Major religious groups
Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:25:49 AM Wikipedia source
The world's principal religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups, though this is not a uniform practice. This theory began in the 18th century with the goal of recognizing the relative degrees of civility in different societies, but this concept of a ranking order has since fallen into disrepute in many contemporary cultures.
Tables
· Religious demographics › Largest religious groups
Christianity
Christianity
Religion
Christianity
Followers (billions)
2.3
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Judaea (Middle East), c. 30 CE
Islam
Islam
Religion
Islam
Followers (billions)
2.0
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Hejaz (Middle East), c. 610 CE
Hinduism
Hinduism
Religion
Hinduism
Followers (billions)
1.2
Cultural tradition
Indian religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, c. 20th to 17th century BCE
Buddhism
Buddhism
Religion
Buddhism
Followers (billions)
0.3
Cultural tradition
Indian religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, c. 5th century BCE
Folk religion
Folk religion
Religion
Folk religion
Followers (billions)
0.2
Cultural tradition
Regional
Founded
Worldwide
| Religion | Followers (billions) | Cultural tradition | Founded | References |
| Christianity | 2.3 | Abrahamic religions | Judaea (Middle East), c. 30 CE | |
| Islam | 2.0 | Abrahamic religions | Hejaz (Middle East), c. 610 CE | |
| Hinduism | 1.2 | Indian religions | Indian subcontinent, c. 20th to 17th century BCE | |
| Buddhism | 0.3 | Indian religions | Indian subcontinent, c. 5th century BCE | |
| Folk religion | 0.2 | Regional | Worldwide |
· Religious demographics › Medium-sized religions
Shinto
Shinto
Religion
Shinto
Followers (millions)
89
Cultural tradition
Japanese religions
Founded
Japan, unknown origin date
Taoism
Taoism
Religion
Taoism
Followers (millions)
12–173
Cultural tradition
Chinese religions
Founded
China, 2nd century CE
Yoruba Religion
Yoruba Religion
Religion
Yoruba Religion
Followers (millions)
50–100
Cultural tradition
African religions
Founded
Yorubaland, unknown origin date
Voodoo
Voodoo
Religion
Voodoo
Followers (millions)
60
Cultural tradition
African religions
Founded
Dahomey, unknown origin date
Sikhism
Sikhism
Religion
Sikhism
Followers (millions)
25–30
Cultural tradition
Indian religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, 15th century
Mormonism
Mormonism
Religion
Mormonism
Followers (millions)
17.2
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
USA, 1820s
Judaism
Judaism
Religion
Judaism
Followers (millions)
15
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Judah (Middle East), 6th to 5th century BCE
Spiritism
Spiritism
Religion
Spiritism
Followers (millions)
5–15
Cultural tradition
New religious movements and Abrahamic religions
Founded
France, 19th century
Mu-ism
Mu-ism
Religion
Mu-ism
Followers (millions)
5–15
Cultural tradition
Korean religions
Founded
Korea, unknown origin date
References
[page needed]
Confucianism
Confucianism
Religion
Confucianism
Followers (millions)
6–7
Cultural tradition
Chinese religions
Founded
China, 6th to 5th century BCE
Baháʼí Faith
Baháʼí Faith
Religion
Baháʼí Faith
Followers (millions)
5–7.3
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Persia, 19th century
Jainism
Jainism
Religion
Jainism
Followers (millions)
4–5
Cultural tradition
Indian religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, 7th to 9th century BCE
Cheondoism
Cheondoism
Religion
Cheondoism
Followers (millions)
3–4
Cultural tradition
Korean religions
Founded
Korea, 19th century
Hoahaoism
Hoahaoism
Religion
Hoahaoism
Followers (millions)
1.5–3
Cultural tradition
Vietnamese religions
Founded
Vietnam, 20th century
Ravidassia
Ravidassia
Religion
Ravidassia
Followers (millions)
1.5–2
Cultural tradition
Indian Religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, 2010
Caodaism
Caodaism
Religion
Caodaism
Followers (millions)
1.1–3
Cultural tradition
Vietnamese religions
Founded
Vietnam, 20th century
Tenriism
Tenriism
Religion
Tenriism
Followers (millions)
1.2
Cultural tradition
Japanese religions
