Michael Brooks
Christianity is one of the world's largest religions, with an estimated 2.18 billion followers worldwide as of 2010, making up nearly a third of the global population. The number of Christians has grown since then, with an estimated 2.382 billion followers in 2024. Catholicism, a denomination within Christianity, has an estimated 1.376 billion followers worldwide as of 2024. While the number of Catholics has grown over time, it has not kept pace with the growth of Christianity as a whole. This is partly due to the geographic distribution of Catholics, with a significant presence in regions like Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa, while Christians are more geographically widespread.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in 2022 | 1.39 billion |
| Number of Catholics in 2023 | 1.406 billion |
| Number of Catholics in 2025 | 1.272 billion |
| Number of Christians in 2020 | 2.3-2.6 billion |
| Number of Christians in 2010 | 2.18 billion |
| Number of Christians in 2024 | 2.382 billion |
| Number of Protestants in 2025 | 629 million |
| Number of Independent non-denominational Pentecostals in 2025 | 409 million |
| Number of Eastern Orthodox Christians | 220 million |
| Number of Oriental Orthodox Christians | 62 million |
| Number of Anglicans | 110 million |
| Number of Baptists | 100 million |
| Number of Lutherans | 70-90 million |
| Number of Pentecostals | 279 million |
| Number of Charismatics | 305 million |
| Number of Evangelicals | 285 million |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity
The World Christian Database reported 1.272 billion Catholics in 2025, though this does not include independent denominations that identify as Catholic, such as Old Catholicism and other forms of Independent Catholicism, which number around 18 million adherents.
The second-largest group of Christians are Protestants, with 629 million historic Protestants and 409 million independent non-denominational Pentecostals, according to the World Christian Database in 2025. Estimates for the total number of Protestants vary from 629 million to 1.1 billion, or between 24% and 40% of all Christians.
The third-largest group of Christians are those in the Anglican Communion, with around 110 million adherents, followed by Baptists with 100 million, and Lutherans with 70-90 million.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second-largest single denomination, with 220 million adherents or 80% of all Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. However, this group is smaller than the collective tally of Protestants, who number at least 629 million.
The global Christian population is estimated to be around 2.18 billion, representing about a third of the world's population.
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There are more Christians than Catholics
Christianity is a world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. There are an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion Christians worldwide, making it the largest religious group in the world. On the other hand, Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, with an estimated 1.272 to 1.406 billion baptized Catholics worldwide. Therefore, it is evident that there are more Christians than Catholics.
Catholicism is the largest single denomination of Christianity, and about 50% of all Christians are Catholics. This means that half of all Christians are part of the Catholic Church, which is the largest single church among all Christian denominations. However, it is important to note that not all Christians are Catholics, and there are other significant denominations within Christianity, such as Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity.
Protestantism is the second-largest major group of Christians after Catholicism. In 2025, the World Christian Database reported 629 million historic Protestants and 409 million independent non-denominational Pentecostals. Estimates vary, but Protestants make up between 24% and 40% of all Christians. This diversity within Protestantism includes Anglicans, independent churches, and other traditions.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is another significant denomination within Christianity, with an estimated 220 million adherents, or 80% of all Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches, a separate branch from the Eastern Orthodox, have an estimated 62 million followers worldwide. Additionally, there are other smaller denominations, such as Nontrinitarian Restorationists, which include groups like the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Pentecostal Church International.
In summary, while Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, there are indeed more Christians than Catholics. This is because Christianity encompasses a broader range of denominations and traditions, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, and other smaller groups. The diversity of Christian denominations and their widespread geographic distribution contribute to the larger number of Christians compared to Catholics alone.
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Protestants are the second-largest group of Christians
Protestantism is the second-largest group of Christians by number of followers. Estimates of the total Protestant population vary, with most sources claiming a range of 800 million to more than 1 billion. The World Christian Database reported 629 million historic Protestants and 409 million independent non-denominational Pentecostals in 2025. Other estimates include 833,457,000 in 2004, and 628 million traditional Protestants, 409 million Christian independents, and 151 million unaffiliated Christians in 2025.
Protestants make up about 33% to 40% of Christians worldwide, with some projections showing that this number could rise to slightly more than half of the world's total Christian population by 2050. The growth of Protestantism has been particularly significant in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America since 1900, leading to it being called a primarily non-Western religion. In European countries that were most influenced by the Reformation, such as the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom, Protestantism remains the most practised religion.
