Is Christianity Growing or Declining? 2025 Global Religious Data Reveals Surprising Trends
A fascinating new data visualization tracking the world’s major religions from 1945-2019 reveals both encouraging news and sobering challenges for the global Christian church. While Christianity remains the world’s largest religion with 2.4 billion adherents, the trends behind these numbers tell a story every believer should understand.
Watch how the world’s religious landscape has shifted over 74 years:
The Good News: Christianity Still Leads
According to the latest Pew Research Center data, Christians remain the world’s largest religious group at 2.3 billion people as of 2020. From the video’s 1945 starting point of 700 million to today’s 2.4 billion, Christianity has experienced remarkable absolute growth.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:19
The Great Commission continues to bear fruit globally, with Christianity maintaining its position as the world’s most widespread faith.
The Surprising Trend: We’re Not Keeping Pace
However, the 2025 data reveals a concerning trend. While Christianity grew by 122 million people from 2010-2020, Christians actually declined as a percentage of world population – dropping 1.8 percentage points to 28.8%.
Meanwhile, Islam grew by 347 million people in the same decade, increasing its global share to 25.6%. The gap between Christianity and Islam continues to narrow.
Where Christianity is Growing
The most encouraging news comes from sub-Saharan Africa, which now hosts 30.7% of the world’s Christians – surpassing Europe for the first time. This shift represents vibrant, growing churches in regions where the gospel is taking deep root.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
The Challenge and Opportunity
These numbers aren’t just statistics – they’re a call to action. With 2.4 billion Christians worldwide, we have unprecedented resources and reach. Yet the data challenges us to:
1. Recommit to Evangelism
The early church’s explosive growth came through passionate witness. Are we matching their zeal?
2. Support Global Missions
The growth in Africa and Asia shows where God is moving. How can we better support these thriving churches?
3. Address the “Switching” Challenge
Many people are leaving organized religion entirely, joining the “religiously unaffiliated.” This calls for deeper discipleship and more compelling witness.
A Moment of Unprecedented Potential
Never in history have there been 2.4 billion Christians on Earth. Never have we had such global connectivity, resources, and opportunities to share the gospel. The question isn’t whether Christianity will survive – it’s whether we’ll seize this moment.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Matthew 9:37-38
The 2025 data shows us both the challenge and the opportunity. With 2.4 billion believers worldwide, we have the largest missionary force in history. The question is: Will we use it?
How will you contribute to the next chapter of Christianity’s global story?
