Michael Brooks
Christianity is the world's largest religious group, with an estimated 2.3 billion adherents, or 31.2% of the total world population. Catholics are a subset of Christians, and they make up about half (50%) of Christians worldwide. This equates to around 1.3 billion Catholics. The Catholic Church has expanded more in the last 100 years than at any other time in its 2,000-year history. Most of today's Catholics do not live in Europe or the global North, and by 2050, 75% of Catholics will live outside the West.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Christians in the world | 2.18 billion (2010) to 2.6 billion (2020) |
| Percentage of Christians in the world | 31.2% (2015) to 37% (2010) |
| Number of Catholics in the world | 1.376 billion (2024) |
| Number of Protestants in the world | 629 million (2025) |
| Number of Evangelicals in the world | 285 million (2010) |
| Percentage of Christians in the US | 70.6% (2025) |
| Percentage of Protestants in the US | 46.5% (2025) |
| Percentage of Catholics in the US | 20.8% (2025) |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic
Christianity is a world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. It is the largest religious group in the world, with an estimated 2.18 billion to 2.6 billion adherents in 2010 and 2020, representing nearly a third of the global population. Christians are geographically widespread, with no single continent or region that can be considered the center of global Christianity.
Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity. It includes the Roman Catholic Church and other independent denominations that self-identify as Catholic, such as the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Old Catholicism movement. There are about 1.376 billion Catholics worldwide, making them a significant portion of Christians.
While all Catholics are Christians, not all Christians are Catholic. There are other major branches and denominations within Christianity, such as Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, and independent or non-denominational Christians. These groups have different theological beliefs and practices, and their numbers can vary widely depending on how denominations are classified.
Protestantism is the second-largest group of Christians, with estimates ranging from 629 million to over 1 billion followers. This includes historic Protestants and independent non-denominational Pentecostals. However, the exact number of Protestants is difficult to determine due to differing definitions and classifications of Protestantism.
Additionally, there are other Christian groups, such as the Oriental Orthodox Churches, with about 62 million adherents worldwide, and Nontrinitarian Restorationists, which include groups like the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Pentecostal Church International. These groups have distinct beliefs and practices that set them apart from Catholic and Protestant Christians.
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There are 2.3 billion Christians worldwide, with Catholics included
Christianity is the world's largest religious group, with an estimated 2.3 billion adherents worldwide, including Catholics. This figure represents around a third of the global population and is spread across numerous denominations, with Catholics being the largest single group.
Christianity has spread far beyond its historical origins in the Middle East and North Africa, which today have the lowest concentration of Christians. The religion is now geographically widespread, with no single region or continent that can indisputably claim to be the centre of global Christianity. While Europe once had two-thirds of the world's Christians, today only around a quarter reside there. A plurality of Christians (over a third) are now in the Americas, with about a quarter in sub-Saharan Africa and one-eighth in Asia and the Pacific.
The various denominations of Christianity are shaped by both culture and history. The three major branches are Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Christianity. Within these branches are numerous further divisions, such as Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, and non-denominational Christianity, which may or may not be classified as part of Protestantism depending on the source. Other groups include Oriental Orthodox Christians, Nontrinitarian Restorationists, and independent Catholic denominations.
The number of Christians within each denomination varies widely. For instance, there are around 110 million Christians in the Anglican tradition, 100 million Baptists, and 70-90 million Lutherans. As of 2011, more than 285 million Christians could be classified as evangelicals, either through their church affiliations or self-identification.
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Protestants are the second-largest group of Christians
Christianity is the largest religious group in the world, with an estimated 2.18 billion to 2.6 billion adherents. It is a world religion that stems from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus. Roman Catholicism is the largest of the three major branches of Christianity, with an estimated 1.376 billion followers worldwide. However, not all Christians are Catholics, and Protestants are the second-largest group of Christians.
Protestantism is the second-largest major 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 vary from 0.6 to 1.1 billion, or between 24% and 40% of all Christians. The wide range in estimates is due to the lack of a common agreement among scholars on which denominations constitute Protestantism. For instance, most sources include Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, and non-denominational Christianity as part of Protestantism. However, some widely used references, like the World Christian Encyclopedia, classify independent Christians or non-denominational groups separately.
