{{Short description|none}}
{{pp-semi-indef}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Pie chart <!-- NOTE: pie chart colors were chosen to match the color scheme of the file below (as of 3 October 2023, File:Prevailing religious population by country percentage.svg) --> | thumb = right | caption = The 2020 global percentage of adherents by religion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 |work=Pew Research Center |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/|access-date=2025-06-14 }}</ref> | label1 = Christianity | color1 = DarkOrchid | value1 = 28.8 | label2 = Islam | color2 = Green | value2 = 25.6 | label3 = Unaffiliated | color3 = Beige | value3 = 24.2 | label4 = Hinduism | color4 = Orange | value4 = 14.9 | label5 = Buddhism | color5 = Gold | value5 = 4.1 | label6 = Judaism | color6 = Blue | value6 = 0.2 | label7 = Other religions | color7 = LightGrey | value7 = 2.2 }}
The world's principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups, though this is not a uniform practice. This theory began in the 18th century with the goal of recognizing the relative degrees of civility<!-- The linked article is about orderly behavior and politeness - is that the intended concept? --> in different societies,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masuzawa |first=Tomoko |title=The Invention of World Religions |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-226-50989-1 |location=Chicago}}</ref> but this concept of a ranking order has since fallen into disrepute in many contemporary cultures.
==Religious demographics== {{Further|List of religious populations}} {{Main category|Religious demographics}} thumb|upright=1.8|A map of major denominations and religions according to the Pew Research Center's 2010 study ''The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050'' One way to define a major religion is by the number of current adherents. The population numbers by religion are computed by a combination of census reports and population surveys, in countries where religion data is not collected in census, for example the United States or France. Results can vary widely depending on the way questions are phrased, the definitions of religion used and the bias of the agencies or organizations conducting the survey. Informal or unorganized religions are especially difficult to count.
There is no consensus among researchers as to the best methodology for determining the religiosity profile of the world's population. A number of fundamental aspects are unresolved:
* Whether to count "historically predominant religious culture(s)".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Pippa Norris |url=http://www.cambridge.org/9780521839846 |title=Sacred and Secular, Religion and Politics Worldwide |last2=Ronald Inglehart |date=2007-01-06 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=43–44 |access-date=2006-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183400/https://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/comparative-politics/sacred-and-secular-religion-and-politics-worldwide-2nd-edition?format=HB&isbn=9781107648371 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> * Whether to count only those who actively "practice" a particular religion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pew Research Center |date=2002-12-19 |title=Among Wealthy Nations U.S. Stands Alone in its Embrace of Religion |url=http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=167 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822083255/http://pewglobal.org/2002/12/19/among-wealthy-nations/ |archive-date=22 August 2011 |access-date=2006-10-12 |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> * Whether to count based on a concept of "self-identification as adherents".<ref>{{Cite web |last=adherents.com |date=2005-08-28 |title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents |url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615140203/http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html |archive-date=15 June 2008 |access-date=2006-10-12 |publisher=adherents.com}}</ref> * Whether to count only those who expressly self-identify with a particular denomination.<ref>{{Cite web |last=worldvaluessurvey.org |date=2005-06-28 |title=World Values Survey |url=http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414075015/http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/ |archive-date=14 April 2014 |access-date=2006-10-12 |publisher=worldvaluessurvey.org}}</ref> * Whether to count only adults, or to include children as well. * Whether to rely on official government-provided statistics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=unstats.un.org |date=2007-01-06 |title=United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sconcerns/popchar/popcharMeta.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110203016/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/Demographic/sconcerns/popchar/popcharMeta.aspx |archive-date=10 January 2007 |access-date=2007-01-06 |publisher=United Nations Statistics Division}}</ref>{{not in citation given |date=December 2024}} * Whether to use multiple sources and ranges or single "best source(s)". Pew Research Centre's 2025 report on religious changes from 2010-2020, had Christians as the world's largest group at 2.3 billion representing 28.8%, 2 billion Muslims at 25.6%, 1.9 billion Religiously unaffiliated at 24.2%, 1.2 billion Hindus at 14.9%, 300 million Buddhists at 4.1%, 200 million Other religions at 2.2%, and 10 million Jews at 0.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hackett |first=Conrad |last2=Stonawski |first2=Marcin |last3=Tong |first3=Yunping |last4=Kramer |first4=Stephanie |last5=Shi |first5=Anne |last6=Fahmy |first6=Dalia |date=2025-06-09 |title=How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Largest religious groups === {|style="width:;" class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Religion !! Followers <br /> (billions) !! Cultural tradition !!class="unsortable"| Founded !!class="unsortable"| References |- | Christianity || align=right|2.3|| Abrahamic religions || Judaea (Middle East), c. 30 CE ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf |title=Status of Global Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900 –2050 |publisher=Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary|quote=Christian total 2,645,317,000|access-date=28 March 2025 |archive-date=15 Feb 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215101012/https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Christianity 2015">{{Cite web |date=January 2015 |title=Christianity 2015: Religious Diversity and Personal Contact |url=http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/1IBMR2015.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141543/http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/1IBMR2015.