In 2020, around 28.8 percent of the global population were identified as Christian. Around 25.6 percent of the global population identify as Muslims, followed by 14.9 percent of global populations as Hindu. The number of Muslims increased by 347 million, when compared to 2010 data, more than all other religions combined.

The World Religion Project (WRP) aims to provide detailed information about religious adherence worldwide since 1945. It contains data about the number of adherents by religion in each of the states in the international system. These numbers are given for every half-decade period (1945, 1950, etc., through 2010). Percentages of the states' populations that practice a given religion are also provided. (Note: These percentages are expressed as decimals, ranging from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates that 0 percent of the population practices a given religion and 1 indicates that 100 percent of the population practices that religion.) Some of the religions are divided into religious families. To the extent data are available, the breakdown of adherents within a given religion into religious families is also provided.

The project was developed in three stages. The first stage consisted of the formation of a religion tree. A religion tree is a systematic classification of major religions and of religious families within those major religions. To develop the religion tree we prepared a comprehensive literature review, the aim of which was (i) to define a religion, (ii) to find tangible indicators of a given religion of religious families within a major religion, and (iii) to identify existing efforts at classifying world religions. (Please see the original survey instrument to view the structure of the religion tree.) The second stage consisted of the identification of major data sources of religious adherence and the collection of data from these sources according to the religion tree classification. This created a dataset that included multiple records for some states for a given point in time. It also contained multiple missing data for specific states, specific time periods and specific religions. The third stage consisted of cleaning the data, reconciling discrepancies of information from different sources and imputing data for the missing cases.

The National Religion Dataset: The observation in this dataset is a state-five-year unit. This dataset provides information regarding the number of adherents by religions, as well as the percentage of the state's population practicing a given religion.

In 2022, ** percent of Hindus and Buddhists worldwide lived in Asia-Pacific. In comparison, ** percent of Jews lived in North America, and **** percent lived in the Middle East and North Africa. Christians were more evenly divided around the continents.

According to a 2016 survey, Muslim men and women above the age of 20 years are to the same extend religious. In contrast, Christian and Buddhist women are more religious than Christian and Buddhist men.

Content

The World Religion Project aims to provide detailed information about religious adherence worldwide since 1945. It contains data about the number of adherents by religion in each of the states in the international system for every half-decade period. Some of the religions are divided into religious families, and the breakdown of adherents within a given religion into religious families is provided to the extent data are available.

The project was developed in three stages. The first stage consisted of the formation of a religions tree. A religion tree is a systematic classification of major religions and of religious families within those major religions. To develop the religion tree we prepared a comprehensive literature review, the aim of which was to define a religion, to find tangible indicators of a given religion of religious families within a major religion, and to identify existing efforts at classifying world religions. The second stage consisted of the identification of major data sources of religious adherence and the collection of data from these sources according to the religion tree classification. This created a dataset that included multiple records for some states for a given point in time, yet contained multiple missing data for specific states, specific time periods, and specific religions. The third stage consisted of cleaning the data, reconciling discrepancies of information from different sources, and imputing data for the missing cases.

Acknowledgements

The dataset was created by Zeev Maoz, University of California-Davis, and Errol Henderson, Pennsylvania State University, and published by the Correlates of War Project.

This map service shows the breakdown of religious groups by population and percentage for each country. The total population (July 2013 estimate) by country is also included. Map Service published and hosted by Esri Canada © 2013. Content Source(s): Countries, ArcGIS Online World Religions, CIA, The World Factbook 2012 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html#195 & http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/#wrapper)World Religions, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/population.htm), Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/), Web Archive (http://archive.org/web/web.php), Cultural Crossing (http://www.culturecrossing.net/) and the Association of Religion Data Archives (http://www.thearda.com/). Coordinate System: Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (WKID 102100) Update Frequency: As Required Publication Date: June 2013 Islam includes Sunni, Shia and DruzeChristianity includes Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Mormon and Jehovah’s WitnessTraditional includes Indigenous beliefs, Shamanism, Spiritualist and AnimistJudaism includes Jewish and ZionistBuddhism includes Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist and Folk religionsSyncretic includes Chondogyo, Cao Dai, Bantu, Voodoo, Modekngei, Kimbanguist and RastafarianNon-religious includes Atheist, Agnostic and IrreligionUnaffiliated includes none, unspecified and unknownOther includes Yezidi and Ethnoreligionist

According to India's last census details, Hindus made up the majority of the population in the country, followed by Muslims. At the same time, almost ***** million people did not state their religion for the census. India has historically been a religiously pluralistic and multiethnic democracy, with a substantial proportion of all major religions of the world along with several minority and tribal religions.

