What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Vaughan, Don" data-authors-initial="Vaughan, D." data-title="What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?" data-published-date="19 May. 2020" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-practiced-religion-in-the-world" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-practiced-religion-in-the-world" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-practiced-religion-in-the-world">https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-practiced-religion-in-the-world</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing font-12"> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Don-Vaughan/12526275" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Don Vaughan</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Don Vaughan is a freelance writer based in Raleigh, North Carolina.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Don Vaughan</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div> </div> <article class="topic-content content mt-20"><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/216789-050-E95463F8/Candles-burning-church-table.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/216789-050-E95463F8/Candles-burning-church-table.jpg?w=600&q=60" alt="Candles Burning On Table In Church" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Ghofuur Ferianto — EyeEm/Getty Images</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The world’s primary religions fall into two categories: Abrahamic religions, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christianity</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Judaism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Judaism</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islam" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Islam</a>; and Indian religions, which include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hinduism</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Buddhism</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sikhism</a>, and others. Of the world’s major religions, Christianity is the largest, with more than two billion followers. </p><span class="MOD1"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Christianity is based on the life and teachings of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jesus Christ</a> and is approximately 2,000 years old. Its largest groups are the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Roman Catholic Church</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-Orthodoxy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eastern Orthodox</a> churches, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Protestantism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Protestant</a> churches, and its sacred text is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bible" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bible</a>. Over the centuries, Christianity grew in numbers as it spread around the world, often through missionaries and colonizers.</p><span class="MOD2"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The second most widely practiced religion is Islam, with an estimated 1.8 billion followers worldwide. It started in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mecca" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mecca</a> (a city in modern-day Saudi Arabia) in the 7th century CE and was spread by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Prophet Muhammad</a> (570–632 CE), who followers of Islam believe to be God’s ultimate prophet. Islam states that the teachings of God, who is known as Allah, were written down in a holy book known as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quran" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Qurʾān</a>, which is the faith’s spiritual text. Most Muslims belong to one of the two major branches of Islam: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sunni" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sunnis</a> include approximately 80 percent of Muslims, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shii" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shiʿah</a> includes approximately 15 percent. The remaining numbers belong to smaller denominations.</p><span class="MOD3"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Hinduism, with an estimated 1.1 billion followers, is the world’s third largest religion and also one of the oldest, with beliefs and practices that date back at least as far as the 1500s BCE.  Hinduism is practiced primarily in India (where approximately 80 percent of the population identifies as Hindu), Nepal, and Indonesia. Little is known about the founding of Hinduism, but its teachings deeply influence almost all aspects of believers’ lives. In recent years certain aspects of Hinduism have become popular in the West, such as the practice of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yoga-philosophy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">yoga</a>, as well as the use of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/chakra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chakras</a> (energy points found throughout the body) to identify and treat illness. </p><span class="MOD4"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The fourth most widely practiced religion is Buddhism, with approximately 500 million followers worldwide and more than 250 million in China alone. Based on the teachings of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buddha-founder-of-Buddhism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gautama Buddha</a>, the religion was founded in India nearly 2,500 years ago. There are two main branches of Buddhism: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Theravada" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Theravada Buddhism</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahayana" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mahayana Buddhism</a>. Tenets of Buddhism include a vow of nonviolence and an adherence to ethical behavior in all aspects of life. </p><span class="MOD5"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The next most widely practiced religions, based on number of followers, are: </p><span class="MOD6"></span><ul><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shintō</a> (104 million followers). Formally established in Japan in the 8th century CE, Shintō promotes the existence of many gods. It is not an organized religion in the traditional sense, but it serves as the foundation of many cultural practices in Japan.</li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sikhism</a> (25 million followers). Relatively new compared with many other faiths, Sikhism was founded in India in the 1500s CE and is based on the teachings of Guru <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guru-Nanak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nanak</a> and his nine successors.</li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Judaism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Judaism</a> (14 million followers). This monotheistic religion was established in the Middle East about the 8th century BCE and today comprises three primary branches: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orthodox-Judaism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Orthodox Judaism</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Conservative-Judaism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Conservative Judaism</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Reform-Judaism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Reform Judaism</a>. Though based on a common belief system, the branches differ in their interpretation of Scripture and certain religious practices.</li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Daoism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Daoism</a> (12 million followers). Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, Daoism (also known as Taoism)centers on living in harmony with the spontaneous fluctuations of the natural order. Among its first philosophers was a man named <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Laozi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Laozi</a>, who is believed to have written the faith’s primary text, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tao-te-Ching" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Daodejing</a>.</li><li>Muism (10 million followers). One of the world’s oldest religions, this faith is closely associated with traditional Korean culture and history and is also known as Korean Shamanism. Muism’s followers claim a strong belief in the spirit world.</li><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cao-Dai" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cao Dai</a> (4.4 million followers). Originating in Vietnam in 1926, Cao Dai was established by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ngo-Van-Chieu" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ngo Van Chieu</a>, who claimed to have received a message from a god figure known as the Supreme Being during a séance. The religion incorporates elements of many other faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, and Daoism, and promotes love, peace, and tolerance.</li></ul><span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Story","templateName":"DEMYSTIFIED","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":11,"pageId":7773,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.36"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/story-page.js?v=3.133.36' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Story","pageSubtype":"DEMYSTIFIED","articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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