10 Largest Religions in the World in 2022
The world is full of people following different religions and beliefs and from which some religions came into existence only a few years ago while on the other hand, some popular religions have existed for the thousands of years. According to an estimate, there are 21 formal religions around the globe with their followers living in the different countries around the globe. Some people follow all the beliefs while some followers believe only in God. Have a look into complete detail of 10 largest religions in the world in 2022 and their background history.
For many believing believers, religion plays an essential role in influencing all aspects of daily life. You can find different religions around the world, although the largest religions in the world generally belong to one of the two main subgroups. These are the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i, etc.) and the Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, etc.). Based on the Pew Research Institute and other international demographic databases, below is the list of most followed religions and, subsequently, the most influential in our world.
From all the religions of the world, we have ranked the most popular and biggest religions | Top 10 Largest Religions in the World 2022 list having the largest number of followers.
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Shintoism
- Taoism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
- Muism
- Cao Dai
Also See: Top 10 most Muslim populated countries in the world
List of Top 10 Major Religions of the World 2022
1. Christianity
Christianity is one the first rank in the list of most popular religions around the globe with more than 2.22 billion followers which is more than 31.5% of world’s entire population. It was founded about 2000 years ago in Israel. Bible is the holy book followed by Christians. Christianity is divided into three major Sects named Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant.
Also Read: History of Christianity, Beliefs and more
Christianity began two thousand years ago and is a faith based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. From its humble beginnings as a small sub-group of Judaism, Christianity has become the most popular religion in the world, with followers worldwide. Christians believe in the existence of the One God, who sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save them from their evil and hell. Believers believe that the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, His death and His resurrection were all intended to provide eternal life and forgiveness to all who accept Christ as their personal Savior. Even in our modern society, Christianity plays an important and powerful role, not only in terms of religious practices, but also on a larger scale. To some extent, this is also the case with the formulation of the social and political policies of Christian countries.
Also see: Top 10 Countries with Most Hindu Population
2. Islam
Islam is given the second rank in the list of major religions of the world having more than 1.5 billion followers as per 2022 list of largest religions in the world. It is one of the fastest growing religions and was founded about 1400 years before in Saudi Arabia which is considered to be the largest oil-producing country.
Quran is the Holy book and acted by the Muslims living in the different countries of the world. Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the major countries having the largest Muslim population. Continue reading Top 10 Biggest Religions in the World 2022.
Also Read: Islam Religion History, Facts, Origin
Islam began in Mecca in the seventh century. Followers of religion believe that there is only one God (Allah), written and shaped in the Holy Book of the Qur’an, which always acts as the central spiritual book in the faith. The Prophet Muhammad lived from 570 to 632 among the historical figures who needed to understand the Muslim tradition.
The followers of Islam believe that this man is the ultimate prophet of God. Islamic religious law establishes the five pillars of Islam and imposes rules and regulations on almost every aspect of the disciple’s life. There are two main groups of Muslims, the Sunnis (the largest in the world, including 80% of the Muslims) and the Shia (~ 15% of the Muslims), among them a few minor names such as Ibadi, Ahmadi and many others.
3. Hinduism
Hinduism in one of the most major religions of the world with 1.05 billion worshipers living in the different countries of the world.It is considered the world’s oldest religion. The Gita, Agamas, and Vedas are the major scriptures of Hindus.India has the third strongest army around the globe, and it is the top country having the largest Hindu population while on the other hand, it is the second largest country for the Muslim population.Hinduism is the 3rd most following religion in the world 2022 list.
Also Interesting Article: Hinduism Origin, History, Gods, Facts
Most Hindus live in South Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Indonesia. In India alone, it is estimated that 80% of the population is Hindu. Although very little is known about the foundation of Hinduism, it is generally believed that the faith developed over 4,000 years. Due to its status as an ancient belief system, Hinduism is deeply rooted in Indian society.
In recent years, many forms of Hinduism have become popular in the West as well. Examples of this include participation in yoga, as well as interest in information related to the Chakra organism. System (energy points throughout the human body that are used to heal and improve health both spiritually and physically).
