'Christianity as default is gone': the rise of a non-Christian Europe There is no state religion in Norway. The survey asked former Catholics who have converted to Protestantism about the reasons they did so. Fewer than a third of Uruguayans (28%) say that religion is very important in their lives; in no other country surveyed do fewer than four-in-ten people say this. 'Offer the light of the Gospel' in Iran: Tehran's new Catholic For many believers, religion is a source of great comfort, perhaps even purpose. The Vatican is considered a place for pilgrimage and is often a place to visit for Catholics, to deepen their beliefs. Latin Americans have widely embraced Pope Francis, the Argentine-born Jesuit bishop elected to lead the Catholic Church after Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013. Least Religious Countries 2023 - World Population Review how many catholics does north korea actually have? The trajectory was likely to become more marked. Most of the people of French descent moved to France once it became independent. In most Latin American countries, opposition to same-sex marriage is more pronounced among Protestants than among Catholics. Yet across the countries surveyed, a considerably higher share of Protestants than Catholics say that they themselves or the church they attend engage in charity work helping people find jobs, providing food and clothing for those in need or organizing other community initiatives to help the poor. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Caribbean grew from 4% of the global population in 1910 to 9% in 2010. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. (See Religion in Uruguay. But there . A CONCISE GUIDE TO THE DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II (Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2007). The research initiative Catholics & Cultures compiles data on Catholic demographics, including from the Annuario Pontificio, by country.[22]. The single least Protestant state in the nation is Utah, with only 12% Protestant identification, reflecting that state's majority Mormon population. ), The new survey finds that Protestants in Latin America tend to be more religiously observant than Catholics. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. The debate raged between Church leaders about the best strategy to deal with the immigrants"Americanize . Christianity by country - Wikipedia All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, The Least Religious Countries In The World, The Least Linguistically Diverse Countries in the World, The Least Forested Countries In The World, The 10 Least Densely Populated Places in the World. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. All of the top ten most religious . Religion in Latin America | Pew Research Center And, in most countries, at least a quarter say they belong to another Protestant church or that they do not know their denomination. This comprises 75% of the total countrys population. A person's religion is often the main source of their ethical and moral beliefs. In addition, 46% of Hispanic Catholics in the U.S. and a median of 40% of Catholics across Latin America say they are charismatic a term used to describe Catholics who incorporate beliefs and practices associated with Pentecostalism into their worship.3. All these countries are estimated to have the highest percentages of Catholic-faithful worldwide. Differences among Catholics, Protestants and the religiously unaffiliated also are apparent on other social issues. Pew Researchs census- and survey-based estimates for 2010 may vary from numbers reported in the Statistical Yearbook. For example, the Statistical Yearbook has a higher total Catholic population (1.196 billion) and higher estimates of the Catholic populations of Brazil (163,269,000) and Mexico (99,635,000). Indeed, about two-thirds or more of the unaffiliated in Uruguay (77%), Argentina (75%), Chile (67%) and Mexico (65%) favor gay marriage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Sample sizes and margins of error by country are available below. 15 percentage points more than currently identify as Catholic. But I would argue that the least bad system is a Catholic elective monarchy. According to the Census of the 2020 Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook), the number of baptized Catholics in the world was about 1.329 billion at the end of 2018. For example, at least a third of adults in every country surveyed believe in the evil eye, And the survey finds that Protestants in the region are much more likely than Catholics to report sharing their faith with people outside their own religious group. Afghanistan has the least catholic population and is estimated to be at 0%. Some country estimates differ for two reasons. Other nations where ethnic and indigenous religions are practiced include Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Togo. Sweden is also one of the least religious countries in the world, with 73% of Swedes denying that religion has any involvement in their everyday lives. Latinobarometro, Opinion Publica Latinoamericana, Enero 2018. Some countries like Paraguay and Croatia are almost entirely Catholic while others like Afghanistan barely have any Catholics. Iran is one of the least Catholic countries in the world. Geographic mobility may also be associated with conversion. Top 10 countries with the most catholic population, 10 countries with the