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 |access-date=2015-05-29 |publisher=gordonconwell.edu}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Conrad Hackett, Marcin Stonawski, Yunping Tong, Stephanie Kramer, Anne Shi and Dalia |date=2025-06-09 |title=How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | Islam || align=right|{{Sort|02|2.0}}|| Abrahamic religions|| Hejaz (Middle East), c. 610 CE||<ref name="WorldChristianDatabase">{{cite web |url=https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf |title=Status of Global Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900 –2050 |publisher=Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary|access-date=28 March 2025 |archive-date=15 Feb 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215101012/https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-04-06 |title=Why Muslims are the world's fastest-growing religious group |language=en-US |work=Pew Research Center |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/06/why-muslims-are-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religious-group/ |url-status=live |access-date=2017-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823093024/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/06/why-muslims-are-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religious-group/ |archive-date=23 August 2017}}</ref> |- |Irreligion | align="right" |1.9 |Secularism |Worldwide |<ref name=":0" /> |- | Hinduism || align=right|{{Sort|03|1.2}} || Indian religions || Indian subcontinent, c. 20th to 17th century BCE ||<ref>{{Cite web |last=A&E Television Networks |first=HISTORY |date=2017-10-06 |title=Hinduism: Symbols, Beliefs & Origins |url=https://www.history.com/articles/hinduism |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Landscape">{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=18 December 2012 |title=The Global Religious Landscape |url=http://www.pewforum.org/global-religious-landscape-exec.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225045352/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/ |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=18 March 2013 |website=The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life |publisher=Pew Research center}}</ref> |- | Buddhism || align=right|0.3 || Indian religions || Indian subcontinent, c. 5th century BCE ||<ref name=":0" /> |- |Folk religion || align=right|0.2 ||Regional || Worldwide ||<ref name=":0" /> |}
===Medium-sized religions=== <!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD RELIGIONS WHICH HAVE LESS THAN ONE MILLION FOLLOWERS.-->
{|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Religion !! data-sort-type="number" | Followers <br /> (millions)!! Cultural tradition !!class="unsortable"| Founded !!class="unsortable"| References |- | Shinto || align=right|89 || Japanese religions || Japan, unknown origin date || <ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2006 |title=Japan: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71342.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183410/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71342.htm |archive-date=12 May 2021 |access-date=24 June 2010 |publisher=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; U.S. Department of State}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/japan/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | Taoism || align=right|{{Sort|92.5|12–173}} || Chinese religions || China, 2nd century CE || <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wenzel-Teuber |first=Katharina |date=2012 |others=Translated by David Streit |title=People's Republic of China: Religions and Churches Statistical Overview 2011 |url=http://www.china-zentrum.de/fileadmin/redaktion/RCTC_2012-3.29-54_Wenzel-Teuber_Statistical_Overview_2011.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Religions & Christianity in Today's China |volume=2 |issue=3 |page=34 |issn=2192-9289 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184353/http://www.china-zentrum.de/fileadmin/redaktion/RCTC_2012-3.29-54_Wenzel-Teuber_Statistical_Overview_2011.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=2023-10-03}}</ref> |- | Yoruba Religion || align=right|{{Sort|75|50–100}} || African religions || Yorubaland, unknown origin date || <ref>Olupona, Jacob Kẹhinde; Rey, Terry. ''Òrìşà Devotion as World Religion: The Globalization of Yorùbá Religious Culture'', p. 23. Univ of Wisconsin Press, 2008. - "...more than 70 million African and New World peoples participate in or are closely familiar with, religious systems that include Ogun."</ref> |- | Voodoo || align="right" |60 || African religions || Dahomey, unknown origin date || <ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-07 |title=Inside the Voodoo Rituals of Haiti |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/haiti-ancient-traditions-voodoo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221190819/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/haiti-ancient-traditions-voodoo |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2021 |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Culture |language=en}}</ref> |- | Sikhism || align=right|25–30 || Indian religions || Indian subcontinent, 15th century || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikhism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229115017/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism |archive-date=29 December 2019 |access-date=7 August 2017 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> |- | Ahmadiyya || align="right" |10-20 || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || Indian subcontinent, 19th century ||<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZbyz_Hr-eIC&pg=PA23 |title=Encyclopedia of Islam |quote=The total size of the Ahmadiyya community in 2001 was estimated to be more than 10 million |author=Juan Eduardo Campo |page=24 |isbn=978-0-8160-5454-1 |year=2009 |publisher=Infobase }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2012/01/20/january-20-2012-ahmadiyya-muslims/10124/ | title=Ahmadiyya Muslims | publisher=PBS | access-date=6 October 2013 | date=20 January 2012 | archive-date=10 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310050128/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2012/01/20/january-20-2012-ahmadiyya-muslims/10124/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html |title=Major Branches of Religions |date=28 October 2005 |publisher=Adherents.