Christianity worldwide numbers. 39 Nearly one-in-three people worldwide (31%) are expected to be Christian at mid-century, the same share as in 2010. “World Christianity and Mission 2020: Ongoing Shift to the Global South. Indented categories form part of, and are included in, un-in-dented categories above them. Nov 1, 2024 · Statistics on Global Christian Population As of 2024, Christianity remains one of the largest religions worldwide. And people who Pentecostalism as charismatic Christianity: the origins and current distribution areas of the Pentecostal movement with numerous orientations The Journal of Global Christianity, 2022 Journal of Global Christianity seeks to promote international scholarship and discussion on topics related to global Christianity. The country has 180,770,000 Christian adherents. Despite its widespread popularity, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the actual number of Christians in the world. Each contributes to unique cultural practices and beliefs Based on the numbers of adherents, the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as Eastern Orthodoxy) is the second largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church, with the most common estimates of adherents being around 300 million. 301 Moved Permanently301 Moved Permanently cloudflare This table is derived from Gina A. It includes the Feb 26, 2025 · After years of decline, the U. Jul 13, 2024 · Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with billions of followers spanning every continent. This year’s focus is geographical, covering major religious trends in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Northern America, the Middle East, and Oceania over the last 125 years. Christian share now shows signs of leveling off. Throughout the 20th century, Christianity claimed a smaller and smaller share of world citizens. Gain insights into the faith's major branches and future trends. 52 billion to 2. Christianity is an independent monotheistic religion and, like Islam and Judaism, goes back to Abraham, the progenitor of the Israelites. This article explores the global distribution of Christians, major denominations, regional trends, and growth patterns to help you understand the current landscape of Christianity and answer the question: how many Christian are in the world? Source Quite clearly, Christianity exceeds the other four major religious/non-religious bodies by a significant proportion of 0. The list includes the Catholic Church (including Eastern Catholic Churches), Protestant denominations with at least 0. 5 billion people who identify as Christian. Barrett, World Christian May 28, 2025 · Christian persecution around the world is at an all-time high. The number of Apr 2, 2015 · As of 2010, nearly a third of the world's population identified as Christian. Dec 18, 2012 · Christians number 2. 6 million from 2010 to 2020, reaching approximately 2. by Gina A. 4 billion adherents worldwide. Barrett produced the first statistical table in this series in the January issue of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research. However, this rate of growth is slower than the overall population growth over the same time period. May 30, 2025 · For the last two decades, the story of American Christianity has sounded like a slow funeral dirge. Pew Research Center. Every […] Feb 3, 2022 · Getty Images Despite an increase in the overall number of atheists worldwide, new research reveals that the population of religious people is growing at a faster pace than that of their secular counterparts. 08 percent growth, and is expected Feb 13, 2023 · There will be over 2. Zurlo, Ph. As a result, Christians shrank as a percentage of the global population, with their share falling from 31% to 29%. Barna reports warning of exvangelicals and deconstruction. Facts in a global context. Over 400 categories of information including religious adherents, Christian traditions and missions trends are available at the province, country, people group, language Feb 3, 2025 · Population & Christianity Stats Beyond obeying Jesus command to go and make disciples, analyzing population and religion statistics can help us better understand the need for missionaries. There are approximately 4,200+ religions worldwide. That's nearly one-third of the world's population! However, 34. 6 billion – overtaking Islam in number of followers by an astounding 9. Every January for […] Apr 16, 2020 · Christianity is presently the largest religion in the world. Barrett, World Christian Nov 20, 2024 · As of recent estimates, there are approximately 45,000 denominations of Christianity worldwide, though this number can vary widely depending on regional, cultural, and theological factors. Barrett, World Christian Encyclopedia, 1st ed Explore concise and informative quick facts about global Christianity, highlighting key data on Christian populations and movements. According to various sources, including the Pew Research Center and the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, there are approximately 2. In terms of population, Christianity is currently the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2. Jan 14, 2024 · If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: there are approximately 45,000 different Christian denominations worldwide as of 2024. But in 2025, the data is throwing a curveball. [7] The largest Christian by Gina Zurlo, Ph. ” International Bulletin of Mission Research, Vol. Mar 3, 2024 · Key Facts In 200 years (from 1800-2000), the world population increased more than 6 times, but the Christian Population increased faster over the same period (over 9 times). Jun 16, 2025 · Introduction to Christian Demographics Christianity is one of the world's largest and most diverse religions, with a presence in nearly every country. Extensive data are available on thousands of Christian denominations, ethnolinguistic people groups, cities, and provinces. This religion has played a significant role in shaping the history and culture of many countries. Christianity remains the dominant religion in the Western World, where 70 percent of the people there are Christians. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the origins of Christian denominations, provide an overview of the major branches, discuss the challenges in determining an exact count, and more. This makes Christianity the largest religion in the world by a Keywords World Christianity, global Christianity, mission, statistics, demography, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania In 1985 David B. Crossing, “World Christianity 2025: Regional Perspectives,” International Bulletin of Mission Research, Vol. The report, based on an analysis of 2,700 censuses and This article gives information about the relative size of denominations, based mainly on claims by the churches themselves. [4][5][6][7 An interactive map of earth by country that shows Number Of Christians by Country Map (2024) covering religion Oct 17, 2019 · The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip, with both Protestantism and Catholicism experiencing losses of population share. 63 billion, representing a 1. Mar 20, 2025 · The Vatican’s Central Office of Church Statistics releases the 2025 Pontifical Yearbook providing details about the number of Catholics, consecrated religious, priests, and bishops throughout the world. Crossing. This is a list of Christian denominations by number of members. 63 billion this year to more than three billion well before 2050. How we did this Pew Research Center conducted this analysis as part of our ongoing research on how the world’s religious composition is changing. 47 (1), January 2023, pp 71-80. 08 percent growth. This article aims to present statistical information on the number of adherents to various religions, including major faiths such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others, as well as smaller religious communities. Understanding the global Christian population is a fascinating endeavor, as it provides insight into the reach and influence of Christianity across diverse cultures and societies. Jan 29, 2025 · The table provides a statistical overview of the world’s 2. 08% growth. The Orthodox Communion, including the Greek and Russian Orthodox, make up 12% of Christians. The World Christian Database transforms current statistics on May 30, 2025 · Explore the current state of Christianity globally, including population statistics, growth trends, and future projections for 2025 and beyond. Jan 3, 2025 · 1/3/2025 Washington (International Christian Concern) — International Christian Concern (ICC) has released its renamed and revamped annual report for the new year. Barrett, World Oct 28, 2024 · Christianity is one of the world’s largest religions, with followers spread across every continent. 26 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people. But Christians (of all denominations, counted as one group) did not keep pace with global population growth from 2010 to 2020. , and makes projections out to 2050. 32%. 1. 2 billion believers. Out of 8 billion people, The Center for the Study of Global Christianity counted 2,545,579,000 professing Christians. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Jan 27, 2025 · This post is part of The Occasional’s “Numbers and Trends” series, dedicated to sharing work, analysis, and perspectives from our friends and partners at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity based at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. It is estimated that more than 85 percent of the global population identifies with a religious group. ICC’s 2025 Global Persecution Index offers an in-depth analysis of drivers of persecution in 20 countries, complete with stories of Christians enduring persecution for their Sep 25, 2025 · Welcome to “The Ultimate Guide: How Many Christian Denominations Are There in the World?” If you’ve ever wondered just how many different Christian denominations exist worldwide, you’ve come to the right place. It notes that Christians remain the world’s biggest religious group, although Muslims are growing fastest. “World Christianity and Mission 2021: Questions about the Future. Current Global Estimates of Dec 18, 2012 · Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group. The figures have varied throughout history, though, and the number and spread of Christians worldwide has changed dramatically in the past century alone. Quick stats: Nearly 4,500 Christians were murdered for their faith in 2024 Over 7,600 churches and Christian properties were attacked in 2024 Over 200,000 Christians were forced from their homes or into Explore the diverse world of Christian denominations, their numbers, beliefs, and how they shape faith communities globally today. This year’s survey works from a baseline of 1900 A. 18% v 1. According to recent statistics, the total global Christian population stands at billions. Here is a table showing the estimated size and distribution of the world’s Christian population. Download the 2025 Global Persecution Index for free. ” International Bulletin of Mission Research, January 2020. 3 billion by 2050, according to a report published in early January by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. 2 million members, the Access comprehensive annual statistics on global Christianity, offering insights into religious demographics and trends worldwide. According to new reports from Pew Jul 29, 2025 · However, the Christian share of the population has dropped in many countries. 