Islam Surges Past 347 Million New Followers; Christianity Slips, Hinduism Holds Strong: Global Faith Reordered
Pew Research reveals a massive demographic shift in global religion: Islam surges ahead, Christianity’s share drops, and Hinduism stays rooted in India’s rise.
It’s not just a trend. It’s a full-blown shift. A new report from the Pew Research Center has confirmed what many demographers have been eyeing for years: Islam has become the fastest-growing religion on the planet.
The numbers are jaw-dropping. From 2010 to 2020, the global Muslim population jumped by 347 million. That’s not a typo. It’s a demographic surge, not powered by conversion campaigns or missionary outreach—but by the oldest growth factor in the book: births.
Islam’s Growth Is Rooted in the Cradle, Not the Pulpit
According to the Pew report, Muslims now make up 25.6% of the world’s population, up from 23.8% just ten years ago. What’s driving it? Mostly, it’s population patterns. In places like Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of North Africa, Muslim families are big—and young.
The median age for Muslims globally? Just 24 years. That’s far younger than any other major religious group. It means there are more families, more kids, and more future generations in the pipeline.
And here’s the other thing: Muslims tend to stay Muslim. The study highlights very low disaffiliation rates. People raised in Islamic traditions largely hold on to their identity into adulthood. That retention, coupled with high fertility, creates a compounding effect.
Christianity’s Numbers Are High — But They’re Not Telling the Whole Story
Yes, Christianity still has the most followers globally—over 2.3 billion. But its share of the world population has dropped from 30.6% to 28.8%. Pew’s research points to disaffiliation in the West as a major factor.
In countries like France, Germany, and the United States, younger generations are stepping away. Fewer baptisms. Fewer weddings in churches. Fewer people identifying with the religion at all.
Sure, Christianity is still growing in Africa and parts of Latin America, but it’s not enough to counterbalance what’s happening in Western societies. The religion isn’t collapsing—but it is undergoing what analysts call “soft erosion.”
Hinduism: Stable, Grounded, and Centered in India
Meanwhile, Hinduism holds steady—not racing ahead, not falling behind. According to Pew, the religion now claims around 1.2 billion adherents, holding 14.9% of the global population.
More than 95% of Hindus live in India. That alone explains the steady numbers. Hinduism isn’t actively seeking converts, and it doesn’t spread globally the way Christianity or Islam might. But inside India? It’s growing in lockstep with the population.
There are diaspora communities in the US, UK, Canada, Mauritius, Nepal, and Fiji, but these don’t add major weight globally. Hinduism’s influence is massive culturally, but numerically? It’s tied closely to India’s demographic pulse.
Buddhism’s Numbers Are Shrinking — Quietly
This part may come as a surprise. Buddhism, long admired for its philosophy and global cultural reach, is the only major religion in the Pew study that lost followers.
From 343 million in 2010 to 324 million in 2020—that’s a significant dip. Why? Look at the countries where Buddhism is strongest: Japan, South Korea, and China. These places are facing ageing populations and plummeting birth rates.
China complicates things further. Many people practice Buddhist customs, but they’re less likely to report it formally due to tight government control over religion. The result? A drop in the official numbers.
The Unaffiliated Surge — Especially in the West
This is the sleeper story in the Pew report. The number of people with no religion—that is, atheists, agnostics, and the spiritual-but-not-religious crowd—has grown to 24.2% of the world population.
That’s nearly a quarter of the planet.
The trend is sharpest in urban, developed countries. Think Sweden, Canada, Australia, and parts of South Korea. Young people are turning away from organized religion—not always from spirituality, but from institutions they find outdated or restrictive.
Pew’s analysts say this trend could plateau, but for now, it’s still gaining steam.
So What’s Coming Next?
If the numbers keep heading where they’re heading, Islam could become the world’s largest religion sometime in the second half of this century. That’s not speculation—it’s demography. And unless fertility rates shift dramatically, the math supports it.
Christianity, meanwhile, may hold on by adapting—through reform, through community outreach, or perhaps by reconnecting with cultural identity. It won’t disappear, but it may look very different 50 years from now.
Hinduism? Still rooted. Still rising—but only as far as India rises.
Buddhism has a visibility that outweighs its headcount—and for now, that might be enough to sustain its influence.
This is not about winning or losing. It’s about understanding where belief lives, and how it travels—across generations, borders, and hearts..
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Ratnakar Mavilach is a seasoned journalist and digital media strategist with 10+ years of experience in politics, geopolitics, and current affairs. Founder of ventures like Hinglishgram and Debonair Magazine’s revival, he leads Hindustan Herald with sharp editorial vision, domain depth, and a relentless focus on impactful storytelling.
- Ratnakar Mavilachhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/beingratnakar/
- Ratnakar Mavilachhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/beingratnakar/
- Ratnakar Mavilachhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/beingratnakar/
- Ratnakar Mavilachhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/beingratnakar/