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315022054/http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html |archive-date=15 March 2015 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name='devries'> {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgtgGhMUgIUC&pg=PA72 |title=Asian Religions in British Columbia |quote=The community currently numbers around 15 million spread around the world |first1=Larry |last1=DeVries |first2=Don |last2=Baker |first3=Dan |last3=Overmyer |isbn=978-0-7748-1662-5 |publisher=University of Columbia Press |date=January 2011 }}</ref> |- | Judaism || align=right|15 || Abrahamic religions || Judah (Middle East), 6th to 5th century BCE || <ref name="Landscape"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jewish Population of the World |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-population-of-the-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124080447/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html |archive-date=24 January 2017 |access-date=2018-12-18 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><ref name="f441">{{cite book | last=Mindell | first=David P. | title=The Evolving World: Evolution in Everyday Life | publisher=Harvard University Press | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-674-04108-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8kA6eaz7hsC&pg=PA224 | access-date=6 June 2024 | page=224}}</ref> |- | Spiritism || align=right|{{Sort|10|5–15}} || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || France, 19th century || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tabela 2102: População residente por situação do domicílio, religião e sexo |url=https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/Tabela/2102 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227074647/https://sidra.ibge.gov.br/Tabela/2102 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=sidra.ibge.gov.br}}</ref> |- | Mu-ism || align=right|{{Sort|10|5–15}} || Korean religions || Korea, unknown origin date || <ref>{{Cite book |last=Chryssides |first=George D. |title=The A to Z of new religious movements |date=2006 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-5588-5 |series=The A to Z guide series |location=Lanham, Maryland}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=October 2023}} |- | Unification Church || align="right" |10 || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || South Korea, 1954 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Explainer: What is the Unification Church, and how will Japan's probe affect it? |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/what-is-unification-church-how-will-japans-probe-affect-it-2022-11-22/#:~:text=Japan%20was%20one%20of%20the,generation%20members%20have%20drifted%20away. |access-date=2025-12-11 |website= Reuters |language=en}}</ref> |- | Ayyavazhi || align="right" | {{Sort|8|10}} || Dharmic religions and New religious movements || South India, 19th century || <ref>31st Indian Social Science Congress, ''[http://sndt.digitaluniversity.ac/WebFiles/XXXI%20Abstracts%20Part%201%20page%201-189.pdf A note on People's Struggles and Movements for Equitable Society] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215453/http://sndt.digitaluniversity.ac/WebFiles/XXXI%20Abstracts%20Part%201%20page%201-189.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}'', Plenary IV: People's Struggles and Movements For Gender/ Racial/ Caste-Discrimination-free Equitable Society, p. 47.</ref> |- | Baháʼí Faith || align="right" |{{Sort|6.15|7.3}} || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || Persia, 19th century || <ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-other/ |title=Other Religions |last1=Lugo |first1=Luis |last2=Cooperman |first2=Alan |date=2012-12-18 |publisher=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |page=9 |language=en-US |access-date=2023-10-03}}</ref><ref name="Grim-2012" /><ref group="nb">Historically, the Baháʼí Faith arose in 19th-century Persia, in the context of Shia Islam, and thus may be classed on this basis as a divergent strand of Islam, placing it in the Abrahamic tradition. However, the Baháʼí Faith considers itself an independent religious tradition, which draws from Islam but also other traditions. The Baháʼí Faith may also be classed as a new religious movement, due to its comparatively recent origin, or may be considered sufficiently old and established for such classification to not be applicable.</ref> |- | Confucianism || align="right" |{{Sort|6.5|6–7}} || Chinese religions || China, 6th to 5th century BCE || <ref>{{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Todd M. |url=http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf |title=The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography |last2=Grim |first2=Brian J. |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |year=2013 |location=Hoboken, NJ |pages=10 |access-date=24 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020100448/http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/47/04706745/0470674547-196.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |Sarnaism | align="right" |5 |Indian religions |Chota Nagpur Plateau, Unknown |<ref>{{Cite web| title=Religious Composition of India | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/09/PF_09.21.21_Religious-Composition-of-India-FULL.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402102744/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/09/PF_09.21.21_Religious-Composition-of-India-FULL.pdf | archive-date=2022-04-02}}</ref> |- | Jainism || align="right" |{{Sort|4.5|4–5}} || Indian religions || Indian subcontinent, 7th to 9th century BCE || {{Sfn|Voorst|2014|p=96}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jainism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726185611/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism |archive-date=26 July 2017 |access-date=7 August 2017 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> |- | Cheondoism || align="right" |{{Sort|3.5|3–4}} || Korean religions and New religious movements || Korea, 19th century || <ref>Self-reported figures from North Korea (South Korean followers are minimal according to census): {{Cite web |title=Religious Intelligence UK report |url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=37 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013201130/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=37 |archive-date=13 October 2007 |access-date=4 July 2009 |website=Religious Intelligence}}</ref> |- | World Mission Society Church of God || align="right" |3.9 || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || South Korea, 1964 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=World Mission Society Church of God |url=https://churchofgod.wiki/en/World_Mission_Society_Church_of_God#:~:text=Since%202001%2C%20every%20year%20about,occurring%20throughout%20our%20global%20village. |access-date=2025-12-11 |website= Church of God Wiki|language=en}}</ref> |- | Hoahaoism || align="right" |{{Sort|2.25|1.5–3}} || Vietnamese religions || Vietnam, 20th century || <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoskins |first=Janet Alison |date=February 2012 |title=What Are Vietnam's Indigenous Religions? |url=http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/edit/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NL643-6.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181944/http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/edit/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NL643-6.