International News: According to new global research, Islam recorded the highest growth rate among all major religions. By 2020, Muslims accounted for 25.6% of the global population, up from 23.9% in 2010—an increase of nearly 346 million followers in just a decade. Christianity remains the world’s largest religion by number, but its global share fell from previous levels. While Christians added over 120 million followers, their percentage of the global population dipped by 1.5%, highlighting a shifting balance in global faith demographics.
Hinduism Shows Remarkable Stability
While other major religions experienced either rise or fall, Hinduism maintained a steady global presence. The Hindu population stayed close to 14.9%, showing neither major increase nor decline. Experts note this suggests both cultural retention and stable birth rates among adherents. Buddhism, once one of the dominant Eastern faiths, saw a modest but noticeable decline. The number of Buddhists shrank by nearly 18 million over the decade, and their global proportion dropped by 0.8%. Analysts attribute this to aging populations and low birth rates in key regions.
Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated
Perhaps the most dramatic change has been among those who no longer associate with any religion. Atheists, agnostics, and the spiritually unaffiliated now represent 24.2% of the global population, an increase of 270 million. This signals a broader cultural shift away from institutional belief systems. Judaism, representing a smaller global faith group, remained stable at 0.2% of the world population. The number of Jewish people increased by 1 million over the decade, bringing their total to approximately 14.8 million. This growth was modest but consistent.
More People Leaving Religion Than Joining
One of the most telling findings is the trend of people leaving religion outpacing those joining it—especially within Christianity. Analysts believe that increasing secularism, scientific awareness, and generational shifts are driving this trend, particularly in Europe and North America.