least catholic population. In Vatican City and the Pitcairn Islands, 100% of the population is Christian. Former Catholics are less certain; only in Argentina do as many as half (53%) see the new pope as representing a major change. I am a believer and pastor dedicated to spreading the word of God. Currently, the worldwide Catholic church is about 1.3 billion people strong. And in countries where there are adequate sample sizes to permit separate analysis of the views of religiously unaffiliated people, this group tends to be more supportive of granting marriage rights to gays and lesbians. There also has been rapid growth in the vast Asia-Pacific region, where 131 million Catholics (12%) now live, up from 14 million (5%) a century ago. The recently renamed Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Tehran-Isfahan has six parishes and around 2,000 Catholics. Each of these churches has a distinct hierarchy and traditional liturgy, prayers and religious observances. Protestants also are more likely than Catholics to read scripture outside of religious services, to approach the Bible literally and to believe that Jesus will return during their lifetime. ", "Moambique: Inqurito de Indicadores de Imunizao, Malria e HIV/SIDA em Moambique (IMASIDA), 2015", "Namibia: Demographic and Health Survey 2013", "International Religious Freedom Report 2003 Nauru", "Deel bevolking dat bij religieuze groep hoort in 2022 niet afgenomen", The Latin American Socio-Religious Studies Program / Programa Latinoamericano de Estudios Sociorreligiosos (PROLADES), "Total resident population in the Republic of North Macedonia by religious affiliation and sex, Census 2021", "Trus- og livssynssamfunn utanfor Den norske kyrkja - SSB", "Segunda Encuesta Nacional de Hogares, Panama 2015", "PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2011 NATIONAL REPORT-NATIONAL STATISTICAL OFFICE", "Philippine population officially hits 100 million", "Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)", "Filipino Catholic population expanding, say Church officials", Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludnosci 2011: 4.4. About 507 million people practice Buddhism worldwide. This reflects the strong relationship between a country's socioeconomic status and the religiosity of its residents. The total number of Catholics countrywide is speculated to be about 13,000. Each of the most religious countries is relatively poor, with a per-capita GDP below $5,000. Similarly, 55% of U.S. Hispanics are Catholic. (For more details, see Chapter 6.). (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Hence, an individual can enjoy the Christmas celebrations in the country without the need to believe in origin of the festival. THE NEW SHAPE OF WORLD CHRISTIANITY (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009), 191. The Pew Research Center previously noted post-1970 declines in Catholic identity in Brazil and Chile. Australia - 63% the most frequently cited was that they were seeking a more personal connection with God. For example, nearly three-quarters of current Protestants in Colombia were raised Catholic, and 84% say they were baptized as Catholics. The shift away from Christianity is occurring mostly among young populations. By emphasizing personal contact with the divine through faith healing, speaking in tongues and prophesying, Pentecostalism attracts those who share an affinity with indigenous religions that traditionally incorporate beliefs and practices associated with direct communication with the spirit world.. The other 23 catholic churches and why they exist. The country with a rapidly rising catholic population worldwide is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Conflicting numbers can be found in 2013 research conducted by the Brazilian polling institute Datafolha. If you look at the percentage of Catholics in comparison to the countrys population, some of these tiny countries are actually some of the most Catholic in the world. In addition, the Catholic population in the U.S. has been heavily shaped by immigration and includes a rising share of Latinos. By contrast, pluralities of Protestants in many countries say that bringing the poor and needy to Christ is the most important way to help. Since then, it has spread far and wide. Ethic and indigenous religions are practiced in many countries. The Philippines may have 76 million Catholics, which make up about 81% of the countrys total population. Its structural expression is the College of Bishops, each of whom represents and embodies his own local church. Conversely, Sikhism is generally considered to be its own unique religion despite claims that the religion is historically rooted in Hinduism. Half or more of Catholics in 16 of the countries polled view the selection of the former Argentine bishop as a major change. Being an Islamic country, it is no surprise that the percentage of Catholics is estimated to be 0.02% of the total population. Transformations of Religious Affiliation in Contemporary - Springer The Central Asian country of Azerbaijan is the world's fifth least religious country. The State of Evangelism in Europe - Decision Magazine (Everything You Need To Know About Becoming a Nun), 10 Baptism Guest Outfit Ideas (What To Wear To A Catholic Baptism As A Guest), 16 Catholic Easter Vigil Outfit Ideas (What To Wear To Catholic Easter Vigil?). The DRC is one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in Africa. (For definitions of terms, see the glossary.). Which Are the Most Catholic Countries in the World - Christian Tongues of Fire: The Explosion of Protestantism in Latin America. Blackwell; and Stoll, David. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Which country has a rapidly rising catholic population in the world? Only 28% of the countrys population regards religion as an important part of their daily lives. 1990. Religiosity appears to be diminishing in the United Kingdom, with only 30% of the population affirming that religion plays an important role in their daily lives. In Guinea-Bissau and Haiti, an estimated 50% of the population follows one of these religions. 8 facts about Catholics and politics in the U.S. About a third in U.S. see Gods hand in presidential elections, but fewer say God picks winners based on policies, Gun Violence Widely Viewed as a Major and Growing National Problem, A record-high share of 40-year-olds in the U.S. have never been married, Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change, More Americans Disapprove Than Approve of Colleges Considering Race, Ethnicity in Admissions Decisions, International Views of Biden and U.S. Most tables and charts in this report cite country-level findings. By comparison, the period between 1970 and 2014 is marked by significant declines in the percentages of Catholics in nearly allof the countries surveyed ranging from a 47-point drop in Honduras to a 5-point decrease in Paraguay. The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency cia.gov 27 April 2023. Percent Catholic by country, around the world - TheGlobalEconomy.com The reasons for this are as fascinating as they are depressing. [2] [3] According to a PEW estimation in 2020, Christians made up to 2.4 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people. Though the Middle East and North Africa are the ancient cradle of Christianity, the Middle East-North Africa region is home to less than 1% of Catholics today, about the same as in 1910. Can we make a Catholic country? I'd like there to be a - Reddit Catholicism is known as the most prominent religion in Poland, with an estimated 33 million Catholic-faithful followers. In no other Latin American country surveyed do the religiously unaffiliated make up even 20% of the population. There is a Wikipedia article on the Catholic Church in Afghanistan for those interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Afghanistan. First off, it includes extinct belief systems which are no longer practiced today. On a similar, but arguably smaller-scale note, the line between a spiritual, but non-religious experience and an actual religion can be different from person to personfor example, New Age practices, Wicca, and even certain forms of yoga can be considered a religion by some, but not to others. Alabama and Mississippi are the most religious states in the US, with 77% of people reporting that they are highly religious. Also see: "German Catholics' Path to Heaven Comes With Taxes," Sylvia Poggioli, South America: Argentina - Below is a chart for all countries where data are available. Most Christian Countries 2023 - World Population Review Education in Comoros has been held back by issues blamed on the country's incomplete decentralization that begun in 2011. While there were dramatic shifts in the regional distribution of the Catholic population between 1910 and 2010, some of this change is due to different rates of overall population growth. Favorable views of the new pontiff prevail across the region, with two-thirds or more of the population in most countries expressing a positive opinion of Pope Francis when the survey was conducted in late 2013 and early 2014. nearly two-thirds of Protestants (65%) identify as Pentecostal Christians, at least a third of adults in every country surveyed believe in the evil eye,. Phillip Connor drafted the sections on the history of religious change in the region. The largest share (39%) were in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the CIA Factbook and the Pew Research Center, the five countries with the largest number of Catholics are, in decreasing order of Catholic population: The country where the membership of the church is the largest percentage of the population is Vatican City at 100%, followed by East Timor at 97%. Catholicism was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish. When asked what is the most important way Christians can help the poor and needy, Protestants are more likely than Catholics to point toward bringing the poor to Christ, while Catholics are more inclined to say that performing charity work for the poor is most important. Due to fieldwork constraints and sensitivities related to polling about religion, Cuba could not be included; it is the only Spanish-speaking country in Latin America that was not polled. The Church in Africa, by the numbers - The Pillar The Catholic Churchs status in Latin America has drawn more attention since Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope in March 2013, taking the name Francis. It originated on the Indian subcontinent and is widely practiced throughout Southeast Asia. More than half (52%) of all migrants to the United States are Catholic. Countries of the World - One Minute Sprint. In nearly every country surveyed, Protestants say they go to church more frequently and pray more often than do Catholics; a regional median of 83% of Protestants report