Christianity is the top religion globally, with about 2.38 billion followers. This makes up around 31% of the world’s people¹². Next, Islam has around 1.91 billion followers, which is about 24.9% of the world’s population¹. Hinduism, an ancient Indian faith, comes third with 1.16 billion followers, or 15.2% of the world’s people¹.

The Largest Religions in the World 2024

Buddhism has 507 million followers, which is 6.6% of the global population¹. Folk religions have 430 million followers, making up 5.6% of the world¹. Judaism has 14.6 million followers, which is just 0.2% of the global population¹. About 1.19 billion people, or 15.6%, don’t follow any religion¹.

Key Takeaways

• Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with an estimated 2.38 billion followers.
• Islam is the second-largest religion, with around 1.91 billion adherents.
• Hinduism is the third-largest religion, with 1.16 billion practitioners.
• The unaffiliated population, including atheists and agnostics, makes up 15.6% of the global population.
• The religious landscape is expected to undergo significant shifts in the coming decades, with the Muslim and Hindu populations projected to grow substantially.

Overview of World Religions

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Religion is a complex part of human life, filled with different beliefs and traditions. Around the world, there are about 4,000 to 4,300 religions, each with its own followers³. It’s hard to count how many people follow each religion because of how people identify themselves and the ways data is collected³.

Defining Religion

Religion is basically a set of beliefs and practices that shape how people see the world and live in it³. It’s a key source of moral and spiritual guidance for many, affecting their beliefs and actions.

Challenges in Counting Adherents

Figuring out how many people follow each religion is tricky³. Things like how religious someone is, whether kids are counted, and the data sources used can change the numbers a lot³. Also, it’s hard to count followers of religions that aren’t organized well³.

Still, researchers keep studying and sharing info on the world’s religions³. This helps us understand the diversity and changes in religious beliefs. Knowing about these helps us see how different beliefs shape our global community.

“Religions are diverse and ever-changing, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experiences and beliefs.”

Christianity – The Largest Religion

Christianity is the biggest religion, with over 2 billion followers. This makes it more than 30% of the world’s population⁴. It’s the top faith, with 2.38 billion followers worldwide, which is 31.1% of people globally⁵⁶. The faith splits into Eastern and Western branches, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

In many countries, most people are Christian. Vatican City and the Pitcairn Islands are fully Christian. Many other countries have over 93% of their people identifying as Christian⁵. By 2024, Christianity is expected to grow to about 2.4 billion, staying the biggest religion⁵.

“Christianity is a way of being in the world, a way of relating to God and to others based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Even though Christianity is still the biggest, its share of the world’s population will drop slightly. This is because Islam and other faiths are growing⁶. Yet, Christianity’s large size and influence mean it will continue to be a major religious tradition.

Islam – The Fastest Growing Faith

Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with about 1.91 billion followers. This makes up 24.9% of the world’s people⁷. It’s expected to grow faster than other big religions, possibly matching Christianity’s number of followers by 2050⁷.

The number of Muslims is set to jump by 70% from 1.8 billion in 2015 to almost 3 billion by 2060⁷. Muslims will grow faster in many regions, except in Latin America and the Caribbean⁷.

Muslim-Majority Countries

There are 50 countries where most people are Muslim⁸. Countries like the Maldives, Mauritania, and Saudi Arabia have populations that are all Muslim⁸. In India, the Muslim population is expected to rise from 14.9% in 2015 to 19.4% in 2060, reaching 333 million people⁷.

By 2060, Muslims will likely be the majority in Nigeria, making up 60.5% of the population⁷.

The growth of Islam is due to high birth rates, a young population, and the religion’s flexibility and strength⁸. Community and social support are key to Islam’s growth as the fastest-growing religion⁸.

Despite misconceptions and political issues, Islam continues to spread and make a mark worldwide⁸⁷.

Hinduism – The Ancient Indian Tradition

Hinduism is the third-largest religion worldwide, with about 1.16 billion followers or 15.2% of the global population⁹¹⁰. It started in the Indian subcontinent and is now practiced in Southeast Asia. This tradition is more than a religion; it’s a way of life or a family of religions⁹.

