Top 10 World Religions Ranked by Population and Country
Welcome to a wonderful world tour without leaving your seat—today, we’re going to explore something both fascinating and important: the list of religious populations in the world. Did you know there are thousands of different religions across the globe? But only a few have really large groups of followers. Let’s dive in and see how the world’s people follow different paths of belief, tradition, and celebration!
What Do We Mean By “Religious Population”?
One Big Family—or Many Small Ones?
A religious population means the number of people who follow a particular faith or religious idea. This includes big groups like Christianity and Islam, as well as small but ancient ones like Zoroastrianism. It also counts people who are agnostic (not sure if there is a god) or atheist (not believing in any god at all). Imagine the world as a giant classroom with different rows—each “row” is a religion!
Why Know These Numbers?
Learning about religious populations helps us understand people’s beliefs, culture, and even the world’s history. Many school exams and competitive tests, like CBSE and UPSC, have questions on this topic. It also reminds us that everyone is unique, and every belief adds a special color to the world’s rainbow!
How Did Religions Become So Different?
A Journey Through Time
Religions didn’t just pop up overnight! Each one has its own story about how it began, spread, and grew. Hinduism is one of the oldest, starting in ancient India. Christianity began about 2,000 years ago in Israel, while Islam started in Arabia around 1,400 years ago. Some faiths, like Buddhism and Jainism, spread as people traveled and shared ideas. New ones, such as Bahá’í or modern spiritual groups, are just a century or two old!
Timeline of the Major World Religions
- Hinduism, Jainism: Ancient India, more than 3,000 years ago
- Judaism: Ancient Israel, over 2,500 years ago
- Buddhism: 6th Century BCE, India
- Christianity: 1st Century CE, Israel
- Islam: 7th Century CE, Arabia
- Sikhism: 15th Century CE, Punjab (India)
- Bahá’í: 19th Century, Persia
Who Has The Most Followers? – The Big List!
Top 12 Religions by Population (2024 Estimate)
Let’s check out which religions have the largest number of followers around the globe. If religions were teams, here’s who would have the biggest crowds cheering for them. “Religious populations in world” is a common question for exams and quizzes!
| Rank | Religion | Est. Population | % of World | Main Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christianity | 2.38 billion | 31% | USA, Brazil, Russia, Italy |
| 2 | Islam | 1.98 billion | 25% | Indonesia, Pakistan, India |
| 3 | Secular/Atheist/Non-Religious | 1.2 billion | 15% | China, Japan, Russia |
| 4 | Hinduism | 1.16 billion | 15% | India, Nepal, Bangladesh |
| 5 | Buddhism | 502 million | 6% | China, Thailand, Myanmar |
| 6 | Sikhism | 30 million | 0.4% | India, UK, Canada |
| 7 | Judaism | 14.8 million | 0.2% | Israel, USA |
| 8 | Bahá’í | 7.9 million | 0.1% | India, Iran |
| 9 | Jainism | 4.8 million | <0.1% | India |
| 10 | Shinto | 4.0 million | <0.1% | Japan |
| 11 | Taoism | 3.5 million | <0.1% | China |
| 12 | Zoroastrianism | 2.6 million | <0.1% | Iran, India |
Did You Know?
- Christianity has the largest following worldwide, with over 2 billion people.
- Islam is the second-largest, and is also the fastest-growing big religion!
- Hinduism is the world’s oldest faith still widely practiced today.
- Lots of people, especially in East Asia, do not follow any religion at all.
Why Does Knowing Religious Diversity Matter?
It’s Big for Exams—And Life!
- Questions on religious populations in world are common in exams like CBSE and UPSC.
- Understanding different religions means better teamwork and respect in our schools and communities.
- Religion often affects history, art, laws, and even which holidays you get off!
If you like learning about people, beliefs, or social topics, you should also check out Indian racial groups and Scheduled Tribes for even more GK fun!
Sunni vs Shia, Catholics vs Protestants – Are They Separate Religions?
Sects vs Main Religions
Sometimes you’ll hear about groups like Sunni and Shia (both part of Islam) or Catholic and Protestant (both under Christianity). These are called sects—they share main beliefs but may have some different traditions. Usually, for big exams, you only need to focus on the main religions, but knowing major sects is a plus point!
World Religions at a Glance – Quick Revision Table
| Religion | Where It Began | Main Belief | Special Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christianity | Israel | One God, Jesus as savior | World’s largest religion |
| Islam | Arabia | One God, Prophet Muhammad | Fastest-growing |
| Hinduism | India | Many gods, karma, rebirth | World’s oldest |
| Buddhism | India | End suffering, reach Nirvana | No gods needed to follow |
| Sikhism | Punjab (India) | One God, service to all | Hair, turban, equality stressed |
Practice Makes Perfect – Example Q&A
Which Religion Has The Most Followers?