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |publisher=Center for Southeast Asian Studies |publication-place=Kyoto University}}</ref> |- | Iglesia ni Cristo || align="right" |2.8 || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || Philippines, 1913 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=The Iglesia ni Cristo vote: Decoding its impact on the 2025 senatorial race |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2063658/the-iglesia-ni-cristo-vote-decoding-its-impact-on-the-2025-senatorial-race#:~:text=In%20the%202020%20Census%20of%20Population%20and,influence%2C%20saying%20in%20a%20recent%20television%20interview: |access-date=2025-12-11 |website= Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> |- |Ravidassia | align="right" |1.5–2 |Indian Religions and New religious movements |Indian subcontinent, 2010 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ravidassia Religion – Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Sabha |url=https://www.sri-guru-ravidass-ji-sabha-medway.co.uk/ravidassia/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- | Caodaism || align=right|{{Sort|2.1|1.1–3}} || Vietnamese religions || Vietnam, 20th century || <ref>{{Cite speech |title=Religion vs Restrictions and Persecution |last=Blagov |first=Sergei |event=International Association for Religious Freedom World Congress |location=Vancouver |date=31 July 1999 |access-date=2023-10-03 |url=http://lecaodaisme.free.fr/caodainet/English/Htm/Caodai_inVN_SB.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009035436/http://lecaodaisme.free.fr/caodainet/English/Htm/Caodai_inVN_SB.htm |archive-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | Tenriism || align=right|{{Sort|1.2|1.2}} || Japanese religions || Japan, 19th century || <ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=宗教年鑑 |trans-title=Yearly Report on Religion |url=https://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/hakusho_nenjihokokusho/shukyo_nenkan/pdf/r01nenkan.pdf#page=100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225124108/https://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/hakusho_nenjihokokusho/shukyo_nenkan/pdf/r01nenkan.pdf#page=100 |archive-date=25 December 2020 |access-date=2 December 2020 |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |language=Japanese}}</ref> |- | Druze || align="right" |1 || Abrahamic religions || Egypt, 9th century || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Druze |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Druze |access-date=2021-06-16 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> |- | Tengrism || align="right" |1 || Animism || Central Asia, unknown origin date || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tengrian Religion in Kazakhstan |url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Tengrian-Religion-in-Kazakhstan-61070.html |access-date=2025-12-14 |website= PIME asia news |language=en}}</ref> |- | Rastafari || align="right" |1 || Abrahamic religions and New religious movements || Jamaica, 1930s || <ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief Introduction to Rastafarianism |url=https://commisceo-global.com/articles/a-brief-introduction-to-rastafarianism/#:~:text=Where%20do%20Rastafarians%20Live%20in,the%20Caribbean%20islands%20and%20America. |access-date=2025-11-02 |website= Commiseco |language=en}}</ref> |- | Yarsanism || align="right" |1 || Abrahamic religions and Iranian religions || Iran, 14th century || <ref name="North Africa 2004 p. 82">''Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa'' (Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2004) p. 82</ref> |}
=== Small-sized religions === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Religion !! data-sort-type="number" | Followers !! Cultural tradition !! class="unsortable" | Founded !! class="unsortable" | References |- |Wicca | align="right" |800,000 |New religious movement |United Kingdom, 1954 CE |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adherents.com - Religion Name Index - W|url=http://adherents.com/Na/i_w.html|website=adherents.com|access-date=2026-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002023455/http://adherents.com/Na/i_w.html|archive-date=2003-10-02}}</ref> |- |Yazidism | align="right" |300,000-500,000 |Kurdish religions |Kurdistan, 16th to 14th century CE |<ref>{{Cite news |title=Yazidi {{!}} History, Culture, & Religion {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yazidi |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006010356/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yazidi |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-11-24 |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> |- |Assianism | align="right" |200,000-450,000 |Iranian religions |Ossetia, 1980s |<ref name="ArenaAtlas2012">{{cite web|title=Арена: Атлас религий и национальностей |trans-title=Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities |year=2012 |publisher=Среда (Sreda) |url=https://docviewer.yandex.com/view/0/?*=rvAv5PGTc%2Fw%2BBFV6QOUZtaf5gYF7InVybCI6InlhLWRpc2stcHVibGljOi8vMWV1aDl5RDFpcnZKeVZNNSswWWFaZktqRFhoOXZDNWhldUlGTU5uQU4zQT0iLCJ0aXRsZSI6IlNyZWRhX2Jsb2tfcHJlc3Nfc20yLnBkZiIsInVpZCI6IjAiLCJub2lmcmFtZSI6ZmFsc2UsInRzIjoxNTI0NDg3NTUzMTcwfQ%3D%3D&page=1 |format=PDF}} See also the results' '''[http://sreda.org/arena main interactive mapping]''' and the static mappings: {{cite map|title=Religions in Russia by federal subject |journal=Ogonek |volume=34 |issue=5243 |date=27 August 2012 |url=http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg |archive-date=21 April 2017}} The Sreda Arena Atlas was realised in cooperation with the [http://sreda.org/arena/maps?mainsection=census All-Russia Population Census 2010 (Всероссийской переписи населения 2010)], the [http://sreda.org/arena/maps?mainsection=minust Russian Ministry of Justice (Минюста РФ)], the Public Opinion Foundation (Фонда Общественного Мнения) and presented among others by the Analytical Department of the Synodal Information Department of the Russian Orthodox Church. See: {{cite journal|title=Проект АРЕНА: Атлас религий и национальностей |trans-title=Project ARENA: Atlas of religions and nationalities |url=http://russ.ru/Mirovaya-povestka/Proekt-ARENA-Atlas-religij-i-nacional-nostej |journal=Russian Journal |date=10 December 2012}}</ref> |- |Donyi-Polo | align="right" |370,000 |Indian religions and New religious movements |Indian subcontinent, 1970 |<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-06-18 |title=Donyi-Poloism taking roots in Arunachal Pradesh {{!}} Arunachal Observer |url=https://arunachalobserver.org/2017/06/19/donyi-poloism-taking-roots-arunachal-pradesh/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241215115755/https://arunachalobserver.org/2017/06/19/donyi-poloism-taking-roots-arunachal-pradesh/ |archive-date=2024-12-15 |access-date=2025-11-24 |work=Arunachal Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | Native American Church | align="right" | 300,000 | Native American religions, New Religious movements | United States, 19th century |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/native-american-church.html|title=Native American Church|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrs.vcu.edu/profiles/NativeAmericanChurch.htm|title=World Religions & Spirituality – Native American Church|access-date=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103722/http://www.wrs.vcu.edu/profiles/NativeAmericanChurch.htm|archive-date=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/nachurch.htm |title=University of Virginia Library |publisher=Religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu |date=2006-09-07 |access-date=2011-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214012458/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/nachurch.htm |archive-date=14 