Author: A Buckingham, educator, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic EducationGrade/Audience: grade 8, high schoolResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): culture, gisRegion: worldStandards: Minnesota Social Studies Standards

Standard 1. People use geographic representations and geospatial technologies to acquire, process and report information within a spatial context.

Standard 7. The characteristics, distribution and complexity of the earth’s cultures influence human systems (social, economic and political systems).

Standard 14. Globalization, the spread of capitalism and the end of the Cold War have shaped a contemporary world still characterized by rapid technological change, dramatic increases in global population and economic growth coupled with persistent economic and social disparities and cultural conflict. (The New Global Era: 1989 to Present)

Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Acquire the knowledge and skill to use Google Maps.
2. Demonstrate various applications of Google Maps.
3. Evaluate their ability to use Google Maps.
4. Collect and describe information about various world religion sites.
5. Identify and illustrate the significance of various world religion sites.Summary: There are two main goals of this lesson. The first goal is to expose students to potential applications of Google Maps by demonstrating a content-based activity that requires the use of Google Maps. The second goal is to examine the geographic placement of religious sites and their historical significance.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, over ** percent of respondents reported no religious affiliation, while approximately ** percent identified as Christians and ** percent as Buddhists. Religious population South Korea is a multi-religious society where Christianity, Buddhism, and various other religions coexist with shamanism. According to a previous study, the domestic religious population appeared to decline over time after reaching its peak in 2005, at nearly ** million people. In contrast, the share of people who are religiously unaffiliated has increased in recent years. Within the last two decades, the religiously unaffiliated population has increased from about ** percent to more than ** percent. Shamanism Shamanism has continued to significantly influence the daily lives of many South Koreans. According to a survey conducted in 2023, about ** percent of respondents reported having consulted a fortune-teller within the past year. Roughly ** percent of those respondents were already affiliated with a religion.

In 2025, North Korea was the country with the strongest suppression of Christians with an index value of 98. Somalia followed behind with 94, with Yemen in third. The World Watch List The index ranges from 0 (complete freedom) to 100 (total suppression). The survey for the World Watch List included various aspects of religious freedom: the legal and official status of Christians, the actual situation of Christians living in the country, regulations from the state as well as factors that can undermine the freedom of religion in a country. Christianity worldwideEven though Christianity is the largest religion worldwide, there are many areas of the world where Christians are persecuted. As the list shows, this is especially the case in countries with larger Muslim populations. Moreover, these countries are characterized by their authoritarian nature. The global distribution of religions varies strongly; whereas almost 100 percent of Hindus and Buddhists are found in the Asia-Pacific, Christians are spread around most world regions except the Middle East and North Africa.

From 2022 to 2060, the worldwide population of Muslims is expected to increase by **** percent. For the same period, the global population of Buddhists is expected to decrease by **** percent.

The eighth of 20 years of International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) surveys within New Zealand by Professor Philip Gendall, Department of Marketing, Massey University.A verbose rundown on topics covered follows.Attitudes towards religious practices. Assessment of personal happiness; assessment of the responsibility of the government regarding creation of jobs and equalization of incomes; attitude to pre-marital as well as extra-marital sexual intercourse; attitude to homosexuality and abortion; judgement on distribution of roles in marriage and attitude to working women; attitude to living together with a partner before marriage and also without intent to marry; tax honesty and attitude to honesty of citizens towards the government; trust in other people as well as institutions such as parliament, businesses, industry, churches, judiciary and schools.Attitude to influence of church leaders on voters and governments; attitude to benefit of modern science; greater trust in science than in religion; more conflicts instead of peace from religions; intolerance of very religious people; too much influence of religion in one’s country; frequency of personal honorary activities in the last year in political, charitable, religious or other organisations; judgement on the power of churches and religious organisations; doubt or firm belief in God; perceived nearness to God; belief in a life after death, heaven, hell and miracles.Attitude to the Bible; God is concerned with every human; fatalism; the meaning of life and Christian interpretation of life; religious tie at a turning point in life; religious affiliation of father, mother and spouse/partner; frequency of church attendance of father and mother; personal direction of belief and frequency of church attendance when young; frequency of prayer and participation in religious activities; self-classification of personal religiousness; truth in one or in all religions; priority for loyalty to a friend before truth; anticipation of false testimony for the benefit of a friend; belief in lucky charms, fortune tellers, miracle healers and horoscopes; conversion of faith after crucial experience; concept of God; judgement on the world and people as good or bad; social rules or God’s laws as basis for deciding between right and wrong.Demography: sex; age, marital status; living together with a partner; school education; type and time extent of occupation activity; occupation (ISCO-Code); private or public employer; occupational self-employment and number of employees; supervisor function and span of control; time worked each week; income; household size; composition of household; number of co-workers; union membership; party inclination and election behaviour; self-classification on a left-right continuum; religious affiliation; frequency of church attendance; self-classification of social class.Also encoded were: region; rural or urban area; city size; ethnic identification.