9 billion in 2050. The new Religious Landscape Study explores trends in identity, beliefs and practices. The latest statistics shed light on the grim realities that our brothers and sisters in Christ endure daily. This vast community is diverse, spanning various denominations such as Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy. This may surprise many, but Christianity is growing around the world and is growing faster than the rate of population. In this article, we will explore the global reach of Christianity, how many people in the world are Christian, and the impact that this religion has on societies around Jul 27, 2018 · Brazil Brazil is home to the largest population of Christians in South America, as well as to the greatest number of Catholics of any nation in the world. According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, there were more than 2. Jun 9, 2025 · How we did this The world’s population expanded from 2010 to 2020, and so did most religious groups, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of more than 2,700 censuses and surveys. It found the largest number of The Big Number: How Many Christians Are There? Let’s get straight to the point. Definitions of categories are as given and explained in David B Christian population growth is the population growth of the global Christian community. Out of Earth’s 8 billion inhabitants, it is estimated that about 2. And some countries lost their Christian majority between 2010 and 2020, largely because millions of Christians around the world left the religion. Pew headlines about shrinking church attendance. 2 billion in 2010 to 2. Understanding the current and future trends of the global Christian population is important in gaining insight into the future of religion and society. 6 billion Christians and their activities. 9 billion. Every year, the International Bulletin of Mission Research presents an annual snapshot of global Christianity, a one-page version of which can be downloaded for free Status of Global Christianity 2024. 5 days ago · Global data on Christianity is an essential part of doing research in Global Contextual Theology. Generally speaking, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism are considered the five major world religions, although Sikhism, Shintoism, or Taoism may also be studied in this field Feb 27, 2025 · Discover the top 20 countries where Christianity is growing the fastest, exploring global trends, regional insights, and the dynamic factors fueling this growth. This table is derived from Gina A. These eight trends from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s 2024 report may give you a better picture of global Christianity and help you see the expansiveness of God’s work. Definitions of categories are as given and explained in David B. Indented categories form part of, and are included in, un-indented categories above them. . While the religion started as a small group with a handful of followers, the number of Christians has grown tremendously over the past millennia to more than two billion believers as of 2023. Many churches in the Protestant category, as broadly defined in this report, can be considered independent, nondenominational or part of a denominational family that is very small or otherwise difficult to classify. [1] In 2020, Pew Jan 12, 2024 · The numbers of Muslims and Christians are both expected to grow. Sep 27, 2024 · With over 2 billion followers worldwide, Christianity is the largest religion in the world. 46 (1), January 2022, pp 71-80. 6 billion by mid-2023 and is expected to reach approximately 3. Prevalence of all forms of Christianity stands at 90%. Globally, there are approximately 2. Since we last updated this post in 2024, the world’s population has grown over 100 million people, but many of the stats about Christianity and faith remain unchanged. Crossing, “World Christianity 2023: A Gendered Approach,” International Bulletin of Mission Research, Vol. – Co-Director – Center for the Study of Global Christianity This post is part of The Occasional’s “Numbers and Trends” series, dedicated to sharing work, analysis, and perspectives from our friends and partners at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity based at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Christianity originated in the Middle East over 2, 000 years ago and has since become a global religion. Christians number 2. Feb 11, 2025 · When we expand our vision, we can see several trends in global Christianity in 2025 that give us good news about the kingdom of God. The Global Christian population According to a report released in early January 2023 by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, it is projected that the global Christian population will surpass 2. 4 billion Christians worldwide, making Christianity the largest religion on the planet. The study of Christian demographics involves analyzing the distribution, growth, and decline of Christian populations The annual “Status of Global Christianity” survey published by the International Bulletin of Missionary Research is a cornucopia of numbers: some are encouraging; others are discouraging; many of them are important for grasping the nature of this particular moment in Christian history. This number represents nearly one-third An interactive map of earth by country that shows Number Of Christians by Country Map (2024) covering religion Feb 12, 2024 · This post is part of The Occasional’s “Numbers and Trends” series, dedicated to sharing work, analysis, and perspectives from our friends and partners at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity based at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Comprehensive overview of the most Christian countries giving insights into the biggest religion worldwide with the total number of Christians and other relevant statistics. Aug 14, 2024 · Christians make up almost a third of the global population and that number is expected to grow. About half of all Christians are Catholic (50%). Apr 5, 2017 · More babies were born to Christian mothers than to members of any other religion in recent years. 49 (1), January 2025, pp 62-74. 84%, making it the religion with the highest growth rate over Jun 15, 2025 · A new report from the Pew Research Center reveals that, despite remaining the world's largest religious group, Christianity’s share of the global population has decreased over the past decade. 