Religions of the world
Christianity and Ethnoreligion together account for 58% of the world's people groups (12,384 people groups, 8.31 billion people)
Number of people groups and share of the world's population, by religious block. Select a religious block to see its religions and filter the table below.
By religious block
Religions by number of people groups
All 52 religions. Scroll the list to see them all.
| Religion Name | Religious Block | Description | Total PGs | Total Population | Countries with Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islam - Sunni | Islam | Sunni and Shia Muslims share many fundamental Islamic beliefs but differ over the question of leadership. Sunni Muslims are those who, at Muhammad's death, agreed that the new leader should be chosen from among the Prophet's followers. Abu Bakr, Muhammad's close friend and advisor was chosen as the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word "Sunni" in Arabic means "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet". | 1,927 | 1,719,902,370 | 145 |
| Unaffiliated - Agnosticism | Unaffiliated | Agnosticism is the belief that the existence of God or the supernatural is unknowable. | 15 | 1,108,482,200 | 10 |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas that originated in India. It is characterized by a belief in reincarnation and the pursuit of liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. | 1,655 | 1,038,844,865 | 51 |
| Christianity - Roman Catholicism | Christianity | Roman Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian church and is among the oldest religious institutions in the world. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ and that its bishops are the successors of Christ. | 1,063 | 710,939,255 | 138 |
| Christianity - Folk Catholicism | Christianity | Folk Catholicism is characterized by local expressions of faith that combine Catholic traditions with local animistic rituals, resulting in syncretized forms of Catholicism that diverge from official church doctrine and practice. | 385 | 614,032,105 | 51 |
| Christianity - Protestantism | Christianity | Protestantism is the form of Christian faith and practice which originated with the Protestant Reformation, a movement against what Protestants considered to be doctrinal errors in the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants reject the idea of papal supremacy, instead stressing the authority of scripture alone, justification by faith alone, and salvation through Christ alone. | 2,219 | 542,938,345 | 121 |
| Unaffiliated | Unaffiliated | The religiously unaffiliated include atheists, agnostics, and others who do not identify with a particular religious tradition. However, many of the religiously unaffiliated hold some religious beliefs and engage in certain kinds of religious practices. | 179 | 332,636,490 | 87 |
| Ethnoreligion | Ethnoreligion | Ethnoreligion is a broad category of religious beliefs and practices linked with the adherents' ethnicity. Conversion typically equates to cultural assimilation to the ethnic group. Widely held ethnic religions include Chinese Universalism, Shintoism, and Judaism. | 1,338 | 320,130,490 | 135 |
| Ethnoreligion - Chinese Folk Religion | Ethnoreligion | Chinese Folk Religion refers to a unique complex of beliefs and practices that include: yin/yang cosmology with dualities earth/heaven, evil/good, darkness/light; ancestor cults; Confucian ethics; household gods / local deities; mediums, shamans, spirit-writing; and folk Buddhist elements. | 287 | 263,986,375 | 71 |
| Hinduism - Folk | Hinduism | Folk Hinduism encompasses mediums and trance sessions, village deities, festivals and other ritual events that help followers manage the uncertainties of daily life. Rituals enable followers to feel close to deities or display devotion to deities through offerings of non vegetarian items or the practice of self mortification. | 267 | 255,680,300 | 13 |
| Islam - Folk | Islam | Folk Islam is a syncretistic belief system that blends traditional monotheistic religion and animistic pagan superstition. Adherents of folk Islam will observe various superstitious practices such as warding off spirits with incantations and magic amulets, and reciting verses of the Qur'an to bring about miraculous healings. | 403 | 204,373,585 | 52 |
| Buddhism - Theravada | Buddhism | Theravada is the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism. the name Theravada means "teaching of the elders" and is closer to early Buddhsim than other existing Buddhist traditions. | 118 | 145,638,350 | 25 |
| Islam - Shia | Islam | Shia and Sunni Muslims share many fundamental Islamic beliefs but differ over the question of leadership. Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his counsin/son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have rejected the authority of elected Muslim leaders. | 123 | 144,324,300 | 44 |
| Ethnoreligion - Shinbutso-shugo | Ethnoreligion | Shinbutsu-shugo (???? syncretism of kami and buddhas) is the local expression given to a unique Japanese Folk Religion that mixes elements of Shinto and Buddhism. Though Shinto and Buddhism were formally separated by the 'shinbutsu bunri' policy enacted in 1868, temples and shrines that do not separate them are common and most Japanese people practice a mix of Shinto and Buddhism without seeing any contradiction. | 35 | 126,149,150 | 20 |
| Christianity - Eastern Orthodox | Christianity | Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a major branch of Christianity that traces its heritage to the ancient Christian churches of the Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. It is organized as a communion of self-governing churches and is characterized by i | 174 | 121,212,040 | 54 |
