Religions play a significant role in shaping cultures, societies, and individual beliefs around the world. There are five major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Christianity is the largest religion, with approximately 2.4 billion followers, while Islam follows with over 1.9 billion adherents. Hinduism, primarily practiced in India and Nepal, has around 1.2 billion followers. Buddhism, with an estimated 500 million practitioners, is most prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. Judaism, one of the oldest monotheistic religions, has around 14 million adherents worldwide. Each religion has its unique traditions, scriptures, and beliefs, deeply influencing global history and contemporary societies.
0.37%: unaffiliated (inc. atheists, agnostics, religious but not affiliated)
-0.03%: Judaism
-0.83%: Shintoism
World Religions
Religion plays a pivotal role in shaping cultures, societies, ethics, and worldviews. Understanding world religions allows us to appreciate the diversity of human beliefs and practices. The five major world religions—Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism—together account for the spiritual beliefs of billions of people across the globe. This detailed overview covers key aspects of each religion, including their history, beliefs, and global distribution.
Christianity
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with over 2.4 billion followers globally, representing approximately 31% of the world’s population. It originated in the 1st century CE in the Middle East and is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and the savior of humanity.
Key Beliefs
Christianity centers around the belief in one God, the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the sacred text of Christianity. Central to Christian faith is the belief in Jesus' death and resurrection, which provides believers with eternal life.
Major Denominations
Christianity is divided into three major branches: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Roman Catholicism, led by the Pope, is the largest denomination, followed by Protestantism, which emerged during the Reformation in the 16th century, and Eastern Orthodoxy, which split from the Catholic Church in 1054 CE.
Global Distribution
Christianity is most prevalent in the Americas, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia and Oceania. The largest Christian populations are in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. As of recent estimates, Christianity continues to grow in Africa and parts of Asia.
Islam
Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with over 1.9 billion followers, representing about 24.9% of the global population. Islam originated in the 7th century CE in Mecca, modern-day Saudi Arabia, when the Prophet Muhammad received revelations from God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel. These revelations were later compiled into the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.
Key Beliefs
Islam is a monotheistic religion that teaches that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his final prophet. The core practices of Islam are known as the Five Pillars: Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Muslims believe in the importance of living a life in submission to Allah's will and following the teachings of the Qur'an and the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).
Major Branches
Islam is primarily divided into two major sects: Sunnis (about 85%–90% of Muslims) and Shiites (about 10%–15%). The division originated from a disagreement over the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis believe in the leadership of the Caliphs, while Shiites believe that Muhammad's descendants, specifically Ali and his successors, were the rightful leaders.
Global Distribution
Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, including Indonesia (the largest Muslim-majority country), Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. It is also growing in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The largest Muslim populations are found in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religion, with over 1.2 billion followers, mostly concentrated in India and Nepal. Unlike other major religions, Hinduism has no single founder or central religious text. Instead, it is a diverse belief system that has evolved over thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent.
Key Beliefs
Hinduism is a polytheistic religion that acknowledges a wide range of gods and goddesses, with Brahman considered the ultimate reality or universal spirit. Major deities include Vishnu (the preserver), Shiva (the destroyer), and Devi (the goddess). Central to Hindu philosophy are the concepts of Karma (action and its consequences), Dharma (duty or righteousness), and Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).
Sacred Texts
Hinduism’s sacred texts include the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana. These texts provide guidance on how to live a life in accordance with Dharma and offer insights into the nature of the universe and the soul.
Global Distribution
Hinduism is primarily practiced in India, Nepal, and Mauritius, with significant communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Southeast Asia. Approximately 80% of India’s population identifies as Hindu, making India the heartland of Hinduism.
Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in the 5th century BCE in northern India. Today, it has around 500 million followers, mostly in East and Southeast Asia. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion that focuses on the attainment of enlightenment through moral conduct, meditation, and wisdom.
Key Beliefs
At the core of Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering (dukkha), (2) The cause of suffering is desire, (3) The cessation of suffering can be achieved, and (4) The path to the cessation of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to achieve Nirvana, a state of liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara).
Major Branches
Buddhism is divided into three major schools: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Theravada, the oldest form of Buddhism, is practiced primarily in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar. Mahayana, which includes Zen and Pure Land traditions, is common in East Asia, while Vajrayana, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, is practiced in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia.
Global Distribution
Buddhism is practiced predominantly in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam). In recent decades, Buddhism has also gained popularity in Western countries like the United States and Australia.
Judaism
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. It has around 14 million adherents worldwide, primarily in Israel and the United States. Judaism is based on the belief in one God and the covenant between God and the Jewish people, as detailed in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
Key Beliefs
Judaism teaches that there is only one God, and Jews are bound by a covenant to follow God’s laws, as outlined in the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Jewish religious practice revolves around following these laws, which include rituals, ethical conduct, and worship. The weekly observance of the Sabbath (from Friday evening to Saturday evening) is a central practice.
Major Branches
Judaism is divided into several branches, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Orthodox Judaism adheres strictly to traditional beliefs and practices, while Conservative Judaism seeks to balance tradition with modernity. Reform Judaism is the most liberal branch, advocating for the adaptation of Jewish laws to fit contemporary life.
Global Distribution
Judaism is primarily concentrated in two countries: Israel, where around 6 million Jews reside, and the United States, home to approximately 5.7 million Jews. Smaller Jewish communities can be found in Europe, Canada, and Latin America.
Other World Religions
Apart from the major religions, there are several other important religious traditions:
Sikhism
Sikhism was founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India by Guru Nanak. Today, there are approximately 25 million Sikhs worldwide, making it the fifth-largest religion. Sikhism emphasizes equality, service, and devotion to one God.
Jainism
Jainism is an ancient Indian religion with around 4-5 million followers. It teaches nonviolence, truth, and asceticism, with the goal of achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Baha'i Faith
The Baha'i Faith was founded in the 19th century and has about 5-7 million followers. It promotes the unity of all religions and emphasizes universal peace and equality.