3 billion by 2050. This means that Christians make up about a third of the world's population, a position they the have held for at least the last 100 years. But if demographic trends persist, Islam will close the gap by the middle of the 21st century. An estimated 37% of Christians belong to the Protestant tradition, broadly defined to include Anglicans as well as independent and nondenominational churches. ,) within 7,129 total people groups compromising 32% of the world population. 3 billion people Dec 31, 2024 · Its purpose was to lay out, in summary form, an annual update of the most significant global and regional statistics relevant to understanding the current status of global Christianity. Christianity has the most followers worldwide with over 2. Jan 15, 2025 · The number of Christians subjected to violence worldwide increased in 2024, researchers said, and among the 50 countries where persecution is most severe, 29 reported an increase in violence. That number can be hard to wrap your head around, so let’s break it down: It means that about 1 in every 3 people on Earth follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. Barrett, World Christian Jul 1, 2024 · As of 2023, there are approximately 2. [1][2][3] Eastern Orthodox Church is the third-largest religious community in the world, after Sunni Islam and Catholic Church. Crossing, “World Christianity 2024: Fragmentation and Unity,” International Bulletin of Mission Research, January 2024. The Christian population is projected to top 3 billion before 2050. Jan 16, 2025 · Christian nonprofit Open Doors released its annual persecution report on Wednesday, which estimated that over 380 million Christians across the world face high levels of religious persecution. Understanding the demographics of global Christianity is crucial for grasping the complexities of this faith and its adherents. Jun 10, 2025 · The just-published report issued by the Pew Research Centre on its findings on how the world’s religious landscape has evolved over the past decade highlights demographic growth, shifting affiliations, and rising secularism. In these you will find the following: County data Population data Profiles of various regions Articles on the state of Feb 25, 2015 · Some of the data about the spread of global Christianity are encouraging; others are discouraging; many of them are important for grasping the nature of this particular moment in Christian history. It is inevitably partial and generally based on claims by the denominations themselves. While the overall share of the world’s population that is Christian is expected to remain relatively steady, the regional distribution of Christians is projected to change Feb 25, 2025 · Many trends in global Christianity paint an encouraging picture of health and growth, but not every trend is positive in 2025. The corresponding growth rate for Islam is 1. May 27, 2025 · Detailed overview of religion by country, showcasing the diversity of religious beliefs and practices worldwide, including insights into the predominant religions practiced in different nations. 2 billion Christians around the world in 2010, more than three times as many as the 600 million recorded in 1910. 8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6. 23% per year (faster than the global population and the Christian global population), given that Islam is 94% of the region’s population. Christians remained the world’s biggest religious group. How Many Christians in the World The question of how many Christians in the world is one that encapsulates not only population statistics but also the profound cultural and spiritual impacts Christianity has across the globe 🌎. 4 billion people identify as Christians, making up about a third of the global population. Crossing, “World Christianity and Religions 2022: A Com-plicated Relationship. According to a Pew estimation in 2025, Christians made up to 2. About The World Christian Database The World Christian Database provides comprehensive statistical information on global Christianity, other world religions, and Christian activities in all 237 countries. Zurlo, Todd M. Approximately 2. Every year in the International Bulletin of Mission Research we present an annual snapshot of global Christianity, a one-page version of which can be downloaded for free here: Status of Global Christianity 2025. By later in the 21st century, Muslims are expected to comprise the largest religious group in the world. Entire denominations losing steam while “nones” — people with no religious affiliation — soared. Jan 31, 2024 · The number of Christians worldwide is expected to climb from more than 2. 2 billion, or about one-in-three (32%) people worldwide. 1% of the global population. 632 Billion worldwide (all Catholic, Protestant, etc. 1 billion in 2010 to 2. 18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6. Jul 29, 2025 · The number of Christian-majority countries fell between 2010 and 2020 Countries that lost their Christian majorities all saw growing percentages of religiously unaffiliated people. World Christian Database (Brill, 2007) Designed for both the casual user and research scholar, the World Christian Database (WCD) is an online database containing comprehensive demographic statistics on global Christianity. Dec 19, 2011 · A comprehensive demographic study finds that there are 2. Aug 29, 2023 · Christianity’s Share of World Population Total Global Christian Population Christianity is one of the world’s largest religions, with a significant number of followers spread across the globe. The table provides a statistical overview of the world’s 2. 