The broad streams of Protestantism include Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, and Anglicanism, with tens of thousands of denominations. The wide range of estimates regarding the total number of Protestants is partly due to the lack of a common agreement among scholars on which denominations constitute Protestantism. For instance, while most sources include Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, and non-denominational Christianity as part of Protestantism, some widely used references do not.
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Eastern Orthodox is the second-largest single denomination
Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, with about 50% of all Christians being Catholic. According to the Catholic Church's annual directory, the Annuario Pontificio, there were 1.39 billion baptised Catholics in 2022, and 1.406 billion in 2023. The World Christian Database reported 1.272 billion Catholics in 2025, a figure that does not include independent denominations that self-identify as Catholic, which number around 18 million adherents. Therefore, estimates of the number of Catholics range from 1.272 billion to 1.406 billion.
Protestantism is the second-largest group of Christians by the number of followers. In 2025, the World Christian Database reported 629 million historic Protestants and 409 million independent non-denominational Pentecostals. Estimates of the number of Protestants vary from 0.6 to 1.1 billion, or between 24% and 40% of all Christians.
However, if the various Protestant denominations are considered as a single cohort, then this would be the second-largest Christian tradition after Catholicism. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC), there were an estimated 450 million independent Protestants worldwide as of mid-2019.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second-largest single denomination, with 220 million adherents, or 80% of all Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. The main body of the Eastern Orthodox Church consists of various autocephalous churches, along with autonomous and other canonically linked churches. Together, they form a single communion. There are also several Eastern Orthodox splinter groups and non-universally recognised churches.
Other notable denominations include the Oriental Orthodox Churches, with 62 million adherents worldwide, and Nontrinitarian Restorationists, which include distinct groups such as the Disciples of Christ. The Unitarian Universalist Association, which developed out of Christian traditions, has 0.1 million adherents, while the United Pentecostal Church International has 5.8 million.
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Christianity is the world's largest religion
Christianity is the world's largest religious group, with an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion adherents in 2020, making up nearly a third of the global population. This includes the 1.272 billion Catholics reported by the World Christian Database in 2025, who make up about 50% of all Christians.
Christianity is geographically widespread, with no single continent or region that can indisputably claim to be the centre of global Christianity. In 1910, about two-thirds of the world's Christians lived in Europe, but today, only about a quarter (26%) of Christians reside there. A plurality of more than a third (37%) are in the Americas, about a quarter (24%) live in sub-Saharan Africa, and about one-in-eight (13%) are in Asia and the Pacific. Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, is home to more Christians than all 20 countries in the Middle East-North Africa region combined.
Christianity has several large families of denominations, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Catholicism is the largest single denomination and the main branch of Christianity, with the Catholic Church being the largest among churches. In addition to the 1.272 billion Catholics reported by the World Christian Database in 2025, there are an estimated 18 million adherents subscribing to Old Catholicism and other forms of Independent Catholicism. Protestantism is the second-largest major group of Christians by followers, including 629 million historic Protestants and 409 million independent non-denominational Pentecostals, with estimates ranging from 0.6 to 1.1 billion. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second-largest single denomination, with an estimated 220 million adherents or 80% of all Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Within Protestantism, there are various traditions, including evangelical Protestant, mainline Protestant, and historically black Protestant. Many Christians who do not identify with Protestantism also consider themselves born-again or evangelical Christians, including a sizable minority of Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses. In the United States, the percentage of Americans who identify as Protestants has declined in recent years, but the share of born-again or evangelical Protestants has remained stable.
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Frequently asked questions
There are more Christians than Catholics in the world. Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity, with about 50% of all Christians being Catholics. In 2022, there were 1.39 billion baptized Catholics, while Christianity as a whole had an estimated 2.3 to 2.6 billion adherents.
The three major branches of Christianity are Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.
The Catholic Church has the most members out of all the Christian denominations. It is followed by the Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Yes, there are some differences in beliefs and practices between Catholics and other Christians. For example, Catholics have a more centralized structure with the Pope as their leader, while other Christian denominations may have different forms of governance. Additionally, Catholics may participate in sacraments and rituals that are not present in other Christian traditions.
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