## Global Ranking of Religious Adherents Worldwide ## 전 세계 종교 인구 랭킹 > CommonSense

## Global Ranking of Religious Adherents Worldwide

## 전 세계 종교 인구 랭킹

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## English (detailed)

### What this ranking means (definition + data source)

“Religious population ranking” can mean (1) **religions by number of adherents**, or (2) **religion + non-religion identity groups** (atheist/agnostic/none) by number of people.
To give you a clean, numeric ranking, I’m using **Encyclopaedia Britannica’s “Populations of world religions in 2020” table**, which is based on the **World Religion Database (Brill)**. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

> **Reference year:** 2020 (a commonly used baseline because it has relatively complete global compilation). ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### Ranking (2020) — “Religious traditions + non-religion identity groups” in one list

1. Christianity — **2,521,460,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
2. Islam — **1,899,103,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
3. Hinduism — **1,090,592,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
4. Agnosticism — **744,166,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
5. Buddhism — **530,612,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
6. Chinese folk religions — **457,672,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
7. Ethnic/tribal religions (mostly in Africa) — **288,022,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
8. Atheist — **147,009,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
9. “New Religionists” (new religious movements in Asia) — **67,463,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
10. Sikhism — **29,254,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
11. Spiritism & spiritualism — **14,805,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
12. Judaism — **14,800,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
13. Bahāʾī — **9,150,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
14. Daoism — **8,767,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
15. Confucianism — **8,755,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
16. Jainism — **6,344,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
17. Shintō — **2,773,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
18. Zoroastrianism — **205,000** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

**Important note:** In this Britannica/WRD-based list, **agnosticism** and **atheist** are included as “identity groups,” even though many people would not call them “religions.” ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### If you want “religions only” (excluding atheist/agnostic)

Then the “Top 5” becomes: **Christianity → Islam → Hinduism → Buddhism → Chinese folk religions** (and after that: ethnic/tribal religions, New Religionists, Sikhism, Judaism, etc.). The counts are the same as above; you’re just excluding #4 and #8. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### Why different sources give different totals (Pew vs WRD-style lists)

A major reason is **classification**:

* **Pew Research Center (global 2010→2020 change report)** uses 7 broad buckets: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, “other religions,” and “religiously unaffiliated.” In Pew’s definition, **atheist + agnostic + “nothing in particular” are all inside “religiously unaffiliated.”** ([Pew Research Center][2])
* In Pew’s 2020 overview highlights: Christians ~**2.3 billion**, Buddhists **324 million**, unaffiliated ~**1.9 billion**, Hindus ~**1.2 billion**, Jews **14.8 million**, and Muslims’ share **25.6%** (largest growth). ([Pew Research Center][2])

So, Britannica/WRD splits “agnostic” and “atheist” separately, while Pew groups them under “unaffiliated.” ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### Practical tip: convert counts ↔ shares (when you need percentages)

If you want rough percentages, you need a world-population denominator. For example, the World Bank’s world total population for **2020** is **7,854,748,424**. ([World Bank API][3])
Then you can compute: (religion count ÷ 7,854,748,424) × 100.
(Keep in mind: some datasets use slightly different population baselines and rounding rules, so you’ll see small mismatches across sources.) ([Pew Research Center][2])

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## 한국어 (자세히)

### 이 “랭킹”이 뜻하는 것 (정의 + 출처)

“전세계 종교인 수 랭킹”은 보통 두 가지로 쓰인다.

1. **종교(신앙 전통)별 신자 수** 랭킹
2. **종교 + 비종교 정체성(무신론/불가지론 등)**까지 포함한 “종교 정체성 인구” 랭킹

수치가 딱 떨어지는 순위를 주기 위해, 여기서는 **브리태니커(Britannica)의 2020년 종교 인구 표**(출처: **World Religion Database, Brill**)를 기준으로 정리했다. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### 랭킹 (2020) — “종교 전통 + 비종교 정체성” 한 번에

1. 기독교 — **2,521,460,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
2. 이슬람 — **1,899,103,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
3. 힌두교 — **1,090,592,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
4. 불가지론(agnosticism) — **744,166,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
5. 불교 — **530,612,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
6. 중국 민간신앙(Chinese folk religions) — **457,672,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
7. 부족/민족 종교(주로 아프리카) — **288,022,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
8. 무신론(atheist) — **147,009,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
9. 신종교 운동(New Religionists, 주로 아시아) — **67,463,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
10. 시크교 — **29,254,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
11. 심령주의/스피리추얼리즘(Spiritism & spiritualism) — **14,805,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
12. 유대교 — **14,800,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
13. 바하이 — **9,150,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
14. 도교 — **8,767,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
15. 유교 — **8,755,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
16. 자이나교 — **6,344,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
17. 신토 — **2,773,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
18. 조로아스터교 — **205,000명** ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

