.
- Latin America: 90% Christian in 2020, mostly Catholic.
- Middle East-North Africa: 93% Muslim population in 2020.
- Christians numbered 2.52 billion globally in 2010, per World Christian Database.
- Total world population affiliated with a religion: 84% in 2020.
- Pentecostals and charismatics: over 600 million worldwide in 2020.
- Global evangelism focus: 7,000 unreached people groups in 2023.
- Religious diversity index highest in countries like Singapore at 8.6/10 in 2020.
Global Overview Interpretation
While Christianity currently holds a narrow lead in the world's spiritual census, Islam’s youthful demographic suggests a photo finish is coming, yet the real winner seems to be sheer religious affiliation itself, stubbornly clinging to 84% of humanity despite the best efforts of modern skepticism.
Hinduism & Buddhism
- Hindus totaled 1.2 billion worldwide in 2023, 15% of global population.
- 94% of Hindus live in India, 1.09 billion in 2020.
- Nepal: 81% Hindu, 23 million in 2020.
- Bangladesh: 8% Hindu, 13 million in 2020.
- Indonesia: 1.7% Hindu, 4 million mostly Balinese in 2020.
- Hindu growth rate: 0.7% annually 2010-2020.
- Buddhists: 500 million globally in 2020, 6-7% of world.
- China: largest Buddhist population, 244 million (18%) in 2020.
- Thailand: 93% Buddhist, 65 million Theravada in 2020.
- Japan: 36% Buddhist, 45 million in 2020.
- Myanmar: 88% Buddhist, 48 million in 2020.
- Vietnam: 15% Buddhist, 14 million in 2020.
- Sri Lanka: 70% Buddhist, 15 million Theravada.
- Mahayana Buddhists: 56% of global Buddhists, ~280 million.
- Theravada: 38%, ~190 million in 2020.
- Vajrayana: 6%, ~20 million, mostly Tibetan.
- Hindu diaspora in US: 2.6 million (0.8%) in 2020.
- Buddhists in US: 1.2% or 4 million in 2020.
- Hindu fertility rate: 2.3 vs global 2.5 in 2020.
- Buddhist median age: 36 years, older than average.
- Over 300 million Hindus practice yoga daily worldwide.
- Dalai Lama followers: millions in Tibetan Buddhism.
- Hindu temples: over 2 million in India alone.
Hinduism & Buddhism Interpretation
While Hinduism clings steadfastly to its South Asian homeland with a comfortable 94% majority, Buddhism, with a more nomadic spiritual passport, has successfully naturalized its ancient wisdom across the varied landscapes of East and Southeast Asia.
Islam
- Muslims worldwide totaled 1.9 billion in 2023, 24% of global population.
- Indonesia has the largest Muslim population at 229 million (87%) in 2020.
- Pakistan: 200 million Muslims (96%) in 2020.
- India: 195 million Muslims (14%) in 2020.
- Bangladesh: 153 million Muslims (91%) in 2020.
- Nigeria: 99 million Muslims (50%) in 2020.
- Sunni Muslims: 87-90% of global Muslim population, about 1.6 billion in 2020.
- Shia Muslims: 10-13%, roughly 200 million in 2020.
- Middle East-North Africa: 93% Muslim, 341 million in 2020.
- Sub-Saharan Africa Muslims: 248 million (30%) in 2010, growing fast.
- South Asia: 600 million Muslims (31%) in 2020.
- Muslim fertility rate: 2.9 children per woman vs global 2.5 in 2020.
- Islam growth rate: 1.84% annually 2010-2015.
- Iran: 99% Muslim, 82 million Shia in 2020.
- Turkey: 99% Muslim, 82 million mostly Sunni in 2020.
- Egypt: 90 million Muslims (95%) in 2020.
- Ahmadiyya Muslims: 10-20 million globally in 2020.
- Sufi Muslims: 100-200 million adherents worldwide.
- Quran translations: available in 112 languages fully in 2020.
- Hajj pilgrims: 2.5 million attended in 2019 pre-COVID.
- Muslim median age: 24 years globally in 2020.
- Islam in Europe: 25 million (5%) in 2020.
- US Muslims: 3.45 million (1.1%) in 2020.
- Muslim population in Russia: 14 million (10%) in 2020.
- Islam projected to be largest religion by 2070 at 32%.
Islam Interpretation
While nearly a quarter of the planet now prays towards Mecca, the true story is in the nuances: from Indonesia's massive majority to India's vast minority, and with a youthful median age of 24, the Islamic world is not a monolith but a rapidly growing and profoundly diverse constellation.
Other Religions & Unaffiliated
- Unaffiliated (nones) reached 1.19 billion in 2020, 16% globally.
- China: 700 million unaffiliated or folk religionists in 2020.
- Japan: 57% unaffiliated or multiple, 72 million in 2020.
- South Korea: 46% unaffiliated, 23 million in 2020.
- Agnostics: 450-500 million worldwide estimates in 2020.
- Atheists: 136 million self-identified in 2020.
- Jews: 14.7 million globally in 2020, 0.2%.
- Israel: 6.8 million Jews (74%) in 2020.
- US Jews: 5.8 million (1.8%) in 2020.
- Orthodox Jews: 10% of global Jewry, 1.5 million.
- Sikhs: 30 million worldwide, mostly India 23 million.
- Canada Sikhs: 770,000 (2%) in 2020.
- Jains: 4-5 million globally, 95% in India.
- Baha'is: 5-8 million worldwide in 2020.
- Folk religions: 400 million, including African traditional 100 million.
- Chinese folk religion: 394 million in 2020.
- Shintoists: 2-4 million pure practitioners in Japan.
- Zoroastrians: under 200,000 globally, mostly India/Pakistan.
- Native American religions: 3 million adherents.
- Unaffiliated growth: +6% in US 2007-2020.
Other Religions & Unaffiliated Interpretation
The census suggests God might be less of a micromanager than we thought, as a sixth of humanity politely declines membership cards while ancient faiths hold their ground in a crowded, curiously persistent marketplace of belief.
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