attending church at least once a month, compared with a median of 62% of Catholics. Latin American Catholics are particularly enthusiastic about Pope Francis, with clear majorities across the region rating him favorably. What is the catholic population percentage in the world? Many different religions exist throughout the world. This is most frequently seen in the following nations: China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. France is estimated to have 40 million citizens identifying as Catholics. Largely Positive. pewresearch.org/religion November 12, 2012, 1 For more information about the racial and ethnic composition of U.S. religious groups, see the demographics section of the October 2012 report by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life, Nones on the Rise. (return to text), 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA Second, estimates that relied on older data, such as the 2001 census in Austria, have been updated based on the population projections for the overall Christian population reported in the Pew Research Centers 2012 report The Global Religious Landscape: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the Worlds Major Religious Groups as of 2010. Detailed source lists and complete methodological discussions are included in the appendices of these Pew Research Center reports. However, despite the majority of the population calling themselves irreligious some organized religions are still popular in the country, including both Shia and Sunni Islam. The gaps between Protestants and Catholics on these standard measures of religious commitment are smallest, but still statistically significant, in the Central American countries of Guatemala (17 points), Costa Rica (15) and Honduras (8). I'm a Catholic who lived in Korea, Japan, and China, where I - Reddit In most countries surveyed, solid majorities of Protestants say they have participated in charity work in the past 12 months. As a result, Catholics have made up a remarkably stable share of all people on Earth. The most religious states in the US are located in the South. However, Christian traditions like the Lucia remain popularly celebrated across the country. Many former Catholics also said they became Protestants because they wanted a different style of worship or a church that helps its members more. For example, in recent Pew Research polling in the United States, 46% of Hispanics support gay marriage, while 34% are opposed. The Belgian people are not religious, with around 64% of the country living their lives without religious affiliation. This makes up about 21% of the population. The religious beliefs of the people of Hong Kong are minimally rooted in a strong faith-based system, with 63% of the population considering themselves irreligious. Also, the 2010 Mexican Census showed this percentage to be 83.9%[24] against a 91.89% number in the CIA World Factbook. All Rights Reserved. The survey also asked churchgoing respondents how often they see fellow worshipers speaking in tongues, praying for a miraculous healing or prophesying (spontaneously uttering a message or word of knowledge believed to come from the Holy Spirit). The Politics of Evangelical Growth. University of California Press. Even though the Catholic Church opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, Catholics in Latin America tend to be less conservative than Protestants on these kinds of social issues. It is estimated to have over 28 million practicing Catholics, which make up about 33% of the total population. Again, Catholics in Chile (82%), Uruguay (78%) and Argentina (77%) are among the most likely to voice support for change. 7. The Global Religious Futures project is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation. Rather, many young people are simply deciding not to hold any religion at all. Fewer Catholics say that such behaviors are on display during Catholic worship services, and majorities of Catholics in Uruguay (63%), Argentina (61%) and Puerto Rico (60%) report that speaking in tongues, praying for a miraculous healing and prophesying are never part of their worship practices. These churches include the Western (or Latin) church and 22 Eastern Catholic churches. Although many Catholics in Latin America also say they have witnessed divine healing or other gifts of the Holy Spirit, these experiences are much less common in Catholic churches than in Protestant congregations. Mexico comes second and is estimated to have an estimated 100 million of its citizens identifying as Catholics. In 1910, Catholics were estimated to be 291 million in total, which made up 48% of Christians and 17% of the worlds population. Alternately titled "irreligious" in some studies, this category includes a whole spectrum of non-believers including atheists who actively reject the notion of supernatural deities, agnostics who believe the existence or nonexistence of deities is unknowable, and people who simply don't identify with any particular religion. (For details, see Chapter 9.). What has changed substantially over the past century is the geographic distribution of the worlds Catholics. In addition, 15% of Uruguayans identify as Protestant. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Japan is one of the least Christian, least Catholic countries in the world. Countries with the highest percentage of Buddhists: Cambodia, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia, and Bhutan.