December 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.csp.org/communities/docs/fikes-nac_history.html |title=A Brief History of the Native American Church |publisher=CSP |date=1996 |access-date=14 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821191748/http://www.csp.org/communities/docs/fikes-nac_history.html |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Darren |date=2023-03-03 |title=Leaders of Native American Church Pressure Biden Administration for Protections of Peyote Habitat |url=https://nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/leaders-of-native-american-church-pressure-biden-administration-for-protections-of-peyote-habitat |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Native News Online |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|- |Sanamahism | align="right" | 222,422 |Indian religions |Manipur, 10th century BCE |<ref>{{Cite web | title=India - C-01 Appendix: Details of religious community shown under 'Other religions and persuasions' in main table C01 - 2011 | url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11398 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241103050125/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11398 | access-date=2026-02-24 | archive-date=2024-11-03}}</ref> |- | Zoroastrianism || align="right" |205,000 || Iranian religions || Iran, 16th to 14th century BCE || <ref>{{Cite web |last=Binford |first=Harry |title=Zoroastrianism: History, Beliefs, and Practices |url=https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/zoroastrianism-history-beliefs-and-practices |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Theosophical Society in America |language=en-gb}}</ref> |- | Rodnovery || align="right" |22,000-777,000 || Modern paganism || Eastern Europe, 1930s-1950s ||<ref name="Segodnya">Evaluation of the Secretary of the Department of Religious Studies of the Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Dmytro Bazik // ''Segodnya''. July 7, 2013.</ref> |- | Mandaeism || align="right" |60,000-70,000 || Abrahamic religions and Iranian religions|| Middle East, 1st to 3rd century CE || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraqi minority group needs U.S. attention|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2007/03/09/iraqi-minority-group-needs-u-s-attention/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website= Yale Daily News |language=en}}</ref> |- |Happy Science | align="right" |13,000-38,000 |Japanese religion and New religious movement |Japan, 1986 |<ref>{{Cite web|title=【アゴラ】八幡 和郎：創価学会や旧統一教会など各宗教の本当の信者数は？|url=https://agora-web.jp/archives/221120211705.html|website=アゴラ 言論プラットフォーム|date=2022-11-21|access-date=2026-01-30|language=ja}}</ref> |- |Shugendō | align="right" |6,000 |Japanese religion |Japan, 7th century CE |<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many yamabushi are there? And other questions about yamabushi|url=https://timbunting.com/how-many-yamabushi-are-there-and-other-questions-about-yamabushi/|website=Tim Bunting|date=2021-04-02|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-NZ|last=Tim}}</ref> |- |Roman Traditionalism | align="right" | 3,200 |Modern Paganism |Italy, 1970s; Roots in Ancient Rome |<ref name="CESNUR2023">{{cite web |author=CESNUR |title=Il neopaganesimo in Italia |url=https://cesnur.com/il-neopaganesimo/ |website=Le religioni in Italia |publisher=CESNUR |access-date=14 April 2026 |quote=Si stima una presenza di circa 3.200 aderenti alle forme di politeismo romano e correnti neopagane affini.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Giudice |first=Christian |title=The Way of the Hearth: Roman Traditionalism in the 21st Century |journal=The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies |volume=25 |issue=1 |year=2024 |pages=42–65 |doi=10.1558/pome.23456}}</ref>
|- |Samaritanism | align="right" |900 |Abrahamic religions |Judah, 6th to 5th century BCE |<ref>{{cite web |date=2 January 2025 |title=An Internet Newsletter & Archive Regarding the Samaritan-Israelites |url=http://www.thesamaritanupdate.com/ |access-date=13 February 2025 |website=thesamaritanupdate.com}}</ref> |- |}
==By region== {{Further|Religions by country}} *Religions by country according to The World Factbook – CIA<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212175800/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html |archive-date=12 December 2016 |access-date=2016-11-08 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> *Religion by region *Religion in Africa *Religion in Antarctica *Religion in Asia **Religion in the Middle East **Muslim world (SW Asia and N Africa) *Religion in Europe **Religion in the European Union **Christian world *Religion in North America *Religion in Oceania *Religion in South America
==Trends in adherence== {{Further|Growth of religion}}
{| class="wikitable" |+ Trends in adherence<ref>The results have been studied and found "highly correlated with other sources of data", but "consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets." {{Cite journal |last1=Hsu |first1=Becky |last2=Reynolds |first2=Amy |last3=Hackett |first3=Conrad |last4=Gibbon |first4=James |date=2008-07-09 |title=Estimating the Religious Composition of All Nations |journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=678 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-5906.2008.00435.x}}</ref> ! !1970–1985 (%)<ref>{{Cite news |last=International Community |first=Baháʼí |author-link=Baháʼí International Community |year=1992 |title=How many Baháʼís are there? |pages=14 |work=The Baháʼís |url=http://www.bahai.com/thebahais/pg14.htm |url-status=live |access-date=10 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522031634/http://www.bahai.com/thebahais/pg14.htm |archive-date=22 May 2011}}</ref> !1990–2000 (%)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barrett |first=David A. |url=http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm |title=World Christian Encyclopedia |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-507963-0 |pages=4 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=12 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020054455/http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm |archive-date=20 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=David |last2=Johnson, Todd |year=2001 |title=Global adherents of the World's 19 distinct major religions |url=http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/globalchristianity/gd/wct-1-2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228224811/http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/globalchristianity/gd/wct-1-2.pdf |archive-date=2008-02-28 |access-date=2006-10-12 |publisher=William Carey Library}}</ref> !2000–2005 (%)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=May 2007 |title=The List: The World's Fastest-Growing Religions |work=Foreign Policy |publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 |url-status=live |access-date=2013-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125105653/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 |archive-date=25 January 2010}}</ref> ! 1970–2010 (%)<ref name="Grim-2012">{{Cite journal |last=Grim |first=Brian J |year=2012 |title=Rising restrictions on religion |url=http://www.iirf.