Religio Publishing Market Outlook

The religio publishing market size was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2024 to 2032, reaching a projected market size of USD 2.0 billion by 2032. The growth of the religio publishing market is primarily driven by increasing global interest in religious and spiritual texts, growing digitization of content, and expanding distribution channels.

A significant growth factor for this market is the rising global interest in religious and spiritual literature. In an increasingly interconnected world, individuals are seeking out diverse religious texts to understand different faiths, leading to a surge in demand for publications in this genre. Additionally, the expanding interests in personal spirituality and self-help have further driven the consumption of religio publications. This trend is particularly notable among the millennial and Gen Z demographics, who are exploring spiritual paths outside traditional religious institutions.

Another driving force is the digitization of religious texts and magazines. The proliferation of e-books and digital platforms has made religious content more accessible to a broader audience. The convenience of reading digital content on smartphones, tablets, and e-readers has transformed the way people consume religio content. Furthermore, digital platforms provide interactive and multimedia-rich experiences that enhance user engagement. This shift towards digitalization is not only catering to tech-savvy consumers but also opening new revenue streams for publishers.

Moreover, the expansion of distribution channels has significantly contributed to the market's growth. With the advent of online stores and the increasing penetration of the internet, purchasing religious books and magazines has become easier. Online retail giants like Amazon and niche religious bookstores offer a vast collection of religio publications, making them accessible to a global audience. Additionally, direct sales through religious organizations and events have proven to be effective channels for reaching dedicated followers and communities. This diversification of distribution channels helps publishers to tap into various market segments more efficiently.

Book Publishers play a crucial role in the religio publishing market, acting as the bridge between authors and readers. They are responsible for curating a diverse range of religious texts, ensuring that both traditional scriptures and contemporary spiritual writings reach a global audience. The expertise of book publishers in editing, marketing, and distribution is vital for maintaining the quality and accessibility of religious literature. In an era where digital content is becoming increasingly prevalent, book publishers are adapting by offering both physical and digital formats, catering to the varied preferences of readers. Their ability to navigate the evolving landscape of publishing ensures that religious texts remain relevant and widely available, supporting the spiritual journeys of individuals across the world.

Regionally, North America and Europe currently dominate the religio publishing market due to their established publishing industries and high demand for religious literature. However, regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America are emerging as significant markets due to increasing religious diversity and growing literacy rates. The Middle East & Africa region also presents substantial growth potential, driven by a strong religious culture and increasing access to educational resources. The regional outlook for this market remains positive, with different regions exhibiting unique growth drivers and opportunities.

Product Type Analysis

The religio publishing market is segmented into books, magazines, digital content, and others. Books remain the cornerstone of religio publishing, encompassing a wide range of religious scriptures, commentaries, and spiritual guides. Physical books hold a special significance in religious contexts, often regarded as sacred and integral to religious practices. Despite the digital wave, the demand for physical religious books continues to be strong due to their cultural and sentimental value. Religious books are often kept as heirlooms, with many being passed down through generations, thus maintaining a steady demand.

Magazines in the religio publishing market cater to a more periodic and

In 2021, 53.3 percent of the total population in Canada were Christian, 4.9 percent were Muslim, but almost more than a third are not religious at all – with the rest stating they adhere to Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, the Jewish faith, and other Christian denominations. Canada’s religious pluralismCanada is not a very religious country in general. Canadians adhere to a wide variety of beliefs and faiths, with the majority following Christianity, followed by those who do not believe in any deity or religion at all. As with many Western countries, the younger generations are less inclined to identify with faith, and Christianity in particular is not as popular as it is among the older generations. Alternative worship for the younger generations?Canadian teenagers are no less enthusiastic about religion than their parents, and they are just as grounded in their faith as the older generations. They are, however, also just as indecisive when it comes to whether they would call themselves religious or not. Interestingly, they seem much more interested in traditional aboriginal spirituality than in the Judeo-Christian model. They also seem quite interested in another alternative to Christianity: Buddhism is quite popular among the younger generations. Whether this signifies a general trend away from Christianity and towards religious alternatives remains to be seen.

