Global Religious Landscape Shifts: Christianity Declines as Unaffiliated Surge – Pew research report
WASHINGTON D.C. – A major new report from the Pew Research Center reveals a significant reshaping of the global religious landscape between 2010 adn 2020,marked by a decline in the percentage of the world’s population identifying as Christian and a dramatic rise in those identifying as religiously unaffiliated. The findings, released today, paint a picture of a world becoming increasingly diverse in its religious beliefs – and increasingly secular in some regions.
Key Findings:
Christianity’s Share Declines: While remaining the largest religious group globally, the percentage of Christians worldwide fell from 31.7% in 2010 to 31.1% in 2020.
Rise of the ‘Nones’: The number of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated – including atheists, agnostics, and those who describe thier religion as “nothing in particular” – surged from 16.4% to 20.6% over the decade. This represents the most significant growth of any category.
Islam Remains Stable: The Muslim population remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 24.9% to 25.6% of the global population.
Hinduism & Other Faiths: Hinduism maintained a consistent share, while other religions (including Baha’is, Daoists, Jains, Sikhs, and others) saw modest changes.
* Global Population Growth: the world’s population grew from 6.9 billion in 2010 to 7.9 billion in 2020, impacting the numbers within each religious group.
Methodology & Data Delays:
The Pew Research Center’s analysis is based on a thorough review of over 2,700 data sources, including national censuses, demographic surveys, and population registers from 201 countries and territories. Researchers note that the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays in data collection, with some 2020 estimates relying on data released as recently as 2024. The report meticulously details how diverse responses to religious affiliation questions were categorized, acknowledging variations in survey wording and options. Fertility rates, age distribution, mortality patterns, and rates of religious switching were all factored into the analysis.Driving Forces Behind the Shift:
The report points to several factors driving these changes,including differing fertility rates among religious groups,the aging of religious populations,and increasing rates of religious switching – especially in developed nations. The growth of the religiously unaffiliated is especially pronounced in Europe and North America.
Implications & Future Trends:
These demographic shifts have profound implications for societies worldwide, impacting everything from political landscapes to social cohesion. The Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, which produced this report, will continue to monitor these trends and analyse their impact. Further research is expected to explore the reasons behind religious switching and the evolving role of religion in a rapidly changing world.[SEO Keywords: Global Religion, Religious Demographics, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Unaffiliated, Atheism, Agnosticism, Pew Research Center, Religious Trends, Secularization, Religious Switching, World Population, Religious Futures project]
[Image Suggestion: A world map visually representing the distribution of religious groups, with a focus on areas showing significant change.]
[Link to Original Report: https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/religion/religious-demographics/pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-project/]