| Ethnoreligion - Animism | Ethnoreligion | Animism is the belief system or worldview that non-human entities (animals, plants, inanimate objects) possess a spiritual essence or soul. Animism encompasses the belief that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical world and that spirits exist not only in physical objects but also in phenomena such as thunder, wind and shadows. | 1,362 | 110,080,680 | 70 |
| Christianity - Neo-Pentecostalism | Christianity | Neo-Pentecostalism is a movement within Christianity that emphasizes expression of spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and faith healing, frequently combined with prosperity gospel theology. | 140 | 104,463,350 | 28 |
| Unaffiliated - Atheism | Unaffiliated | Atheism is a term that comes from the Greek word meaning godless. An athiest has no religious belief system, rejects the concept of the supernatural, and accepts only that which is scientifically verifiable. | 86 | 103,773,575 | 56 |
| Buddhism - Mahayana | Buddhism | Mahayana is a branch of Buddhism chiefly found in China and Japan, characterized by eclecticism and a general belief in a common search for salvation, sometimes thought to be attainable through faith alone. | 30 | 93,513,625 | 18 |
| Christianity - Tewahedo Orthodox | Christianity | Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity is the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition of Ethiopia and Eritrea, rooted in the ancient churches of the Horn of Africa. It is characterized by its continuity with early Christian doctrine, episcopal leadership, distincti | 36 | 77,844,800 | 12 |
| Ethnoreligion - Daoism | Ethnoreligion | Daoism (Taoism) is a philosophical, ethical, and religious tradition of Chinese origin that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao. Tao literally means "way", but can also be interpreted as road, path, or doctrine. Daoists focus on understanding the nature of reality, increasing their longevity, ordering life morally, and regulating consciousness and diet. | 7 | 37,293,600 | 1 |
| Ethnoreligion - African Traditional Religion | Ethnoreligion | African Traditional Religion encompasses the traditional beliefs and practices of African ethnic groups. There are as many African traditional religions as peoples or tribes, notably: Akan, Dogon, Fon, Igbo, Mende and Yoruba in west Africa, and Zande in central Africa; Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk among the Nilotics; Ganda, Lovedu, Shona and Zulu among Bantu. | 32 | 29,350,300 | 17 |
| Buddhism - Tibetan | Buddhism | Tibetan Buddhism or Lamaism is the Buddhism of Tibet and Mongolia, a Mahayana form including non-Buddhist Indian elements of the preexisting Bön shamanism. | 134 | 21,721,825 | 17 |
| Sikhism | Sikhism | Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century as a reform movement out of Hinduism. Based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors, Sikhs value truth as the highest ideal and pursue truthful living, rejecting the Indian caste system in favor of the equality of all humans. | 21 | 21,360,980 | 13 |
| Buddhism - Folk | Buddhism | Folk Buddhism is a syncretistic dimension of the Buddhist tradition characterized by beliefs and practices dominated by magical intent and fashioned with the purpose of helping people cope with the uncertainties and exigencies of life. | 33 | 14,281,100 | 9 |
| Judaism | Judaism | Judaism is the original of the three Abrahamic faiths (along with Christianity and Islam). Jews trace their history back to Abraham and believe there is only one God with whom they have a unique covenant. Their central religious document is the Torah (first five books of the Bible). There are multiple branches of Judaism including Orthodox, Reformed, Ashkenazi, Oriental, and Sefardii, as well as those who identify themselves as Jewish without necessarily believing in or observing Jewish law. | 84 | 10,756,370 | 42 |
| Christianity - Armenian Apostolic | Christianity | Armenian Apostolic Christianity is the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition of the Armenian people, historically centered in Armenia and maintained through the Armenian Apostolic Church and the worldwide Armenian diaspora. | 22 | 8,140,100 | 22 |
| Other - Jainism | Other | Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of nonviolence towards all living beings and emphasizes spiritual independenace and equality between all forms of life. Followers of Jainism believe that nonviolence and self-control are the means by which they can obtain liberation. | 14 | 6,574,800 | 3 |
| Christianity - Coptic Orthodox | Christianity | Coptic Orthodox Christianity is the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition of the Coptic people of Egypt, historically centered in Alexandria and maintained through the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Coptic communities worldwide. | 2 | 6,442,000 | 2 |
| Christianity - Syriac Orthodox | Christianity | Syriac Orthodox Christianity is the Oriental Orthodox Christian tradition of the West Syriac heritage, historically centered in Antioch and Mesopotamia and associated with Syriac-speaking Christian communities of the Middle East, India, and the global dia | 7 | 4,867,500 | 6 |
| Hinduism - Vaishnavaism | Hinduism | Vaishnavaism, the largest community within the family of Hinduism, focused on the veneration of Vishnu ("one who is all-pervading") and his incarnations (avatars), the most popular of which are Rama and Krishna. A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. | 6 | 2,621,000 | 1 |
| Ethnoreligion - Polytheism | Ethnoreligion | Polytheism is the belief in many gods. | 10 | 2,132,300 | 6 |
