Recent reports and projections have shed light on the growth patterns of major religions worldwide, revealing some interesting trends.
According to the data, Muslims are currently the fastest-growing major religious group globally. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of Muslims increased by a staggering 347 million, outpacing the growth of all other religious groups combined. This significant growth can be attributed to factors such as higher fertility rates, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the fact that the Muslim population is generally younger compared to other religious groups.
On the other hand, Hindus experienced growth at a rate similar to the overall world population during the same period. The total number of Hindus increased by 126 million, reaching a total of around 14.9% of the global population.
Despite being the largest religious group globally, Christians did not see their growth rate keep pace with the overall increase in the world population between 2010 and 2020. The number of Christians did rise by 122 million, reaching a total of 2.3 billion, but their share of the global population actually decreased by 1.8 percentage points to 28.8%.
Interestingly, the religiously unaffiliated group, despite typically being older and having lower fertility rates, also saw an increase in their share of the global population. This group is now the third-largest globally, with many individuals choosing to disassociate from their childhood religious identity, often Christianity.
In summary, Islam is currently the fastest-growing religion worldwide, while Hinduism is growing at a rate similar to the overall world population. These trends, alongside the increase in the religiously unaffiliated group and shifts in Christian populations, are reshaping the global religious landscape.