Founded
Japan, 19th century
Druze
Druze
Religion
Druze
Followers (millions)
1
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Egypt, 9th century
Rastafari
Rastafari
Religion
Rastafari
Followers (millions)
1
Cultural tradition
Abrahamic religions
Founded
Jamaica, 1930s
| Religion | Followers (millions) | Cultural tradition | Founded | References |
| Shinto | 89 | Japanese religions | Japan, unknown origin date | |
| Taoism | 12–173 | Chinese religions | China, 2nd century CE | |
| Yoruba Religion | 50–100 | African religions | Yorubaland, unknown origin date | |
| Voodoo | 60 | African religions | Dahomey, unknown origin date | |
| Sikhism | 25–30 | Indian religions | Indian subcontinent, 15th century | |
| Mormonism | 17.2 | Abrahamic religions | USA, 1820s | |
| Judaism | 15 | Abrahamic religions | Judah (Middle East), 6th to 5th century BCE | |
| Spiritism | 5–15 | New religious movements and Abrahamic religions | France, 19th century | |
| Mu-ism | 5–15 | Korean religions | Korea, unknown origin date | [page needed] |
| Confucianism | 6–7 | Chinese religions | China, 6th to 5th century BCE | |
| Baháʼí Faith | 5–7.3 | Abrahamic religions | Persia, 19th century | |
| Jainism | 4–5 | Indian religions | Indian subcontinent, 7th to 9th century BCE | |
| Cheondoism | 3–4 | Korean religions | Korea, 19th century | |
| Hoahaoism | 1.5–3 | Vietnamese religions | Vietnam, 20th century | |
| Ravidassia | 1.5–2 | Indian Religions | Indian subcontinent, 2010 | |
| Caodaism | 1.1–3 | Vietnamese religions | Vietnam, 20th century | |
| Tenriism | 1.2 | Japanese religions | Japan, 19th century | |
| Druze | 1 | Abrahamic religions | Egypt, 9th century | |
| Rastafari | 1 | Abrahamic religions | Jamaica, 1930s |
· Religious demographics › Small-sized religion
Yazidism
Yazidism
Religion
Yazidism
Followers
300,000-500,000
Cultural tradition
Kurdish religions
Founded
Kurdistan, 16th to 14th century CE
Donyi-Polo
Donyi-Polo
Religion
Donyi-Polo
Followers
370,000
Cultural tradition
Indian religions
Founded
Indian subcontinent, 1970
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Religion
Zoroastrianism
Followers
205,000
Cultural tradition
Iranian religions
Founded
Iran, 16th to 14th century BCE
| Religion | Followers | Cultural tradition | Founded | References |
| Yazidism | 300,000-500,000 | Kurdish religions | Kurdistan, 16th to 14th century CE | |
| Donyi-Polo | 370,000 | Indian religions | Indian subcontinent, 1970 | |
| Zoroastrianism | 205,000 | Iranian religions | Iran, 16th to 14th century BCE |
Trends in adherence[42] · Trends in adherence
Baháʼí Faith
Baháʼí Faith
Col 1
Baháʼí Faith
1970–1985 (%)
3.65
1990–2000 (%)
2.28
2000–2005 (%)
1.70
1970–2010 (%)
4.26
Buddhism
Buddhism
Col 1
Buddhism
1970–1985 (%)
1.67
1990–2000 (%)
1.09
1970–2010 (%)
2.76
Christianity
Christianity
Col 1
Christianity
1970–1985 (%)
1.64
1990–2000 (%)
1.36
2000–2005 (%)
1.32
1970–2010 (%)
2.10
Confucianism
Confucianism
Col 1
Confucianism
1970–2010 (%)
0.83
Hinduism
Hinduism
Col 1
Hinduism
1970–1985 (%)
2.34
1990–2000 (%)
1.69
2000–2005 (%)
1.57
1970–2010 (%)
2.62
Islam
Islam
Col 1
Islam
1970–1985 (%)
2.74
1990–2000 (%)
2.13
2000–2005 (%)
1.84
1970–2010 (%)
4.23
Jainism
Jainism
Col 1
Jainism
1970–2010 (%)
2.60
Judaism
Judaism
Col 1
Judaism
1970–1985 (%)
1.09
1970–2010 (%)
-0.03
Sikhism
Sikhism
Col 1
Sikhism
1990–2000 (%)
1.87
2000–2005 (%)
1.62
1970–2010 (%)
3.08
Shinto
Shinto
Col 1
Shinto
1970–2010 (%)
-0.83
Taoism
Taoism
Col 1
Taoism
1970–2010 (%)
9.85
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Col 1
Zoroastrianism
1970–2010 (%)
2.5
unaffiliated
unaffiliated
Col 1
unaffiliated
1970–2010 (%)
0.37
| 1970–1985 (%) | 1990–2000 (%) | 2000–2005 (%) | 1970–2010 (%) | |
| Baháʼí Faith | 3.65 | 2.28 | 1.70 | 4.26 |
| Buddhism | 1.67 | 1.09 | 2.76 | |
| Christianity | 1.64 | 1.36 | 1.32 | 2.10 |
| Confucianism | 0.83 | |||
| Hinduism | 2.34 | 1.69 | 1.57 | 2.62 |
| Islam | 2.74 | 2.13 | 1.84 | 4.23 |
| Jainism | 2.60 | |||
| Judaism | 1.09 | -0.03 | ||
| Sikhism | 1.87 | 1.62 | 3.08 | |
| Shinto | -0.83 | |||
| Taoism | 9.85 | |||
| Zoroastrianism | 2.5 | |||
| unaffiliated | 0.37 |
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