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Journal/IJRF_Vol5-1.pdf#page=19 |url-status=dead |journal=International Journal of Religious Freedom |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=17–33 |issn=2070-5484 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728185506/http://www.iirf.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Journal/IJRF_Vol5-1.pdf#page=19 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> |- !Baháʼí Faith |3.65 |2.28 |1.70 |4.26 |- !Buddhism |1.67 |1.09 | |2.76 |- !Christianity |1.64 |1.36 |1.32 |2.10 |- !Confucianism | | | |0.83 |- !Hinduism |2.34 |1.69 |1.57 |2.62 |- !Islam |2.74 |2.13 |1.84 |4.23 |- !Jainism | | | |2.60 |- !Judaism |1.09 | | | -0.03 |- !Sikhism | |1.87 |1.62 |3.08 |- !Shinto | | | | -0.83 |- !Taoism | | | |9.85 |- !Zoroastrianism | | | |2.5 |- !Neopaganism | 7.03<ref name="Grim-2012" /> | 4.52<ref name="WCE-2001">{{cite book |last=Barrett |first=David B. |title=World Christian Encyclopedia |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195079630 |page=4}}</ref> | 2.28<ref name="Grim-2012" /> | 8.30<ref name="Grim-2012" /> |- !unaffiliated | | | |0.37 |}
==Maps of self-reported adherence== {{Gallery |width=220 |height=120 |align=center |File:Worldwide Importance of Religion, 2015.svg|alt1=|A 2015 map showing self-reported religiosity by country. |File:Irreligion statistics by country.png|alt2=|A 2002 map showing the percentages of people who regard religion as "non-important". |File:Abraham Dharma.png|alt5=|A map showing the prevalence of "Abrahamic religion" (purple), and "Indian religion" (yellow) religions in each country |File:Christ Islam.png|alt6=|A 2006 map of the relative proportion of Christianity (red) and Islam (green) in each country |File:Religions in the world by regions.png|alt7=|The 2012 distribution of world religions by country/state, and by smaller administrative regions for the largest countries:{{Legend|Magenta|% Christian population}} {{legend|Cyan|% Islam population}} {{legend|Yellow|% all other religions but Judaism<br />(equal parts cyan/magenta - Judaism)}} }}
==Classification== {{Further|Comparative religion|Sociological classifications of religious movements}} {{More citations needed section|date=May 2014}} Religious traditions fall into super-groups in comparative religion, arranged by historical origin and mutual influence. Abrahamic religions originate in the Middle East,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Salem |first1=Mohamed Omar |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/spirituality-and-psychiatry/DA5475A8B3957E3284F8951CDB8E4781/listing |title=Spirituality and psychiatry |last2=Foskett |first2=John |date=January 2018 |publisher=Royal College of Psychiatrists |isbn=9781108609074 |editor-last=Cook |editor-first=Chris |location=Cambridge |page=236 |chapter=Religion and religious experiences |access-date=2023-10-03 |orig-date=Published in print in 2009 |editor-last2=Powell |editor-first2=Andrew |editor-last3=Sims |editor-first3=Andrew}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Abraham, Father of the Middle East |url=http://www.dangoor.com/74064.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316013146/http://www.dangoor.com/74064.html |archive-date=16 March 2016 |access-date=2016-11-08 |website=www.dangoor.com}}</ref> Indian religions in the Indian subcontinent (South Asia) and East Asian religions in East Asia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neusner |first=Jacob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&q=East+Asian+religions&pg=PA216 |title=World Religions in America, Fourth Edition: An Introduction |date=2009-10-07 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=9781611640472 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183342/https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&q=East+Asian+religions&pg=PA216 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another group with supra-regional influence are Afro-American religion,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neusner |first=Jacob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&q=+African+american+religion&pg=PA216 |title=World Religions in America, Fourth Edition: An Introduction |date=2009-10-07 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=9781611640472 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183355/https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&q=+African+american+religion&pg=PA216 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> which have their origins in Central and West Africa. In contemporary scholarship, Modern Paganism is increasingly classified as a distinct supra-regional group, encompassing both eclectic traditions and polytheistic reconstructionism, the latter of which often functions as a contemporary ethnic religion focused on reviving pre-Christian European traditions.<ref name="Strmiska2005">{{cite book |last=Strmiska |first=Michael F. |title=Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-608-4 |pages=15-22}}</ref><ref name="York2003">{{cite book |last=York |first=Michael |title=Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion |year=2003 |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0814797020}}</ref>
* Middle Eastern religions:<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite web |title=Classification of religions |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/classification-of-religions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214003036/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38030/classification-of-religions |archive-date=14 December 2007 |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> ** Abrahamic religions are the largest group, and these consist mainly of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith. They are named for the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, and are unified by the practice of monotheism. Today, at least 3.8 billion people are followers of Abrahamic religions<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Statistician |first1=Howard Steven Friedman |last2=Teacher |first2=health economist for the United Nations |last3=University |first3=Columbia |date=2011-04-25 |title=5 Religions with the Most Followers |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/5-religions-with-the-most_b_853000.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208123701/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-steven-friedman/5-religions-with-the-most_b_853000.html |archive-date=8 December 2016 |access-date=2016-11-08 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref> and are spread widely around the world apart from the regions around East and Southeast Asia. Several Abrahamic organizations are vigorous proselytizers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brodd |first=Jeffrey |title=World Religions |publisher=Saint Mary's Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-88489-725-5 |location=Winona, Minnesota}}</ref> Abrahamic religions with fewer adherents include the Baháʼí Faith,<ref name="Abulafia-2019" /> the Druze faith,<ref name="Abulafia-2019" /> Samaritanism,<ref name="Abulafia-2019" /> and Rastafari.