Main idea

Here is the data:

There are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world (200+ countries), nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion.

In fact, no single continent or region can claim to be the center of global Christianity.

26% live in Europe, 37% live in the Americas, 24% live in sub-Saharan Africa, and 13% live in Asia and the Pacific.

A new study finds half of all Christians worldwide are Catholic, a third are Protestant, one-in-eight are Orthodox, and one-in-one hundred are Other Christians.

In the US, 19% of the adult population are Catholic, 40% are Protestant, 1% are Orthodox, and 2% are Other Christians.

58% of adults say there is a great deal or some conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream culture (10 percentage points more than in 2024).

68% of adults say religion is losing influence in American life and 31% say it is gaining influence (13 points more than in 2024).

In the same survey, 59% of adults express a positive view of religions influence on American life (20% a negative view and 21% a neutral or unclear view).

For more information on other demographic traits, government, and public life, visit sources at the bottom of this article.

Here are the top 4 largest groups and their boundaries:

1. Is baptism for all people (unbelievers), believers only, or children of believers, and is it symbolic, covenantal, or required (regenerative)?

2. Are sacraments spiritual, symbolic, physical, or covenantal?

3. Can some people (unconditional/ single) but not others (unconditional/ double) or all people be saved (conditional), and can a person lose it or not (perseverance)?

4. Are spiritual gifts active (continuationism), not active (cessationism), or open but cautious?

5. Does one person (pastor/ bishop), a group of people (elders), or all people (members) lead a local church?

6. Is a future reign literal (premillennial/ postmillennial) or spiritual/ symbolic (amillennial), and when will it happen (tribulation)?

1. Catholic (1.1 billion — 50%): The church and the Bible are equal.

Catholics (1504): Baptism is for all people but is required (regeneration), sacraments are spiritual/ physical, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are active, bishop leadership (dependent), and a future reign is amillennial and spiritual/ symbolic.

2. Protestant (801 million — 37%): The Bible is more important than the church.

Baptists (1609): Baptism is for believers only (symbolic), sacraments are symbolic, some people decide to believe or not (unconditional/ perseverance), member leadership (independent), spiritual gifts are not active, and a future reign is premillennial and literal (pre-tribulation).

Holiness (1895)/ Pentecostals (1906): Baptism is for believers only (first work of grace), no original sin (second work of grace), spiritual gifts are active (third work of grace), sacraments are symbolic/ covenantal, pastor leadership (dependent), and a future reign is premillennial and literal (pre-tribulation).

Anglicans (1534)/ Episcopals (1700’s): Baptism is for believers and children (covenantal), sacraments are spiritual/ physical, spiritual gifts are open but cautious, bishop leadership (independent), and a future reign is amillennial and spiritual/ symbolic.

Lutherans (1517): Baptism is for all people but is required (regeneration), sacraments are physical, all people decide or not to believe (unconditional/ perseverance), spiritual gifts are open but cautious, pastor leadership (dependent), and a future reign is amillennial and spiritual/ symbolic.

Methodists (1738): Baptism is for all people but is not required (regeneration), no original sin and perfect love (second work of grace), sacraments are spiritual, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are open but cautious, and member leadership (dependent).

Seventh-day Adventists (1863): Baptism is for believers only (symbolic), sacraments are symbolic/ covenantal, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are active, and member leadership (dependent).

Reformers (1519)/ Presbyterians (1536): Baptism is for believers and children (covenantal), sacraments are spiritual, some people decide to believe or not (unconditional/ double), spiritual gifts are open but cautious, and elder leadership (dependent).

Congregationalists (1580’s): Baptism is for believers and children (covenantal), sacraments are spiritual, some people decide to believe or not (unconditional/ double), spiritual gifts are active, member leadership (independent), and a future reign is postmillennial and literal.

3. Orthodox (260 million — 12%): The church and the Bible are equal.

Orientals (1504)/ Easterners (1504): Baptism is for all people but is required (regeneration), sacraments are spiritual/ physical, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are open but cautious, bishop leadership (dependent), and a future reign is amillennial and spiritual/ symbolic.

4. Other Christians (28 million — 1%): The church and/ or the Bible are not most important.

Progressives/ Liberals (1800’s): No data.

Mormons/ Latter-day Saints (1830): Baptism is for all people but is required (regeneration), sacraments are symbolic, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are active, and bishop leadership (dependent).

Jehovah’s Witnesses (1870’s): Baptism is for believers only (symbolic), sacraments are symbolic, all people decide or not to believe (conditional), spiritual gifts are not active, and elder leadership (dependent).

Christian Scientists (1879): Spiritual gifts are active.

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