Also Read: Countries that Celebrates Christmas
Buddhism is also considered a leading religion around the globe with more than 488 million followers. It was founded by Gautama Siddhartha 2500 years before in India. Its followers are acting the son of a warrior Prince who had a wealthy background in the history of a world. Buddhism is divided into three major sects like named Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
Also Interesting Religion to Read: Buddhism History, Beliefs, Facts, Origin
Buddhism was founded in India 2,500 years ago and is based on the teachings of the Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama. There are two main branches of religion. They are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. In Tibet, adherents subscribe to a form of Buddhism known as Vajrayana, Zen Buddhism is the most practiced in Japan. The basic principles of the Buddhist belief system include non-violence, as well as moral purity and moral conduct.
Meditation, ritual and non-violence play an important role in the daily life of Buddhists. The most recognizable figure in the Buddhist world is undoubtedly the Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama. This former monk is not only the current (and exiled) spiritual leader of Tibet, but also a proclaimed peace activist.
5. Shintoism
Shintoism is based in Japan, with 104 million followers worldwide; And its beginnings date back to the eighth century. Followers of the faith believe that there are many gods, and the word Shinto translates to “the way of the gods.” It is estimated that 80% of Japanese citizens belong to Shintoism, and the country is home to 80,000 Shinto shrines. A unique feature of faith is that believers do not have to declare their allegiance to religion. The notions of impurity and purification play a major role in Shintoism and its practices, known as hare. These are regularly practiced for the purpose of purifying the believer from sin, guilt, sickness, and misfortune.
6. Daoism
Taoism was born in China about two thousand years ago. Also known as Taoism, this religion is associated with a belief in occultism and metaphysics. Most of the Taoist supporters live in Asian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Laozi is regarded as the first philosopher of religion, and he is said to have written the Daoedzing, the central text of faith. Politically, Taoists are generally seen as libertarians, preferring to impose economic restrictions and restrictions on governments that avoid political interference.
Food plays an important role in Taoist philosophy, especially in terms of physical and mental well-being. According to this belief system, practices such as fasting and veganism (abstaining from animal products) are encouraged.
7. Sikhism
Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion having more than 28 million worshipers. They are living in the different countries of the world. It came into existence 500 years before by the Guru Nanak. This religion combined the beliefs from Islam and Hinduism. The majority of its followers is living in the Indian province Punjab.
When it comes to world religions, Sikhism is a relatively new faith. It originated in India and relied on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his ten successors. Historically, the Sikhs played a major role in regional policy and in the 1947 partition of India. At the heart of the Sikh faith are the basic principles of service and Simran, which are respectively related to community service and the memory of God. Although most of the Sikhs live in North India, many worshipers have flocked to many foreign countries, including Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom.
8. Judaism
Judaism has a long and rich history, and its history dates back to the eighth century BC. It has 13 million of followers. This monotheistic religion originated in the Middle East and has three major branches. These include Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism and Reformed Judaism (from the most traditional to the less conservative). Although each of them is rooted in a common belief system, they differ in terms of scriptural interpretation and specific practices.
Brief Article on Judaism: Judaism History, Origin, Facts, Interesting Info
Synagogues serve as centers of Jewish worship and religious service presided over by each rabbi. They are also used as a form of community centers. There, followers can meet regularly to socialize and celebrate (dictates of faith).
9. Muism / Sinisme / Shingyo (10 million followers)
Muism (also known as cynicism, shingyo or Korean shamanism) is a religion that is associated with traditional Korean culture and history. Faith can go back to prehistoric times. In recent years, Muism has rebounded in South Korea. Even under North Korea’s totalitarian regime, it is estimated that 16% of the population continues to subscribe to the Muism belief system. It is believed that the main elements of religion are the presence of demons, spirits and deities, and that the spirit lives in the world. The spiritual leaders of the so-called “Mudangs” are usually their job as mediators between women, gods and human beings.
10. Cao Dai (6.7 million followers)
Cao Dai is a belief system that came from Vietnam in 1926 and is clearly considered a nationalist Vietnamese religion. Faith was founded by a former administrator, Ngo Wan Chiu, who believed he had received a message from the venerable deity, “Supreme Being,” in an extraordinary experience he had in one session. Cao Dai draws from other major world religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Taoism.