Most Hindus believe in a single god called “Brahman” but also honor many other deities⁹. They believe in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and in karma, the idea of cause and effect⁹. Their main goal is to achieve “moksha” or salvation through understanding the soul⁹.

Hinduism didn’t start with a single founder but came from many beliefs⁹. Its sacred texts, the Vedas, date back to around 1500 B.C⁹. Important gods and goddesses include Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others⁹. Hindus respect all living things and see the cow as sacred, often eating vegetarian⁹.

In India, about 79.8% of people are Hindu¹¹. Nepal also has a large Hindu population, with 81.3% of its people following this faith¹¹. Worldwide, Hindus make up around 15% of the population, mostly living in the Asia-Pacific region¹⁰.

Hinduism has four main branches: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Smarta⁹. People worship in Mandirs and at home, offering prayers as a key part of their faith⁹. The caste system divides society into different groups, including Brahmins and “Untouchables.”⁹

“Hinduism is more than a religion. It is a culture, a way of life, a philosophy.”

Hinduism is the biggest religion in India and one of the oldest in the world⁹¹¹¹⁰. It greatly influences the spiritual and cultural life of the region and beyond⁹¹¹¹⁰..

Buddhism – Concentrated in Asia

Buddhism has about 507 million followers, making up 6.6% of the world’s people. Most of these followers live in the Asia-Pacific region¹². In fact, 99% of all Buddhists call this area home¹². About 73% of them live in countries where they are not the majority¹². The average Buddhist is 34 years old¹², showing it’s a young religion.

Countries with Buddhist Majorities

In Asia, some countries have more Buddhists than others. Cambodia leads with 97.9% of its people being Buddhist¹³. Thailand is close behind at 94.6%¹³. Burma (Myanmar) has 87.9% Buddhists¹³. Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka also have big Buddhist populations¹⁴.

The Largest Religions in the World 2024

By 2024, the top religions will be: 1) Christianity (31.1% of the world), 2) Islam (24.9%), 3) Hinduism (15.2%), 4) Unaffiliated (15.6%), 5) Buddhism (6.6%), 6) Folk Religions (5.6%), and 7) Other Religions (1%)¹². Even though it’s mainly found in Asia, Buddhism will still be the fifth-biggest religion worldwide.

Other Major Religions

There are many big religions besides Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. For example, in China, people follow Confucianism and Taoism a lot¹⁵. In Guinea-Bissau and Haiti, about half the people believe in ethnic and indigenous religions¹⁵.

Folk Religions

Folk religions include beliefs from Africa, China, and Native American and Australian communities. They have about 430 million followers, which is 5.6% of the world’s people¹⁵. These beliefs are a big part of the culture in many places.

Judaism

Judaism is one of the smallest big religions, with around 14.6 million followers, or 0.2% of the world’s people¹⁵. It started in Judah (the Middle East) between the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. It’s the oldest of the Abrahamic faiths¹⁶.

“Judaism represents only 0.2% of the global population, consisting of about 16 million people.” –¹⁵

The Unaffiliated Population

The number of people who don’t follow any religion is growing in some parts of the world¹⁷. By 2040, it’s expected to hit over 1.2 billion people¹⁷. But, the share of unaffiliated people in the world will drop from 16% in 2010 to 13% by 2050¹⁷.

Growth of Non-Religious Identities

In Europe and North America, more people are choosing not to follow any religion¹⁷. In the U.S., the “Nones” group has jumped from 16% in 2007 to 28% today¹⁸. This group includes atheists, agnostics, and those who say they have no religion. They now outnumber both Catholics and evangelical Protestants in the U.S¹⁸..

Nones often have a positive view of science and lean towards the Democratic party¹⁸. But, they’re less likely to vote or volunteer, which could affect community life¹⁸. Their growing numbers could change American society a lot¹⁸.