**핵심 주의점:** 이 표에서는 “불가지론/무신론”이 “종교 전통”이라기보다 **정체성 범주**로 포함되어 있다. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### “종교만” 보고 싶을 때 (무신론/불가지론 제외)

그 경우 상위권은 **기독교 → 이슬람 → 힌두교 → 불교 → 중국 민간신앙** 순이 된다(수치는 위와 동일, 단지 #4/#8을 제외해서 해석). ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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### 자료마다 숫자가 달라 보이는 이유(분류 방식 차이)

대표적으로 **Pew 리서치**는 7개 큰 범주로 묶는다: 기독교/이슬람/힌두교/불교/유대교/기타 종교/무종교(비종교). 그리고 **무신론·불가지론·“특정 종교 없음”을 전부 ‘무종교(unaffiliated)’로 합산**한다. ([Pew Research Center][2])
그래서 Britannica/WRD처럼 “불가지론/무신론”을 따로 빼면 순위표가 다르게 보인다. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

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## 日本語（詳細）

### 定義と出典

ここでは数値が明確な **Britannica（World Religion Database に基づく）“2020年の世界宗教人口”** を基準に、「宗教伝統＋非宗教アイデンティティ（不可知論・無神論）」も同一リストに含めたランキングを示します。 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

### ランキング（2020）

1. キリスト教 2,521,460,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
2. イスラム教 1,899,103,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
3. ヒンドゥー教 1,090,592,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
4. 不可知論 744,166,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
5. 仏教 530,612,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
6. 中国民間信仰 457,672,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
7. 民族・部族宗教 288,022,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
8. 無神論 147,009,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
9. 新宗教運動（アジア中心）67,463,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
10. シク教 29,254,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
11. スピリティズム等 14,805,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
12. ユダヤ教 14,800,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
13. バハイ教 9,150,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
14. 道教 8,767,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
15. 儒教 8,755,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
16. ジャイナ教 6,344,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
17. 神道 2,773,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
18. ゾロアスター教 205,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

（Pew は「無宗教」に不可知論・無神論などをまとめるため、分類次第で順位の見え方が変わります。） ([Pew Research Center][2])

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## Español (detallado)

### Definición y fuente

Uso la tabla de **Britannica (basada en World Religion Database/Brill) para 2020**, que incluye religiones y también identidades no religiosas (agnosticismo/ateísmo) en el mismo ranking. ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

### Ranking (2020)

1. Cristianismo 2,521,460,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
2. Islam 1,899,103,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
3. Hinduismo 1,090,592,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
4. Agnosticismo 744,166,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
5. Budismo 530,612,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
6. Religiones populares chinas 457,672,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
7. Religiones étnicas/tribales 288,022,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
8. Ateísmo 147,009,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
9. “New Religionists” (nuevos movimientos religiosos) 67,463,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
10. Sijismo 29,254,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
11. Espiritismo/espiritualismo 14,805,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
12. Judaísmo 14,800,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
13. Fe bahá’í 9,150,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
14. Daoísmo 8,767,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
15. Confucianismo 8,755,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
16. Jainismo 6,344,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
17. Sintoísmo 2,773,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
18. Zoroastrismo 205,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

(Pew agrupa ateos y agnósticos dentro de “no afiliados”, por eso otras fuentes pueden verse distintas.) ([Pew Research Center][2])

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## Français (détaillé)

### Définition et source

Je m’appuie sur la table **Britannica (fondée sur la World Religion Database/Brill) pour 2020**, qui classe les religions et inclut aussi des identités non religieuses (agnosticisme/athéisme). ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

### Classement (2020)

1. Christianisme 2,521,460,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
2. Islam 1,899,103,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
3. Hindouisme 1,090,592,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
4. Agnosticisme 744,166,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
5. Bouddhisme 530,612,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
6. Religions populaires chinoises 457,672,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
7. Religions ethniques/tribales 288,022,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
8. Athéisme 147,009,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
9. « New Religionists » (nouveaux mouvements religieux) 67,463,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
10. Sikhisme 29,254,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
11. Spiritisme & spiritualisme 14,805,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
12. Judaïsme 14,800,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
13. Bahá’í 9,150,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
14. Daoïsme 8,767,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
15. Confucianisme 8,755,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
16. Jaïnisme 6,344,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
17. Shintō 2,773,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])
18. Zoroastrisme 205,000 ([Encyclopedia Britannica][1])

(À titre de comparaison, Pew regroupe athées/agnostiques dans « non affiliés », d’où des écarts de présentation selon les sources.) ([Pew Research Center][2])

[1]: https://www.britannica.com/topic/List-of-religious-populations "List of religious populations | Largest Religions, Smallest Religions, Lists, Data, & Overview | Britannica"
[2]: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/ "The World’s Religious Groups: How Their Sizes Changed from 2010 to 2020 | Pew Research Center"
[3]: https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/WLD/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?format=json "api.worldbank.org"