The full name of religion translates as “the great faith of the third cosmic liberation.” Devotees believe in the existence of the Supreme God, regardless of the label or name (ie God or Allah) chosen to impose other religions on this central deity. The practitioners of Cao Dai place great emphasis on universal concepts such as justice, love, peace and tolerance.
Question of the Day
Q: Which is the most popular religion in the world in 2022?
Ans: At present Christianity is the largest followed religion than other religions around the globe. It having more than 2.1 billion worshipers.
- Top ten countries with largest Hindu Population
- Top 10 most religious countries in the world
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FAQs
What is the most largest religion in the world in 2022? ›
Hinduism - 1.16 billion. Buddhism - 507 million. Folk Religions - 430 million. Other Religions - 61 million.
Which religion will be the largest religion in 2050? ›Over the next four decades, Christians will remain the largest religious group, but Islam will grow faster than any other major religion. If current trends continue, by 2050 … The number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians around the world.
What are the top 10 fastest growing religions? ›...
Contents
- 1.6 Hinduism.
- 1.7 Islam. 1.7.1 Modern growth. ...
- 1.8 Judaism.
- 1.9 Baháʼí Faith.
- 1.10 Nonreligious.
- 1.11 Sikhism.
- 1.12 Wicca.
- 1.13 Zoroastrianism.
The world's faithful account for 83% of the global population; the great majority of these fall under twelve classical religions--Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.
Who is the No 1 religion in the world? ›Of the world's major religions, Christianity is the largest, with more than two billion followers.
Who is the oldest religion? ›The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, lit.
What are the 7 world religions? ›- JUDAISM.
- CHRISTIANITY.
- ISLAM.
- HINDUISM.
- BUDDHISM.
- SIKHISM.
- ANIMISM.
In 2010, 94% of the world's Hindus lived in India, and this is expected to remain true in 2050, when 1.3 billion Hindus are projected to live in the country.
How many Muslims convert Christians? ›But while the share of American Muslim adults who are converts to Islam also is about one-quarter (23%), a much smaller share of current Christians (6%) are converts.
In which countries Islam is growing? ›There are currently 21 Muslim-majority Asian and African countries highly influenced by Islam. Among them, countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey are expected to grow as consumer market, 1.2 billion in terms of consumer population.
What is the fastest growing religion in Pakistan? ›
...
Demographics.
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.4% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.85% | +0.35% |
| 2017 | 2.14% | +0.29% |
Hinduism has been spread in Russia primarily due to the work of scholars from the religious organization International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and by itinerant Swamis from India and small communities of Indian immigrants.
What are the 2 fastest growing religions in the world? ›| Rank | Religion | Estimated Percent Change in Population Size (Between 2015 and 2060) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islam | 70 |
| 2 | Christianity | 34 |
| 3 | Hinduism | 27 |
| 4 | Judaism | 15 |
In more than 15 ahadith found in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari, Sunnan of Imam Abu Dawwud, Jamii of Imam Tirmidhi and others, the prophet (saws) said Islam has a specific lifespan on earth, these Ahadith state Allah gave Islam 1500 years then relatively soon after this He would establish the Hour, we are now in the year ...
What are the 5 biggest religions? ›Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are always included in the list, being known as the "Big Five".
Is Islam the oldest religion? ›'Islam is the oldest religion in the world, founded by Adam, and it was reborn with Abraham and a second time with Muhammad. Between Abraham and Muhammad, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity emerged in this order. Then Sikhism emerged after the time of Muhammad. These are the six world religions.
What religions came first? ›Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam.
Which is the purest religion? ›Hinduism. According to the principle scripture of Hinduism, the Bhagavad-gītā, truth is Krishna himself. This is confirmed by Vyasa as stated in the verse, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth.
Which religion is growing fastest? ›In the next half century or so, Christianity's long reign as the world's largest religion may come to an end, according to a just-released report that builds on Pew Research Center's original population growth projections for religious groups.
What religion is Ronaldo? ›Ronaldo grew up in an impoverished Catholic home, sharing a room with all his siblings.
What is the oldest God in history? ›
Inanna is among the oldest deities whose names are recorded in ancient Sumer. She is listed among the earliest seven divine powers: Anu, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna.
