Ranking the Top 10 Religions in the World – A Comprehensive Look at the Different Beliefs of the World
The topic of religion is incredibly complex. There are thousands of old and new religious movements, denominations and cults. But have you ever wondered which religions are the most popular today?
Often it can be difficult to pin down an accurate number of followers of a particular religion in the world. This is because there are so many branches of religion that it is practically impossible to keep track. However, there are 10 most popular religions in the world which are considered global and widespread. We are discussing all of them in this post.
Top 10 Most Popular Religions in the World in 2024
| Name of the Religion | Number of Followers | Percentage of the World’s Total Population |
| Christianity | 2.382 Billion | 31.11% |
| Islam | 1.907 Billion | 24.90% |
| Hinduism | 1.161 Billion | 15.16% |
| Buddhism | 506 million | 5.06% |
| Chinese Traditional Religion | 394 Million | 5% |
| African Traditional Religion | 100 Million | 1.2% |
| Sikhism | 26 Million | 0.30% |
| Spiritism | 15 Million | 0.19% |
| Judaism | 14.7 Million | 0.18% |
| Baháʼí | 5 Million | 0.07% |
Details of Famous Religions around the World
1 Christianity
Christianity is the most popular religion in the world. It is a religion that has many different denominations and beliefs. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the saviour of humanity. It also teaches that God is all-loving and all-knowing. Christianity believes that God created the world, but did not interfere with it.
| Founded In | Middle-East |
| Founder | Jesus Christ |
| Cultural Tradition (Category) | Abrahamic Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Rome, Alexandria, |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Scripture | Bible |
Also check: Christian Holidays
2 Islam
Islam is a religion that has been practised by Muslims around the world since the seventh century. The holy book of Islam i the Quran, which is a text that teaches Muslims how to live their lives and how to worship God. With over 1.9 billion followers and growing, Islam is the second-largest religion in the world. It is also the fastest-growing religion in the world today. Check Islamic Calendar
| Founded In | Arabia (Middle East) |
| Founder | Muhammad |
| Cultural Tradition (Category) | Abrahamic Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Mecca’s al-Masjid al-Haram (including the Kaaba), Medina’s al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque, etc. |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Scripture | Quran |
3 Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest and third-largest religion in the world. It is primarily based on the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. Hindus believe that the world is divine and that the soul is eternal. They believe in reincarnation and that after death, the soul will move into another body.
Check Hindu Calendar 2024
There are many Hindu rituals and ceremonies that are done to please the deity, as well as to celebrate certain events in life. Hinduism is the most popular religion in countries like India, and Nepal.
| Founded In | Indian Subcontinent |
| Founder | No Specific Founder (Fusion of various beliefs) |
| Cultural Tradition (Category) | Indian Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanashi, Haridwar, Kanchipuram, Dwarka, etc. |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Scripture | Vedas |
4 Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the most influential religions in the world. The goal of Buddhism is to attain nirvana or the state of being free from suffering and rebirth. It teaches people to live a life of peace and happiness through meditation, positive thinking, and forgiveness. Buddhism originated in India but has spread to many other countries, such as Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, and Myanmar.
Check Important Buddhist Holidays
| Founded In | Indian Subcontinent |
| Founder | Siddhartha Gautama |
| Cultural Tradition (Category) | Indian Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, etc. |
| Region | Asia |
| Scripture | Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka |
5 Chinese Traditional Religion
Chinese traditional religion is a system of beliefs and rituals that have been practiced in China for thousands of years. It has many similarities to Buddhism, but it is not a type of Buddhism. This belief system is also closely tied to nature. It teaches that there are many spirits and gods in nature and we should live our lives in harmony with them.
| Founded In | China |
| Founder | No Specific Founder (Fusion of Various Beliefs) |
| Cultural Tradition | Folk Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple, etc. |
| Region | China |
| Scripture | Confucian canon, Classic of Filial Piety, etc. |
6 African Traditional Religion
We can say African Traditional Religion is a combination of many different beliefs. These religions have been passed down for generations in Africa. Many of these religions involve activities like dancing, drumming, and chanting.
| Founded In | Africa |
| Founder | No Specific Founder |
| Cultural Tradition | Folk Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Nri-Igbo, Benin City, Ouidah, Igbo-Ukwu, Kanem-Bornu, etc. |
| Region | Africa |
| Scripture | No sacred texts (have symbolic language and written symbols) |
7 Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikh faith. It is one of the youngest of the world’s religions with over 26 million followers worldwide. Sikhs believe that all people are equal regardless of their gender, social status, caste or creed. One of the most important beliefs of Sikhism is that all people should have the right to live a life free from violence and oppression.
| Founded In | Indian Sub-Continent |
| Founder | Guru Nanak |
| Cultural Tradition | Indian Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Anandpur Sahib, Golden Temple, Hemkund Sahib, Patna Sahib, Tarn Taran, etc. |
| Region | Worldwide (Majorly India and Canada) |
| Scripture | Guru Granth Sahib, Dasam Granth |
8 Spiritism
Spiritism is a spiritual belief system that originated in France in the 1800s. It is a spiritual belief that life does not end with death. It is a belief that the spirit and the soul are separate entities that are more than just a part of the human body. Spiritism believes in reincarnation, and that every person has multiple lifetimes.
| Founded In | France |
| Founder | Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail |
| Cultural Tradition | New Religious Movements |
| Scripture | Spiritist Codification |
| Region | 35 Countries (Most followers are in Brazil) |
9 Judaism
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. It is the oldest of the Abrahamic religions, originating in the Levant region of the Near East in the Middle East. Judaism has a rich religious literature. It teaches that humans are in a constant struggle between good and evil.
| Founded In | The Levant (Middle East) |
| Founder | Abraham |
| Cultural Tradition | Abrahamic Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias |
| Region | The Pre-dominant religion in Israel and widespread worldwide as minorities |
| Scripture | Hebrew Bible |
10 Baháʼí Faith
The Bahá’í Faith is a monotheistic religion, based on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, which was founded in the mid-19th century in Iran by Bahá’u’lláh. The teachings of the Bahá’í Faith are based on the premise that there is one God, who is unknowable and beyond human comprehension.
The importance of being a good person and how to be a better person is another important part of the Bahá’í Faith. The Bahá’í Faith teaches that people should live in unity and love one another, be honest, and always try to do good deeds.
| Founded In | Iran |
| Founder | Baháʼu’lláh |
| Cultural Tradition | Abrahamic Religions |
| Major Religious Centers | House of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, Shrine of the Báb, Monument Gardens, etc. |
| Region | Widely distributed as minorities with no racial or national focus |
| Scripture | Baháʼí literature |
Frequently Asked Questions
7% of the World’s Population.
Christianity
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Islam
