Main idea
Here is the data:
The word God has many definitions such as one (monotheism), many (polytheism), or nothing at all (nontheism).
A worldview is a view of the world (conscious or not) that is shaped by personal experiences. A religion is a shared view that connects people to a spirit(s) or god(s).
In short, a worldview is not a religion, but a religion is (technically) a worldview.
A spiritual movement is more active (conscious) than a worldview but less connected than a religion.
75.8% of people in the world identify with a religion and 80% of people in the world live in a place where most other people share an identity with a religion.
In the US, one survey showed that 83% of adults say that God or a universal spirit exists (9 percentage points less than in 2007) and 54% have absolute certainty (17 points less than in 2007).
But in recent years, 63% of adults think about God and religion a great deal or quite a bit.
A second survey showed that 70% of adults identify as spiritual (48% as also religious) and just 10% as religious but not spiritual. 21% identified as neither.
Here are the top 10 largest groups and their views on God:
1. Christians (2.3 billion — 28.8%)
One God exists in three persons (Father, Son: Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit).
2. Muslims (2 billion — 25.6%)
One God exists and is indivisible (tawhid).
3. Unaffiliated (1.9 billion — 24.2%)
Atheists: God does not exist.
Agnostics: God is impossible to know.
Ignostics: God does not have meaning.
Apatheists: God is not relevant.
Antitheists: God is negative.
Humanists: God is not necessary.
4. Hindus (1.2 billion — 14.9%)
Many gods exist in the universe but are forms (saguna) of the same cosmic spirit (Brahman).
5. Buddhists (324 million — 4.1%)
God does not exist but a spiritual goal can be achieved (nirvana).
6. Shintoists (104 million — 1.3%)
God does not exist but spirits and forces (kami) live in the natural world.
7. Sikhs (23-25 million — 0.3%)
One God exists in the natural world and in the universe.
8. New Agers/ Others (23-25 million — 0.3%)
New Agers: God does not exist but self-affirmation and personal experiences provide meaning and freedom.
Confucianists: God does not exist but heaven (tian) is a moral order in life.
Jains: God does not exist but all living things have an eternal soul (jiva).
Scientologists: The existence of God depends on an individual but immortal spirits (thetans) exist in the universe.
Animists: God does not exist but all things (living or not) have an internal soul that an external spirit powers.
Pagans: Many gods exist in the natural world.
Deists: One God exists outside of the universe but does not interact.
Zoroastrians: One God exists (Ahura Mazda) and is fighting a spirit (Angra Mainyu).
Baha’is: One God exists that is the same and universal.
Caodaists: One God exists (Cao Dai) that is the same and universal and created a Goddess (Phat Mau).
Spiritualists: One God exists and life after death is in a “spirit world.”
Tenrikoists: One God exists (Tenri-O-no-Mikoto) and the universe is part of it.
9. Daoists (20 million — 0.3%)
God does not exist but the natural flow of the universe can be experienced (dao).
10. Jews (14.8 million — 0.2%)
One God exists and a future leader (mashiach) will bring peace.
Want to research more?