major established religions

views updated

major established religions The figures are estimates, based primarily on UN reports and statistics released by most of the religious bodies. The table does not include the various folk and tribal religions of Africa and Asia, which could total as many as 300 million adherents, including more than 10 million Shamanists.

Religion

Millions

1 The number of practising Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists in China cannot be accurately estimated; there are c.6 million Confucians outside China

2 Many people in the Far East, notably in Japan, claim to adhere to more than one religion and figures are therefore only approximate at best

Christianity

1,669

Roman Catholic

952

Protestant

337

Orthodox

162

Anglican

70

Other

148

Islam

1,050

Sunni

960

Shia (Shiite)

90

Hinduism

720

Confucianism1

350

Buddhism12

320

Taoism1

25

Sikhism

19

Judaism

18

Baha'ism

5.9

Jainism

3.8

Shintoism2

3.5


More From encyclopedia.com