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Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as the new center for Christianity, surpassing Europe, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. This shift is attributed to higher birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa and significant Christian disaffiliation in Western Europe. Despite remaining the largest religious group globally, Christians are declining as a percentage of the world's population due to many adherents leaving the faith.
The Pew Research Center released its report titled "How the Global Religious Landscape Changed from 2010 to 2020" on June 9. The study surveyed nearly all of the global population, drawing data from over 2,700 sources across 201 countries and territories with populations exceeding 100,000.
According to Pew, while Christians grew from 2.1 billion to 2.3 billion between 2010 and 2020, non-Christian populations increased by 15% to reach 5.6 billion. Consequently, Christians' share of the global population fell from 31% to 29%.
Factors influencing these changes include fertility rates and religious switching — defined as changing one's religion or becoming unaffiliated during adulthood. Migration was found not to significantly alter global religious demographics.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where the population grew by 31% during this period, most people identify as Christians. The region's young demographics and high fertility rates contributed significantly to global Christian growth.
Pew's research also highlighted that while Muslims have the highest fertility rate at an average of 3.1 children per woman (2010-2015), Christians follow closely with an average of 2.7 children per woman.
Despite their high fertility rate, Christians have been losing members due to religious switching. Pew noted that such switching is usually completed by early adulthood.
Religiously unaffiliated individuals form the third-largest category worldwide after Christians and Muslims. As of 2020, Christians were a majority in only 120 countries and territories compared to 124 in 2010.
Countries like Australia saw significant declines in their Christian populations during this period — dropping from over two-thirds (67%) in 2010 down below half (47%) by decade’s end; similar trends were observed elsewhere including Chile (-18%), Uruguay (-16%), United States (-14%), Canada (-14%) & United Kingdom (-13%).
Pew attributes these declines primarily within Europe & other Western regions where longstanding trends show shrinking majorities among historically dominant faiths driven largely through adult disaffiliation following childhood upbringing within said traditions
Overall both Christianity & Buddhism experienced notable losses owing chiefly towards such switches; for every hundred adults raised Christian approximately twelve left via switch
However some nations bucked trend notably Mozambique whose Christian populace rose five percent reaching sixty-one percent total despite past anti-religious campaigns ending decades prior amidst ongoing persecution threats today
United States remains home largest number individual believers globally accounting nearly ten percent entire worldwide count followed closely Brazil Mexico Philippines Russia Nigeria Congo respectively though Russian society itself reportedly less devout overall according Dmitry Dubrovskiy Charles University Prague
While media speculation suggested China nearing top spot terms sheer numbers actual surveys place it outside ten largest instead estimating roughly twenty-five million citizens identifying themselves thusly based self-reporting methodologies employed throughout broader analysis conducted hereunder alongside partner organizations such John Templeton Foundation Boston University's World Religion Database offering supplemental insights where applicable given constraints obtaining accurate statistics certain jurisdictions opposed faith practices outright hindering precise quantification efforts therein
Recent domestic surveys indicate possible stabilization long-term decline American context albeit Catholics continue experiencing greatest attrition relative others evidenced ratio eight departing each newcomer entering fold reflecting broader societal shifts attitudes related issues contrary official teachings documented increase span fifteen years plus now ongoing Gina Christian multimedia reporter OSV News covering developments extensively across platforms social media alike updates available regularly online followers X handle @GinaJesseReina