Protestants are a diverse group, encompassing more than a dozen major denominational families. They can be broadly categorized into three traditions: the evangelical Protestant tradition, the mainline Protestant tradition, and the historically black Protestant tradition. The share of adults belonging to mainline churches has declined in recent years, dropping from 18.1% in 2007 to 14.7% in 2014. Despite this, the overall number of Protestants remains significant, contributing to their position as the second-largest group of Christians.
The United States, a country with a historically high proportion of Protestants, has seen a shift in religious composition. While it was once a predominantly Protestant nation, the percentage of adults identifying as Protestants has decreased from 51.3% in 2007 to 46.5% today. Despite this decline, Protestants in the U.S. still constitute a substantial portion of the population, contributing to their global standing as the second-largest group of Christians.
The spread of Protestantism beyond its European origins has also contributed to its global presence. For example, Nigeria now has more than twice as many Protestants as Germany, the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. This expansion of Protestantism to various regions, including the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, has resulted in a diverse and widespread Protestant population, solidifying their position as the second-largest group of Christians worldwide.
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The US has seen a decline in its Catholic population
Christianity is the world's largest religious group, with around 2.38 billion Christians worldwide. Of these, 1.37 billion are Catholics, making them the biggest denomination of Christians. However, the number of Christians in the US is declining, and this includes a decline in the Catholic population.
In the US, the Catholic population has seen a steady decline since the turn of the century, dropping from 24% to 20% in 2014 and further decreasing to 19% in 2025. This decline has also been reflected in the number of Catholic priests in the country, which has decreased from 60,000 in 1965 to around 35,000 in 2022. The number of Catholics served per priest has increased, with priests in the global North, including the US, serving more Catholics than ever before.
There are several reasons for the decline in the Catholic population in the US. One of the main reasons is the increasing secularization of American society, with people prioritizing success and autonomy over religious observance. Additionally, the Catholic Church's teachings on birth control, homosexuality, and other social issues have led to dissatisfaction among some Catholics, who feel that their spiritual needs are not being met. The clergy sex abuse crisis has also played a role in driving people away from the Church.
The Church's response to these issues has been criticized as simplistic and ineffective. Some have suggested that the Church needs to listen more closely to its members and embrace progressive policies. Others argue for a return to traditional practices, such as increasing the availability of Latin Mass and homeschooling. However, it is clear that the Catholic Church in the US is at a crossroads, and a complete overhaul of its current operations may be necessary to stem the tide of declining membership.
The Catholic Church in the US faces the challenge of adapting to a changing social and cultural landscape while remaining true to its core teachings. With the increasing diversity of American society, the Church must find a way to appeal to a wider range of people without diluting its message. This will require a careful balancing act and a willingness to embrace change.
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Christianity is geographically widespread
Christianity is the world's largest religious group, with around 2.18 billion Christians worldwide as of 2010, representing nearly a third of the global population. Christians are diverse theologically and geographically, and no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the centre of global Christianity.
A century ago, in 1910, about two-thirds of the world's Christians lived in Europe, where the bulk of Christians had been for a millennium. However, today, only about a quarter (26%) of Christians live in Europe. A plurality of more than a third (37%) are in the Americas, about one in four (24%) live in sub-Saharan Africa, and about one in eight (13%) is found in Asia and the Pacific.
Christianity is widespread in part because it is easily portable and passed around while remaining consistent. It is inclusive and not tied to a certain ethnic group or privileged few. It is also ritualistic. It emphasizes the salvation of the individual's soul in relation to the universe, not in relation to a tribe or race, which is unique and distinct.
In the last 100 years, the Catholic Church, a subset of Christians, has expanded more than ever in its 2,000-year history. Most of today's Catholics do not live in Europe or the global North. By 2050, 75% of Catholics will live outside the West. Catholicism, which was born in the Middle East, is a non-Western religion, and this will become even more pronounced over time.
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Frequently asked questions
There are more Christians than Catholics in the world. Catholics are a subset of Christians, so the number of Christians includes the number of Catholics plus other denominations.
Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. Other Christian denominations include Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others.
It is estimated that there are 1.376 billion Catholics in the world, comprising about 50% of Christians worldwide.
It is estimated that there are 2.3 billion Christians in the world, representing the world's largest religious group by a significant margin. Christians make up about 31-32% of the world's population and are the majority religion in 158 countries.
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