The evolving popularity of world religions from 1930 to 2024. Major groups are broken down into subgroups with substantial followers. Note: Atheists aren't included to keep the graph balanced.
🌍 World’s Fastest Growing Religions (1930–2024)
1. Islam
Growth Rate: Projected to increase by about 70% from 2015 to 2060, outpacing global population growth.
Drivers: High fertility rates, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia; youthful demographics; and migration.
Historical Context: From around 200 million adherents in 1900 to over 1.8 billion by 2016. Expected to reach around 3 billion by 2060.
2. Christianity
Growth Areas: Significant expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the Christian population rose from 9 million in 1900 to over 700 million by 2023.
Pentecostalism: The fastest-growing Christian movement, gaining about 35,000 new adherents daily.
Global Shifts: By 2060, more than 40% of Christians will live in Sub-Saharan Africa, shifting the center of Christianity away from Europe and North America.
3. Baháʼà Faith
Growth Rate: Has grown at roughly twice the rate of the general population globally from 1910 to 2010.
Demographics: Estimated around 8 million followers worldwide as of 2020, with strong presence in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
4. Hinduism
Growth Rate: Expected to grow by about 27% from 2015 to 2060.
Concentration: Mostly in India, with growing diaspora communities in countries like Australia, where Hindu population increased notably in recent decades.
5. Sikhism
Growth Rate: Estimated annual growth rate around 1.6%, with approximately 25.8 million adherents globally.
Distribution: Over 90% live in India (mainly Punjab), with expanding communities in Canada, the UK, and the US.
📊 Comparative Growth Projections (2015–2060)
Religion Projected Growth Rate
Islam ~70%
Christianity ~34%
Hinduism ~27%
Judaism ~15%
Folk Religions ~5%
Unaffiliated ~3%
Buddhism Declining (~-7%)
Key Factors Behind Growth
Higher birth rates in regions with large Muslim and Christian populations.
Migration spreading religious groups globally.
Conversion plays a varying role; Pentecostal Christianity grows strongly through conversions, while Islam’s growth is mainly due to births.
Younger median ages in religions like Islam suggest continued expansion.
Source: Data Is Beautiful
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