| Ethnoreligion - Ancestor Worship | Ethnoreligion | Ancestor Worship is the custom of venerating deceased ancestors who are considered still a part of the family and whose spirits are believed to have the power to intervene in the affairs of the living offering either help or harm, often depending upon the level or quality of veneration offered on their behalf. | 6 | 2,125,000 | 6 |
| Christianity - Anglicanism | Christianity | Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising the Church of England and churches historically tied to it or holding similar beliefs, worship practices, and patterns of church administration. | 1 | 989,000 | 1 |
| Ethnoreligion - Yazidism | Ethnoreligion | Yazidism is a monotheistic, syncretic ethnic religion practiced by the Yazidi (Yezidi) people that fuses elements of Zoroastrianism, Sufism, and Nestorian Christianity. It teaches belief in one supreme God, Xwedê, who created the universe and entrusted it | 4 | 802,100 | 4 |
| Ethnoreligion - Shamanism | Ethnoreligion | Shamanism is a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. | 17 | 799,550 | 4 |
| Ethnoreligion - Native American religions | Ethnoreligion | Native American religions refers to the spiritual practices of indigenous North American communities. Ceremonial practices vary widely and are based on the history, geography, and beliefs of individual nations. | 56 | 635,475 | 2 |
| Ethnoreligion - Confucianism | Ethnoreligion | Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.Confucianism focuses on proper respect of the gods, with particular emphasis on the importance of the family over and above any particular divine being. Confucian thought stresses cultivation of virtue and ethics. | 6 | 524,600 | 6 |
| Other - Druze | Other | The Druze faith originated in Egypt as an offshoot of Ismaili Shism during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph (996-1021). Even though the faith developed out of Isma'ilism, the Druze are not Muslims. | 5 | 522,500 | 5 |
| Other - Kirati | Other | Kirati is a form of Shamanism practiced primarily by the Kirat or Kiranti people of the Himilayas. The Kirati holy text is the Mundhum, also known as the Kirat Veda. Followers of Kirati worship nature and their ancestors and believe in a supreme god called Tagera Ningwaphuma. | 4 | 458,100 | 2 |
| Christianity - Chaldean Catholicism | Christianity | Chaldean Catholicism is an Eastern Catholic tradition rooted in ancient Mesopotamian Christianity. It follows the East Syriac liturgy, preserves Aramaic Christian heritage, and is in full communion with the Pope and the worldwide Catholic Church. | 11 | 409,200 | 10 |
| Islam - Shia Imami Ismaili | Islam | Ismailism is the second largest branch of Shia Islam after the Twelvers. The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor (Imam) to Jafar a-adiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musà al-Kazim, younger brother of Ismail, as the true Imam. | 7 | 239,100 | 5 |
| Islam - Sufi | Islam | Sufism is defined by some Muslims as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. Practitioners, known as Sufis, believe they are following the path of ihsan (perfection of worship) as revealed by Gabriel to Muhammad. | 1 | 212,000 | 1 |
| Hinduism - Shaivaism | Hinduism | Shivaism, one of the most widely followed sects of Hinduism. It refers to organized worship of the Indian god Shiva. Shaivism includes such diverse movements as the highly philosophical Shaiva-siddhanta, the socially distinctive Lingayat, ascetic orders such as the dashnami sannyasins, and innumerable folk variants. | 3 | 201,900 | 1 |
| Other - Zoroastrianism | Other | Zoroastrianism , also called Mazdaism, is a monotheistic religion founded in Persia in BC 1200 by the prophet Zoroaster teaching the worship of Ahura Mazda. In the 6th century BC it was one of the world's most powerful religions but today is one of the smallest. Zoroastrians are not fire-worshippers, as some suggest, but believe that fire represents God's light or wisdom. | 4 | 85,200 | 4 |
| Christianity - Church of the East | Christianity | Church of the East is an East Syriac Christian tradition distinct from Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, tracing to the pre-Chalcedonian Church of Persia, today comprising the Assyrian and Ancient Churches of the East, not in communion with any other Christ | 1 | 40,000 | 1 |
| Unknown | Unknown | There are still some small people groups about which so little is known that their religious beliefs cannot be classified. | 38 | 34,645 | 38 |
| Unaffiliated - Secularism | Unaffiliated | Secularism is a term that comes from the Latin for "of this world" and refers to a philosophy that values the naturalistic and materialistic over the supernatural. Secularism promotes the separation of religion and state and seeks to ensure that the right of individuals to freedom of religion is always balanced by the right to be free from religion. | 2 | 13,225 | 2 |
| Other - Mandaeism | Other | Mandaeism is a gnostic religion practiced primarily by the Mandaean people. Mandaeans settled in northern Mesopotamia and are still found in parts of Iraq and Iran. | 1 | 11,500 | 1 |
| Christianity | Christianity | Followers of Jesus Christ of all kinds: all traditions and confessions, and all degrees of commitment. | 1 | 11,000 | 1 |
| Other - Baha'i | Other | Followers of the Baha’i World Faith, founded by Baha’u’llah, since 1844. In government censuses Baha’is are usually counted as Muslims or Hindus and not shown separately. | 1 | 1,600 | 1 |
| Ethnoreligion - Samaritanism | Ethnoreligion | Samaritanism is an Abrahamic religion closely related to Judaism. Samaritans say that their worship is the true religion of the ancient Israelites prior to the Babylonian Exile, preserved by those who remained in the Land of Israel, as opposed to Judaism, which they say is a related but altered and amended religion, brought back by those returning from the Babylonian exile. | 1 | 450 | 1 |
52 religions