<ref name="Abulafia-2019">{{Cite web |last=Abulafia |first=Anna Sapir |author-link=Anna Abulafia |date=23 September 2019 |title=The Abrahamic religions |url=https://www.bl.uk/sacred-texts/articles/the-abrahamic-religions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712150432/https://www.bl.uk/sacred-texts/articles/the-abrahamic-religions |archive-date=12 July 2020 |access-date=9 March 2021 |website=www.bl.uk |publisher=British Library |location=London}}</ref> ** Iranian religions, partly of Indo-European origins,{{sfn|Samuel|2010}}{{sfn|Anthony|2007}} include Zoroastrianism, Yazdânism, Uatsdin, Yarsanism, Manichaeism, and Yazidism.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=YAZIDIS i. GENERAL |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |publisher=Columbia University |location=New York |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/yazidis-i-general-1 |access-date=9 January 2022 |last=Allison |first=Christine |date=20 September 2016 |orig-date=20 July 2004 |doi=10.1163/2330-4804_EIRO_COM_1252 |issn=2330-4804 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117105537/https://iranicaonline.org/articles/yazidis-i-general-1 |archive-date=17 November 2016 |url-status=live |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ** Gnosticism, including historical traditions of Mandaeism, which is still alive in the Middle East and diaspora.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sly |first=Liz |date=16 November 2008 |title='This is one of the world's oldest religions, and it is going to die.' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-11-16-0811160073-story.html |access-date=5 November 2021 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> * Eastern religions: ** Indian religions, originated in Greater India and they tend to share a number of key concepts, such as dharma, karma, reincarnation among others. They are of the most influence across the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as isolated parts of Russia. The main Indian religions are Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. In 2010 Ravidassia religion was separated from Sikhism. ** East Asian religions consist of several East Asian religions which make use of the concept of ''Tao'' (in Chinese), ''Đạo'' (in Vietnamese) or ''Dō'' (in Japanese or Korean). They include many Chinese folk religions, Taoism and Confucianism, as well as Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese religions, which are influenced by Chinese religious thought. * Indigenous ethnic religions, found on every continent, now marginalized by the major organized faiths in many parts of the world or persisting as undercurrents (folk religions) of major religions. Includes traditional African religions, Asian shamanism, Native American religions, Austronesian and Australian Aboriginal traditions, Chinese folk religions, and postwar Shinto. Under more traditional listings, this has been referred to as "paganism" along with historical polytheism. ** African religions:<ref name="Britannica" /> *** The religions of the tribal peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, but excluding ancient Egyptian religion, which is considered to belong to the ancient Middle East;<ref name="Britannica" /> *** African diasporic religions practiced in the Americas, imported as a result of the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th to 18th centuries, building on traditional religions of Central and West Africa. * Modern Paganism and Polytheistic reconstructionism is a broad group of religions that seek to revive or recreate pre-Christian spiritualities. Scholars categorize these along a continuum between eclecticism (blending traditions) and reconstructionism (seeking historical and ethnic accuracy).<ref name="Strmiska2005" /> ** Reconstructionist Roman religion (also known as ''Religio Romana'' or ''Cultus Deorum'') is a specific form of ethnic reconstructionism that seeks to re-establish the traditional cults and customs of ancient Rome as a culturally-rooted spiritual framework for the modern era.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Giudice |first=Christian |title=The Way of the Hearth: Roman Traditionalism in the 21st Century |journal=The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies |volume=25 |issue=1 |year=2024}}</ref> These movements are often affiliated with the European Congress of Ethnic Religions, emphasizing a "Native Faith" identity tied to European cultural heritage.<ref>{{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Scott |last2=Mariani |first2=Giuseppe |title=Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe |year=2017 |publisher=Acumen |isbn=978-1844656622}}</ref> * New religious movement is the term applied to any religious faith which has emerged since the 19th century, often syncretizing, re-interpreting or reviving aspects of older traditions such as Ayyavazhi, Mormonism, Ahmadiyya, Jehovah's Witnesses, polytheistic reconstructionism, and so forth.
==History of religious categories== {{globalize|date=March 2020}} thumb|300px|An 1821 map of the world, where "Christians, Mahometans, and Pagans" correspond to levels of civilization. The map makes no distinction between Buddhism and Hinduism. [[File:1883 religions map.jpg|thumb|300px|An 1883 map of the world divided into colors representing Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Mohammedans (Muslims), and Fetishists]]
===Christian categorizations=== Initially, Christians had a simple dichotomy of world beliefs: Christian civility versus foreign heresy or barbarity. In the 18th century, "heresy" was clarified to mean Judaism and Islam;<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Glaser |first1=Daryl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwuUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA62 |title=Twentieth-Century Marxism: A Global Introduction |last2=Walker |first2=David M. |date=2007-09-12 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135979744 |language=en |access-date=8 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217033701/https://books.google.com/books?id=MwuUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA62 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> along with paganism, this created a fourfold classification which spawned such works as John Toland's ''Nazarenus, or Jewish, Gentile, and Mahometan Christianity'',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Toland |first1=John |url=https://archive.org/details/nazarenusorjewis00tola |title=Nazarenus, or, Jewish, gentile, and Mahometan Christianity : containing the history of the antient Gospel of Barnabas, and the modern Gospel of the Mahometans ... also the original plan of Christianity explain'd in the history of the Nazarens ... with the relation of an Irish manuscript of the four Gospels, as likewise a summary of the antient Irish Christianity |last2=La Monnoye |first2=Bernard de |date=1718-01-01 |publisher=London : J. Brotherton, J. Roberts and A. Dodd}}</ref> which represented the three Abrahamic religions as different "nations" or sects within ''religion'' itself, the "true monotheism."