By 2050, the unaffiliated population will shift geographically¹⁷. The Asia-Pacific region will have less of them, dropping to 68%¹⁷. China will have 54% of the world’s unaffiliated people, with the U.S. and Japan having 8% and 6%, respectively¹⁷.

Even though the unaffiliated might make up less of the world’s population, their numbers will still grow in some areas¹⁷. This change, along with more diverse religious beliefs, will shape the future of religion¹⁹.

Geographic Shifts and Future Projections

The world’s religious scene is changing a lot, thanks to differences in birth rates, the number of young people, and how people switch religions²⁰. By 2050, Islam might be as big as Christianity, making up 30% of the world’s people, just like Christianity²¹. Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews might have fewer followers, and fewer people might say they have no religion worldwide. Yet, in places like Europe and North America, more people might not follow any religion.

Youth Demographics

How old people are in different religions affects their growth. In 2010, 27% of the world’s people were under 15²⁰. But, 34% of Muslims and 30% of Hindus were young, more than the 27% of Christians²⁰. Young people in these religions will help them grow faster than the world’s population.

Religious Switching

People changing their religion will also change the religious mix. Christianity might lose 106 million followers, mostly to not having any religion²¹. But, the number of people with no religion will grow by 61 million, and Muslims, folk religions, and other faiths might gain followers too²¹.

“Christianity will gain three times more converts than any other world religion in the coming decades, but it will also lose 11 times more members than any other religion.”²¹

Conclusion

The world’s religious scene is changing, with big shifts in the size of major faiths²². Christianity is still the biggest religion, but Islam is expected to grow fast and almost match Christianity by 2050²³. Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews are seeing fewer people join, and the number of people without a religion is also dropping in some places²².

These changes come from things like differences in how many children people have, the age of the population, and people changing their religion²²²³. Christianity and Islam will keep being the biggest religions, but where they are found will change. Africa will become a key place for Christianity²².

This look at the world’s religions shows they will keep changing. This means big changes for how we live, work, and think together²²²³. As we all connect more, knowing about these changes and what they mean is key for leaders, religious figures, and everyone else.

Source Links

1. Religion by Country 2024 – https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/religion-by-country
2. The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050 – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/
3. World Religions Explained with Useful Charts: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity & More – https://www.openculture.com/2024/06/world-religions-explained-with-useful-charts-hinduism-buddhism-judaism-islam-christianity-more.html
4. Biggest Religion in the World, List of Top-10 – https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/biggest-religion-in-the-world/
5. What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World? – https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-practiced-religion-in-the-world
6. Major religious groups – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups
7. Why Muslims are the world’s fastest-growing religious group – https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/04/06/why-muslims-are-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religious-group/
8. Why Islam Is the Fastest Growing Religion in the World? – https://bestdiplomats.org/why-islam-is-the-fastest-growing-religion/
9. Hinduism – Origins, Facts & Beliefs | HISTORY – https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
10. Hindus – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-hindu/
11. Hinduism | Origin, History, Beliefs, Gods, & Facts – https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism
12. The Global Religious Landscape – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
13. Buddhist Countries 2024 – https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries
14. Religion in Asia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Asia
15. World Population by Religion: A Global Tapestry of Faith – Population Education – https://populationeducation.org/world-population-by-religion-a-global-tapestry-of-faith/
16. List of religious populations – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations
17. Religiously Unaffiliated – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religiously-unaffiliated/
18. Religious ‘Nones’ are now the largest single group in the U.S. – https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1226371734/religious-nones-are-now-the-largest-single-group-in-the-u-s
19. Religion: why faith is becoming more and more popular – https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/27/religion-why-is-faith-growing-and-what-happens-next
20. What Is the Future of Religion in America? – https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trust/archive/winter-2023/what-is-the-future-of-religion-in-america
21. Here’s the Best Prediction Yet of How Christianity and Islam Will Change Worldwide by 2050 – https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2015/april/heres-best-prediction-yet-christianity-islam-2050-pew.html
22. Key Findings From the Global Religious Futures Project – https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/12/21/key-findings-from-the-global-religious-futures-project/
23. Growth of religion – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_religion