People practicing different religions in the world accounts for 83% of the population. Christianity is the world’s biggest religion, with over two billion people followed by Islam. However, Islam is expected to overtake Christianity. By 2060, Islam is estimated to grow by 70%, from 1.8 billion in 2015 to 3 billion. Also, it had the highest natural increase among all other religions.
Besides, between 2010 and 2015, Christian mothers gave birth to about 233 million babies, but approximately 107 million babies succumbed to death. As a result, Islam might catch up with Christianity as time goes by.
10 World’s largest religion by population in 2021
- Christianity
How many people worship God in the world? According to the new Pew Research Center demographic analysis, the Christian population is 2.382 billion people- 31.11%. The three major Christian groups in the World are Catholic Church, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox Church.
Christians mainly reside in Europe, America, the Philippines, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Timor, and Oceania. Besides, it is the state religion in 16 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Tuvalu, and Tonga. Countries like England, Malta, Greece, and Costa Rica also embrace Christianity as the state religion.
However, the religion is experiencing a decline in its significant strongholds, Europe and Germany. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of Christian deaths in Europe’s aging population outnumbered the births. Besides, Germany experienced 1.4 million more Christian deaths than births in 2010 and 2015.
- Islam
It is the second-largest religion in the world. It has a population of 1.8 billion, which is 24.9% world’s population. Besides, it is the fastest-growing religion and may exceed Christianity by the end of this century. According to a study, the number of Islamic births between 2010 and 2015 outnumbered the deaths. Two hundred thirteen million babies were born, while 61 million people died. Also, Islamic mother has the highest fertility rate (2.9 children per woman) compared to the other religions.
In Muslim, you can be a Sunni or a Shia. The Sunni population is about 1.6 billion, while the Shia is between 180-230 million. South Asia hosts the largest population of Muslims in the World. Other countries where Muslims dominate are Central Asia, North Africa, Indonesia, the Middle East, the Sahel, and Asia.
- Hinduism
According to many scholars, Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religion. It traces goes back to more than 4,000 years. Its world’s population is about 1.161 billion, which is 15.16%. Most Hindus live in Nepal (81.3%) and India (79.8%). Also, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Canada have a significant Hindu population.
Unlike Christianity, Hindus don’t have a single god or all-father: Various traditions and religions shape it. Besides, the major Hindu groups are Shaktism, Vishnuism, and Shivaism. According to Pew Research Center, the Hindu population is expected to rise to 1.4 billion by 2050.
- Buddhism
According to studies, more than 535 million (8%-10%) people in the world practice Buddhism. China is the country with the highest number of Buddhists across the world-About 250 million or 18.2%. Other countries where at least 55% of their population practice Buddhism include Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Laos, and Mongolia.
In countries like Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Macau, at least 10% of the population follow this religion. Mahayana is the largest Buddhism body, mostly practiced in China and East Asia. Theravada and Vajrayana follow it. Lastly, Nayana is the fourth group of Buddhism mostly practiced in Maharashtra in India.
- African Traditional Religion
Sub-Saharan African countries are the prominent practitioners of African Traditional Religion. It has a population of about 100 million people from 43 countries in Africa. Most people who follow African Traditional religion are also Christians or Islam. Mostly, African traditional religions are associated with culture. For example, the Niger-Congo speakers believe in the existence of a creator God along with ancestral and territorial spirits.
Other traditional religions with traces in the world include the Yoruba religion. It has its roots in the Caribbean Islands and some parts of Central and South America.
- Sikhism
Sikhism is one of the youngest major religion in the world. By the early 21st century, it had a population of 30 million. The faith came from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, who was the first Guru in 1469-1539, together with the other nine gurus who succeeded him.
About 83% of Sikhism live in Indian. Also, the highest Sikhism religious people (76%) reside in Punjab’s north Indian state. Approximately 13.11% of Sikhs live in the Indian states or Chandigarh union territories, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Finally, 0.2 million or 5% of Sikhs live in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
- Judaism
The Jewish people had a population of 14.6 million in 2018. Additionally, those connected to the Jewish religion, for example, have a single Jewish parent added up to 17.8 million. The United States and Israel are the most extensive Jewish countries hosting 51% and 30% of the population.
France, Canada, and Russia have 3% each of the Jewish community while the United Kingdom has 2%. Besides, Germany, Australia, Ukraine, and Brazil hosts 1% each of Jewish. Israel is the only Jewish state with approximately 6.5 million Jews. In 1939, the Jewish community had a 17 million population but reduced to 11 million in 1945.
- Jainism
Jainism has a population between four to five million or o.5% in the world. India is the country where most people practice Jainism. Other countries with a significant number of Jains include Europe, Canada, and the United States. Besides, between 2010 and 2020, over 5,000 ethnic Japanese families accepted the Jainism religion.
In India, there are more than 110 different Jain communities. The communities are divided into six groups depending on the current and historical residence. Jain Bunt, Saraks, Porwal, Parwar, and Agrawal Jain are the major Jain communities.
- Shinto
The Shinto religion population is about 4 million worldwide. A population of nearly 80% in Japan practices Shinto. However, only a few come out as Shintoists in surveys. This is because Shinto carries different meanings in Japan. In Japan, there are 100,000 Shinto shrines and 78,890 priests.
- Baháʼí
The religion has a population of over five million spread across different countries. Baháʼu’lláh established it in the 19th century, and it spread in Persia and the Middle East. However, the new religion has faced persecution since its introduction. According to Baháʼí teachings, God is single and all-powerful.
Indeed the world is full of religious people. Most individuals associate themselves with a particular religion. The different religions have their practices that followers need to embrace. Besides, each religion continues to work towards gaining more followers in the world.
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