Christianity: A Global Perspective
Christians make up almost a third of the global population and that number is expected to grow. Facts in a global context.
August 14, 2024
Christianity is practiced by about 2.4 billion people, making it the world’s most followed religion.
Christianity is broadly split into three branches: Catholic, Protestant and (Eastern) Orthodox.
Christians account for approximately 31.6% of the global population, followed by Muslims at 25.8% and Hindus at 15.1%.
The world’s Christian population is expected to grow from 2.2 billion in 2010 to 2.9 billion in 2050.
About one in every four Christians lives in sub-Saharan Africa (24%), and about one-in-eight is found in Asia and the Pacific (13%).
The country with the highest number of Christians is the United States, with a Christian population of 253 million. Brazil and Mexico follow closely with 185 million and 118 million Christians, respectively.
Although the United States has the highest number of Christians, its Christian population is declining. As of 2020, Christians accounted for approximately 64% of the population. 50 years ago, that number was 90%.
Sources: World Population Review, Statista, Pew Research Center
Takeaways
Christians make up almost a third of the global population and that number is expected to grow. Facts in a global context.