This dataset was found online at the Association of Religious Data Archives (ARDA) website. http://www.thearda.com/ . This data set shows information on religous groups throughout the United States. All data was uploaded as a polypoint centroids per county in the United States, in shapefile format. This Data set shows the Total congregations, Total Adherents, and Rate of Adherence per 1000 population for All religions in the United States and for the Mainline Religions.

Religious Food Market Outlook

The global religious food market size was valued at approximately USD 1.5 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 2.8 trillion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. This market's growth is primarily driven by increasing consumer awareness and demand for food products that align with their religious beliefs and practices.

The burgeoning awareness and sensitivity towards cultural and religious practices have significantly boosted the religious food market. Consumers are becoming more conscientious about the sources and preparation methods of their food, seeking assurance that their dietary choices adhere to their religious standards. This shift is further amplified by the growing multicultural population worldwide, where diverse religious communities seek to maintain their dietary traditions. Additionally, globalization and the ease of information access have made it easier for people to learn about and demand religiously compliant food products, thereby expanding the market's reach.

Health and wellness trends also play a critical role in the growth of the religious food market. Many religious food practices, such as Halal, Kosher, and vegetarianism, emphasize purity, cleanliness, and the humane treatment of animals, which align with the broader health-conscious movement. Consumers often perceive these foods as healthier and safer, driving demand not only from religious groups but also from health-conscious non-religious consumers. This convergence of religious adherence and health consciousness has created a robust demand for religious food products, further propelling market growth.

Technological advancements and innovations in food production and distribution have facilitated the growth of the religious food market. The development of sophisticated certification processes and technologies ensures that food products meet stringent religious standards, bolstering consumer confidence. Moreover, the rise of e-commerce and online distribution channels has made it easier for consumers to access a wide variety of religious food products, breaking down geographical barriers and catering to the needs of a global market.

Halal Food and Beverage products are increasingly gaining traction in the global market, not only among Muslim consumers but also among those who are health-conscious and environmentally aware. The principles of Halal emphasize cleanliness, purity, and ethical treatment of animals, which resonate with the broader health and wellness trends. This has led to a surge in demand for Halal-certified products, as consumers seek assurance that their food choices align with their ethical and health values. The Halal certification process itself has become a mark of quality and safety, attracting a diverse consumer base beyond religious boundaries. As the global population becomes more multicultural, the appeal of Halal Food and Beverage products continues to grow, offering significant opportunities for market expansion.

Regionally, the religious food market exhibits significant growth potential across various geographies. In the Asia Pacific region, countries with large Muslim and Hindu populations, such as Indonesia and India, represent substantial markets for Halal and vegetarian foods. North America and Europe, with their growing multicultural populations and increasing adoption of health and wellness trends, also show strong demand for Kosher, Halal, and vegan products. Middle East & Africa, being predominantly Muslim, naturally has a high demand for Halal food products. Latin America, though smaller in market size compared to other regions, is witnessing gradual growth driven by increased awareness and import of religious food products.

Product Type Analysis

The religious food market is segmented by product type into Halal, Kosher, Vegetarian, Vegan, and Others. Halal food, adhering to Islamic dietary laws, represents one of the largest segments in this market. The demand for Halal food is driven by the growing Muslim population worldwide and the increasing awareness about Halal certification. Countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and India, exhibit high demand for Halal products. Additionally, non-Muslim consumers who perceive Halal food as healthier and safer are also contributing to the growth of this segment.