5% of the world's population were professing Christians in 1900. That’s according to the Center For the Study of Global Christianity which published the report titled: Status of Global Christianity, 2024, in the Context of 1900–2050. See the links below for some of the best sources. Jan 22, 2024 · We can also examine stories and statistics of what is happening around the world in our day. With over 40,000 The list of religious populations article provides a comprehensive overview of the distribution and size of religious groups around the world. above equate to an average annual growth rate of 1. So overall, church membership will see a drastic increase. These facts and stats give a global picture of how many Christians are in the world today. Methodological notes for the Status of Global Christianity, 2024 (referring to numbered lines) This table is derived from Gina A. The ORU Library has provided a number of different resources that provide data and articles on the state of global Christianity. 3 billion in 2020, while non-Christians grew by 15%. Dec 19, 2011 · The Center for the Study of Global Christianity collects membership data from Christian denominations around the world. The Americas Countries in the Western Hemisphere maintain their Oct 4, 2015 · Uncover the fascinating distribution of Christianity across the globe through detailed world maps and current statistics. 6 billion people believe in Christianity. Jun 10, 2025 · New Pew Research Center report on religion around the world. Millions of Christians face discrimination, violence, and even death for their faith. Jun 10, 2025 · A new Pew Research Center report has found that Christianity remains the world’s largest faith, but Islam is now outpacing it in growth—especially when it comes to new converts and demographic momentum. 3 billion in Mar 15, 2024 · The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary recently reported that global Christianity is experiencing remarkable growth, defying expectations and surpassing population rates. S. Lifeway Research has identified “7 Encouraging Trends of Global Christianity in 2022” based on data collected by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at the Massachusetts Jun 12, 2025 · A new Pew Research Center report shows that although Christianity continues to be the world’s largest religious group, its share of the rising global population has fallen over the last decade, mainly due to people walking away from the faith. ” International Bulletin of Mission Research, January 2021. Christianity will increasingly be a religion of the aged in Europe and North America. [a][2][3][4][5][6] It represents nearly one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion in the world, with the three largest groups of Christians being the Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. 63 billion, a 1. 3 billion Christians worldwide. 1 The first three tables in this article continue the tradition of the series, presenting the most recent overview of statistics related to World Christianity Mar 17, 2025 · International Bulletin of Mission Research. It may come as a surprise that Christianity in North Africa grew by 1. Contrary to the anticipated slowdown, the Christian population is projected to climb from over 2. 6 billion Christians and their activities in the context of 1900­ –2050. Changes in Feb 10, 2024 · A report on the status of world Christianity shows that the number of Christians worldwide is expected to climb from around 2. How many countries are majority Christian? Is Christianity growing around the world? Apr 2, 2015 · The world’s Christian population is expected to grow from 2. Two statistics in the annual table often get a lot of attention: Denominations/rites. According to Pew’s “ How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 ” study, the number of Christians worldwide grew by 6% over the last decade, reaching 2. Dec 30, 2024 · The number of Christians worldwide is expected to climb from more than 2. D. The number of Christians suffering persecution continues to rise, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and action. Christianity is Christianity is a monotheistic religion that centers its beliefs in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The journal addresses key issues related to the mission of the Church in hope of helping those who labor for the gospel wrestle with and apply the biblical teaching on various challenging mission topics. Pakistan is expected to surpass Indonesia as the country with the single largest Muslim population. The analysis, which examined data from 2,700 censuses and surveys, shows that the number of Christians worldwide increased by 121. Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over 2 billion followers, and it is no surprise that it is also the most diverse religion in the world. Johnson, and Peter F. A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5. 6 billion Christians worldwide by the middle of 2023 and around 3. Within that Feb 20, 2025 · When we expand our vision, we can see several trends in global Christianity in 2025 that give us good news about the kingdom of God. Understanding that Detailed overview of religion by country, showcasing the diversity of religious beliefs and practices worldwide, including insights into the predominant religions practiced in different nations. Less than 20 years from now, however, the number of babies born to Muslims is expected to modestly exceed births to Christians. The numbers should therefore be considered approximate and the article is an ongoing work-in-progress. For the period 2000-2013, the figures in point 1. Understanding the demographic spread of this major religion is essential for various sectors, from sociology to international relations. % Christian Affiliation* By Country Young Africa, Aging West Sub-Saharan Africa’s youthful Christian population ensures the region’s centrality to global Christian growth for decades to come. Jun 9, 2025 · The number of Christians worldwide grew by 6%, from 2. Christians are also geographically widespread, and no single region can indisputably claim to be the center of global Christianity. vwv 4i 2e ijpy g2 ousb0r7 bq3gp z4odnroli 2ti ao