Daniel Defoe described the original definition as follows: "Religion is properly the Worship given to God, but 'tis also applied to the Worship of Idols and false Deities."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masuzawa |first=Tomoko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=Religion+is+properly+the+Worship+given+to+God%2C+but+%27tis+also+applied+to+the+Worship+of+Idols+and+false+Deities&pg=PA60 |title=The Invention of World Religions: Or, How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism |date=2012-04-26 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226922621 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183415/https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=Religion+is+properly+the+Worship+given+to+God%2C+but+%27tis+also+applied+to+the+Worship+of+Idols+and+false+Deities&pg=PA60 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the turn of the 19th century, in between 1780 and 1810, the language dramatically changed: instead of "religion" being synonymous with spirituality, authors began using the plural, "religions", to refer to both Christianity and other forms of worship. Therefore, Hannah Adams's early encyclopedia, for example, had its name changed from ''An Alphabetical Compendium of the Various Sects...'' to ''A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations''.{{sfn|Masuzawa|2005|pp=49–61}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masuzawa |first=Tomoko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=hannah+adams&pg=PA60 |title=The Invention of World Religions: Or, How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism |date=2012-04-26 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226922621 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183342/https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=hannah+adams&pg=PA60 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1838, the four-way division of Christianity, Judaism, Mahommedanism (archaic terminology for Islam) and paganism was multiplied considerably by Josiah Conder's ''Analytical and Comparative View of All Religions Now Extant among Mankind''. Conder's work still adhered to the four-way classification, but in his eye for detail he puts together much historical work to create something resembling the modern Western image: he includes Druze, Yazidis, Mandaeans, and Elamites{{Clarify|date=April 2012|reason=What does he mean by that? In modern usage, the Elamites are an ancient people.}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masuzawa |first=Tomoko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=+Josiah+Conder%27s+Analytical+and+Comparative+View+of+All+Religions+Now+Extant+among+Mankind&pg=PA60 |title=The Invention of World Religions: Or, How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism |date=2012-04-26 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226922621 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183348/https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=+Josiah+Conder%27s+Analytical+and+Comparative+View+of+All+Religions+Now+Extant+among+Mankind&pg=PA60 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> under a list of possibly monotheistic groups, and under the final category, of "polytheism and pantheism", he listed Zoroastrianism, "Vedas, Puranas, Tantras, Reformed sects" of India as well as "Brahminical idolatry", Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Lamaism, "religion of China and Japan", and "illiterate superstitions" as others.{{sfn|Masuzawa|2005|pp=65–66}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Masuzawa |first=Tomoko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=+Josiah+Conder+illiterate+superstitions&pg=PA60 |title=The Invention of World Religions: Or, How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism |date=2012-04-26 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226922621 |language=en |access-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183359/https://books.google.com/books?id=Quu3VvTFnnAC&q=+Josiah+Conder+illiterate+superstitions&pg=PA60 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The modern meaning of the phrase "world religion", putting non-Christians at the same level as Christians, began with the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. The Parliament spurred the creation of a dozen privately funded lectures with the intent of informing people of the diversity of religious experience: these lectures funded researchers such as William James, D. T. Suzuki, and Alan Watts, who greatly influenced the public conception of world religions.{{sfn|Masuzawa|2005|pp=270–281}}
In the latter half of the 20th century, the category of "world religion" fell into serious question, especially for drawing parallels between vastly different cultures, and thereby creating an arbitrary separation between the religious and the secular.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Clark |first=Stephen R. L. |date=1990 |title=World Religions and World Orders |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20019386 |journal=Religious studies |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=43–57 |doi=10.1017/S0034412500020199 |jstor=20019386 |s2cid=170963021 |issn=0034-4125|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
===Islam categorizations=== In Islam, the Quran mentions three categories: Muslims, the People of the Book, and idol worshipers.
==See also== {{portal|border=no|Religion|World}} * Irreligion * List of religions and spiritual traditions * List of religious populations * World religions * Numinous * Religious conversion * State religion
==Notes== <references group="nb"/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Sources== {{refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last=Anthony |first=David W. |title=The Horse, the Wheel and Language: how Bronze-Age riders from the Eurasian Steppes shaped the modern world |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2007}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2006 |title=Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |url={{Google books|IDsk47MeksAC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |editor-last=Doniger |editor-first=Wendy |editor-link=Wendy Doniger |isbn=978-1593392666}} * {{Cite book |last=Samuel |first=Geoffrey |title=The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2010 |author-link=Geoffrey Samuel}} * {{Cite book |last=Voorst |first=Robert E. Van |url={{Google books|mD8aCgAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |title=RELG: World |date=2014 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-285-43468-1 |edition=2 |author-link=Robert E. Van Voorst}} {{refend}}
==Further reading== {{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2006 |title=Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |url={{Google books|id=IDsk47MeksAC|plainurl=y|page=|keywords=|text=}} |editor-last=Doniger |editor-first=Wendy |editor-link=Wendy Doniger |isbn=978-1593392666 |ref=none}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2012 |title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion |publisher=SAGE Publications |location=Los Angeles |url={{Google books|id=B105DQAAQBAJ|plainurl=y|page=|keywords=|text=}} |editor-last=Juergensmeyer |editor-first=Mark |editor-link=Mark Juergensmeyer |volume=1 |isbn=978-0-7619-2729-7 |ref=none |editor-surname2=Roof |editor-given2=Wade Clark}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions |publisher=Merriam-Webster |location=Springfield, Massachusetts |url={{Google books|id=ZP_f9icf2roC|plainurl=y|page=|keywords=|text=}} |isbn=0-87779-044-2 |ref=none}} {{refend}}
==External links== * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/tools/civilisations/index.shtml Animated history of World Religions]—from the "Religion & Ethics" part of the BBC website, interactive animated view of the spread of world religions (requires Flash plug-in). * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/ BBC A-Z of Religions and Beliefs] * [http://greenmangos.net/Beliefs-And-Ideas/world-religions.aspx Major World Religions] * [http://www.icirc.org International Council for Inter-Religious Cooperation]
{{Religion topics}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major Religious Groups}} Category:Religion-related lists Category:Religious demographics