Kosher food, prepared according to Jewish dietary laws, is an

This data collection consists of semi- structured interviews conducted between 2013 and 2015 with a cross-section of religious and political activists in Belfast, Bradford, Dublin and London exploring attitudes to martyrdom and self-sacrifice since 1914. The research project examined the development of the concept of martyrdom and sacrificial death in Britain and Ireland since the outbreak of the First World War. It proceeded through archival, library and web-based research on historic sources, including books and pamphlets, newspapers and online databases, supplemented as necessary by site visits. The leadership activities sought to integrate key insights from other relevant GU projects, exploring both various understandings of religion and quasi-religion, and weighing their importance against other non-religious factors. Work proceeded by means of telephone interviews with researchers leading to an initial working paper. User responses were gathered through two seminars and the project website; and selected researchers attended a symposium intended to distil insights and implications for users and to present them in an accessible form. A widely-circulated hardcopy summary of the outcomes together with online video resources was made available to users, who were invited to attend one of a series of dissemination seminars to be held at various locations around the UK. The leadership interviews and accompanying documentation are also deposited in the UK Data Archive in the collection 'Religion martyrdom and global uncertainties - Part 1: Leadership interviews' (see Related Resources). The data was collected in semi-structured interviews, which were subsequently transcribed. The Belfast, Bradford and Dublin interviews were conducted by the Belfast-based Institute for Conflict Research, who were contracted as consultants on the project - the Belfast ones by John Bell and the Bradford and Dublin ones by Neil Jarman The London interviews were conducted by Gavin Moorhead, the project Research Associate. All three interviewers followed a structure developed by the PI and discussed with them in advance. The PI also sat in on a selection of interviews. The objective was to achieve a sample of equal proportions of Catholics, Muslims and Protestants across the four case study sites, taking into account the relative numbers of each group in the four cities. Thus Protestants make up the majority of the Belfast sample, Catholics predominate in Dublin, Muslims in Bradford. These identifications were made on the basis of community background not active religious practice, although interviewees were asked to about their religious practice (or absence of it). A parallel objective was to ensure that at least a third of interviewees were women. The eventual distribution of 46 interviews (including one double interview) was Protestant 13, Muslim 16, Catholic 17; Male 30; Female 16. No attempt was made to achieve an even age distribution, as this was thought to be unrealistic in a limited sample alongside the other sampling requirements: it will be noted that the Catholic and Protestant interviewees were in general older than the Muslim ones. Interviewees were identified through existing contacts and networks and through some 'snowballing'. The researchers received valuable assistance from Dr Muhammad Ilyas in approaching Muslim interviewees in London.

The RCS-Dem dataset reports estimates of religious demographics, both country by country and region by region. RCS was created to fulfill the unmet need for a dataset on the religious dimensions of countries of the world, with the state-year as the unit of observation. It covers 220 independent states, 26 selected substate entities, and 41 geographically separated dependencies, for every year from 2015 back to 1900 and often 1800 (more than 42,000 state-years). It estimates populations and percentages of adherents of 100 religious denominations including second level subdivisions within Christianity and Islam, along with several complex categories such as "Western Christianity." RCS is designed for easy merger with datasets of the Correlates of War and Polity projects, datasets by the United Nations, the Religion And State datasets by Jonathan Fox, and the ARDA national profiles.

Social relevance of Christian religion in the Netherlands.Social characteristics / education / employment / social integration / attachment to neighbourhood / intragenerational occupational mobility / intergenerational educational and occupational mobility / educational and occupational homogamy / achievement values / family values / social criticism / hedonistic values / r's past and present church membership and church attendance / r's belief in God / r's participation in rites of passage / membership non-Christian religious groups / involvement philosophical movements / past and present church membership / r's parents, r's partner, and r's best friend / talking about religion with partner / Christian, transcendental, and world-directed interpretation of and doubt about and denial of ultimate reality / Christian and world-directed interpretation of and denial of meaning of suffering / Christian and world-directed interpretation of and denial of meaning of death / Christian and world directed interpretation of and denial of good and evil / individualistic and humanistic beliefs / salience of religion and world view / religious surroundings / images of God / economic conservatism / cultural conservatism / attitudes towards religious-conservative groups / instrumental network / emotional network / companionship network / world-view network / characteristics of persons in personal network / political party preference / political libertarianism / ( post )materialism / left-right political orientation / interest in politics / confidence in politics / political efficacy / political cynicism / participation in (un-) conventional political activities / acceptance of and action against government decisions / citizenship / work ethic / parenthood and working outdoors / distribution of household work / marriage and alternative forms of intimate relationships / unmarried cohabitation / acceptance alternative forms of intimate relationships / freedom and commitment in intimate relationships / pedagogical organization of education / educational meaning of learning / goals of education / reasons for school choice / expectations on future use of social security / attitudes towards misuse of social security / attitude towards causes of poverty / attitudes towards rights and duties of beneficiaries / ethnocentrism / attitude towards ethnic minorities / negative attitudes towards Muslims / anti-Semitism / perceived threat / ethnic distance / ethnic discrimination / ethnic policy / authoritarianism / anomie / utilitarian individualism / environmentalism / child-rearing values and behaviour.Background variables: basic characteristics/ residence/ household characteristics/ occupation/employment/ income/capital assets/ education/ social class/ politics/ religion/ organizational membership.The data- and documentation files of this dataset can be downloaded via the option Data Files.