Question: According to the latest data, which religion has the largest number of followers in the world?
Answer: Christianity is the largest religion by population worldwide, with more than 2.3 billion people as followers.
Test Yourself!
- Name the three largest religions in the world.
- Which is older—Buddhism or Islam?
- Where did Sikhism originate?
- What’s the main belief in Jainism?
Oops! Common Mix-ups on This Topic
- Counting sects (like Sunni, Shia) as separate religions—they are part of a bigger faith.
- Thinking “non-religious” means “atheist”—some people just don’t choose a religion!
- Believing the world’s oldest religion is Christianity or Islam—actually, it’s Hinduism!
Big Takeaway – Why Is This List Super Useful?
Remember, the list of religious populations in world is much more than numbers—it’s about understanding people, respecting everyone’s beliefs, and doing well in GK sections of school and national exams! Whenever you see questions about religions or cultures in school, just think of all the amazing differences and histories behind these numbers.
For more cool knowledge, be sure to visit Vedantu’s resources on Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Indians in India too!
| Feature | What It Means | Fun to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Over 4,300 Religions | So much diversity in belief! | But only a few have huge numbers worldwide. |
| Oldest Faith | Hinduism | Practiced for over 3,000 years! |
| Smallest Major Religion | Zoroastrianism | Less than 300,000 followers now |
Now, you’re all set to nail any quiz or exam about the world’s biggest religions! Save this page from Vedantu for your next revision, and remember—every belief adds something special to our world.
FAQs on List of Religious Populations in the World (2024)
1. What is the most followed religion in the world?
Christianity is the most followed religion in the world as of 2024, with an estimated population of over 2.3 billion followers.
Key details include:
- Christianity represents about 31% of the global population.
- Other major religions by followers: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism.
- Major countries: USA, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Italy.
2. How many religions exist globally?
There are over 4,300 recognized religions in the world today, but only a few are considered major by global population.
- The top religions by population include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
- Other groups: Sikhism, Judaism, Bahá'í, Jainism, Shinto, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism.
- Exam tip: Focus on the top 10-12 religions for most syllabus and GK exams.
3. Which religion is growing fastest in the world as of 2024?
Islam is considered the fastest-growing major religion in the world in 2024, according to population growth projections and conversion rates.
- Growth factors: Higher birth rates in Muslim-majority countries and increasing conversions.
- Major Islam population centers: Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey.
4. Which are the top 10 religions in the world by population?
The top 10 world religions by population in 2024 are:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Secular/Atheist/Non-Religious
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Bahá'í
- Jainism
- Shinto
5. What are the major religions and their countries of origin?
Major world religions and their places of origin:
- Christianity: 1st Century CE, Israel
- Islam: 7th Century CE, Arabia
- Hinduism: Ancient, India
- Buddhism: 6th Century BCE, India
- Sikhism: 15th Century, Punjab, India
- Judaism: Ancient, Israel
6. What is the difference between major and minor religions?
Major religions are those with the largest number of global followers and widespread influence, while minor religions have fewer adherents and are localized.
Differences:
- Major religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism.
- Minor religions: Jainism, Bahá'í, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Taoism.
- Exams focus more on major religions for GK questions.
7. What is the world population by religion according to a pie chart for 2024?
In 2024, the global population is distributed among religions as follows:
- Christianity: 31%
- Islam: 25%
- Secular/Non-religious: 15%
- Hinduism: 15%
- Buddhism: 6%
- Other religions: Less than 1% each (Sikhism, Judaism, Bahá'í, etc.)
8. Which is the oldest major world religion?
Hinduism is considered the oldest major world religion, with origins dating back more than 4,000 years in ancient India.
Key facts:
- Hinduism predates written history with ancient scriptures like the Vedas.
- Has significantly influenced other Indian religions such as Buddhism and Jainism.
9. Are Sunni and Shia counted separately or under Islam as a whole in population lists?
In global religious population lists, Sunni and Shia are generally counted together under Islam as a single religion.
- Sunni: largest Islamic sect (about 85-90%)
- Shia: second largest (about 10-15%)
- For exams, both are included together when quoting population figures.
10. Which religions should students focus on for GK and UPSC exams?
For GK, UPSC, SSC, and CBSE exams, students should focus on the major world religions and their basics:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Jainism
11. Which country has the most religious diversity?
India is widely recognized for its high degree of religious diversity, hosting major religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Other countries with significant religious diversity:
- United States
- Nigeria
- Indonesia