Who started Hinduism? ›Early Development. Some form of the belief system which would become, or at least influence, Hinduism most likely existed in the Indus Valley prior to the 3rd millennium BCE when a nomadic coalition of tribes who referred to themselves as Aryan came to the region from Central Asia.
What are the 4 types of religion? ›The most common classification of religion in sociology differentiates between four major types of religions: theism, animism, totemism, and the New Age.
What are the 3 types of religion? ›There are many different religious beliefs and religious systems. Each religion forms its own beliefs and its own broader system of beliefs. These systems can be roughly grouped into three main categories: animism, polytheism, and monotheism.
What are the 6 main religions? ›This word mat features key religion facts and vocabulary relating to the 6 main religions: Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhi.
How many Hindus are in China? ›| Region | Country | Hindu total |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | Cambodia | 41,988 |
| North America | Canada | 497,965 |
| Central Europe | Czech Republic | 2,404 |
| East Asia | China | 1,300,000 |
...
Islam in Europe.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| North West England | 356,458 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 326,050 |
| Religions | |
| Majority Sunni Islam with sizeable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities | |
...
Spread of Hinduism.
| Country | Distribution | Total |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2.1 % | 108,000 |
- JUDAISM.
- CHRISTIANITY.
- ISLAM.
- HINDUISM.
- BUDDHISM.
- SIKHISM.
- ANIMISM.
Islam is the world's second-largest religion
Earth is home to more than 1.9 billion Muslims. Islam is also the world's fastest-growing religion. The Islamic population is mainly split between 1.5 billion Sunni Muslims and 240-340 million Shia Muslims, with the remainder scattered among a few smaller denominations.
How many religions are there in the world 2022? ›
The day celebrates the commonality of the major faiths of the world. It may surprise you to know that there are over 4,000 recognized religions in the world.
How many Christians are in the world 2022? ›Approximately 2.38 billion people practice some form of Christianity globally. This means that about one-third of the world's total population is Christian. Christianity has several denominations, but the largest is the Catholic Church.
Who is the oldest religion? ›The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, lit.
What are the 4 types of religion? ›The most common classification of religion in sociology differentiates between four major types of religions: theism, animism, totemism, and the New Age.
What are the 3 types of religion? ›There are many different religious beliefs and religious systems. Each religion forms its own beliefs and its own broader system of beliefs. These systems can be roughly grouped into three main categories: animism, polytheism, and monotheism.
How long will Islam last? ›In more than 15 ahadith found in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari, Sunnan of Imam Abu Dawwud, Jamii of Imam Tirmidhi and others, the prophet (saws) said Islam has a specific lifespan on earth, these Ahadith state Allah gave Islam 1500 years then relatively soon after this He would establish the Hour, we are now in the year ...
Is Turkey an Islamic country? ›According to this record, 99.8% of Turks identify as Muslim. However, this figure understates the proportion of people who are unaffiliated with a religion or follow a minority religion. The Turkish Constitution officially recognises Sunni Islam, Christianity (some Catholic and Orthodox sects) and Judaism.
Which country has largest Hindu population? ›By total number, India has the most Hindus. As a percentage, Nepal has the largest percentage of Hindus in the world followed by India and Mauritius.
What was the first religion? ›Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world's Hindus live in India.
How many religions have existed in history? ›According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, which at some point in the future will be countless.
Why Islam is the most beautiful religion? ›
Islam is a beautiful religion which talks about equality, about peace and compassion. Most of the Islamic texts are written in Persian, which is an extremely rich language, the ground for some of finest and deepest prose and poetry, literature which has a profound impact on the being.
How many Muslims convert to Christianity every year? ›Although approximately 20,000 Muslims convert to Christianity annually, ...
Which country has the most Muslims? ›The country with the largest number (about 209 million) is Indonesia, where 87.2% of the population identifies as Muslim. India has the world's second-largest Muslim population in raw numbers (roughly 176 million), though Muslims make up just 14.4% of India's total population.
Which country is most religious? ›Ranking the Faithful
Saudi Arabia has edged out Israel as the country perceived as the most religious, according to data from the 2022 Best Countries rankings from U.S. News, a characterization of 85 countries based on a survey of more than 17,000 global citizens.