Christianity is one of the largest religions in terms of Population. According to a PEW estimation in 2020, Christianity made up 2.38 billion of the total population, which is nearly one-third of the population. The most significant number of Christians comprises Catholics with 1.3 billion baptized members. The second largest is Protestantism, with single groups or Eastern Orthodox Church in multiple ones. Here are some of the top 10 Christian-populated countries in the world.
Top ten countries concerning the number
- The United Nations tops the list with 246,790,000 Christian people, who account for 79.5% of the world’s population.
- Brazil ranks second with 175,700,000 Christians, making up 90.2% of the world’s population.
- Mexico arrives third on the list with a 107,780,000 Christian population and 95% of the world population.
- The fourth is Russia, with 105,220,000, 73.6% of the Christian population.
- The Philippines has bagged the fifth position with 86,790,000 Christians, comprising 93.1% of the population worldwide.
- Nigeria ranks sixth with a 50.8% Christian population, with 80,510,000 people.
- China is in seventh place, with 5% of the Christian population, a total of 67,070,000. Buddhism is the top religion followed by Chinese people.
- Then comes Congo DR, with 63,150,000 people following Christianity, a percentage of 95.7%.
- Second last is Germany with 58,240,000 and a percentage of 70.8.
- South Africa is in the last position with 52,886,000 Christians and a percentage of 85.3% of the world’s population.
Top 10 countries with highest percentage of people following Christianity
| Rank | Country | Number of Christians | % of Christians |
| 1. | Vatican City | 800 people | 100% |
| 2. | Romania | 21,490,000 | 99% |
| 3. | Papua New Guinea | 6,860,000 | 99% |
| 4. | Tonga | 100,000 | 99% |
| 5. | Timor-Leste | 1,120,000 | 99% |
| 6. | Armenia | 3,090,000 | 98.5% |
| 7. | Namibia | 2,280,000 | 97.6% |
| 8. | Marshall Islands | 50,000 | 97.5% |
| 9. | Moldova | 3,570,000 | 97.5% |
| 10. | Solomon Islands | 520,000 | 97.5% |
1. Vatican City
Vatican City is the world’s smallest country, with 0.49 sq. km. The Vatican is the official headquarters of the Catholic Church. The majority of people are nuns and priests, with the pope being the head.
2. Romania
Romania is a secular state. 73.86% of respondents identified as Orthodox Christians, with 73.42% belonging to the Romanian Orthodox Church. Whereas the rest of 128,291 people, belong to other Christian denominations. The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church and the third-largest church in the world.
3. Papua New Guinea
Christianity was introduced on15 September 1847 by a group of missionaries from Woodlark Island in New Guinea. New Guinea has a total of 64.3% Protestantism, 26.0% Catholicism, and 5.2% other Christian.
4. Tonga
90% of the majority population in Tonga are affiliated with Christianity with four major church affiliations like
- Accessible Wesleyan Church of Tonga (36%)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (18%)
- Roman Catholics (15%)
- Free Church of Tonga (12%)
5. Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is a country in the southeast of Asia. In 1994, the number of churches in Timot-Leste grew from 100 to 800. This number increased during Indonesian rule as Pancasila, resulting in mass conversion.
6. Armenia
Armenia holds a significant place for Christians. It is the first country to obtain Christianity. The Armenian Apostolic Church was founded in the 1st century AD and is named after the apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.
7. Nambia
Nambia comprises 80 to 90% of the Christian the Christian population. 97% are Protestants, and the rest 50% are Lutherans. During the second half of the 19th century, missionaries’ activities converted the Nambians to Christianity.
8. Marshall Islands
Marshall Island is a small island country in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, north of the equator. Many churches have been built in Marshall Island, including the United Church of Christ—Congregational in the Marshall Islands, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Assemblies of God.
9. Moldova
Moldova has more than 700 churches. Ninety per cent of the country’s Christians are Eastern Orthodox, while others are Orthodox.
10. Solomon Islands
Solomon Island has six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Melanesia, part of Oceania. Christian missionaries visited this island in the 1840s French Catholics under Jean-Baptiste Epalle to establish a mission on Santa Isabel. The prominent Christians in the Solomon Islands are the Anglican Catholics.
As per each country, Europe ranks at the top with a 565,560,000 Christian population, with 35.0% Catholics, while the rest, 41.2%, are Protestants or other Catholics. Middle East-North Africa shows the least number, with only 12,000,000–16,000,000 people being Christians, of which 2-2.6% are Catholics, while the rest, 1.8 to 2.3%, are Protestants or other Catholics.
Countries holding a highest percentage of 10 millions of Christian population
| Rank | % Christian | Number of Christians | Country |
| 1 | 98.0% | 21,300,000 | Romania |
| 2 | 97.5% | 12,800,000 | Zambia |
| 3 | 95.7% | 63,200,000 | Congo DR |
| 4 | 95.6% | 27,800,000 | Peru |
| 5 | 95.0% | 107,000,000 | Mexico |
| 6 | 94.3% | 36,100,000 | Poland |
| 7 | 94.1% | 13,600,000 | Ecuador |
| 8 | 93.0% | 10,000,000 | Greece |
| 9 | 92.5% | 42,800,000 | Colombia |
| 10 | 92.3% | 10,400,000 | Bolivia |
According to a 2012 Pew Research Center survey, Christianity is believed to remain one of the top-ranking religions in the world even by 2050. By 2050, Christianity will reach a total population of 3 billion, exceeding the Muslim population, which is said to reach a total of 2.8 billion.
Demographics of Major traditions within Christianity
Catholicism tops the list with around 1,200,000,000 followers, up to 52% of the Christian population and 15.9% of the world. The population of Catholics are stable, but the number of followers is increasing rapidly. Second comes Protestantism, which is 34.9% with 800,640,000 people and accounting for 11.6% of the world population. Orthodoxies are around 260,380,000, with 3.8% of the world’s population and 11.4% of the Christian population. The rest, 28,430,000, are other Christians or converted ones, consisting of 0.4% of the world population and 1.3% of the Christian population. As per a study by the Pew Research Center, around 232 countries and territories have Christian majorities, while 71 countries have Christian minorities. Overall, Christianity is a widespread religion with a significant global presence. Its future is projected to see continued growth, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Brandon is the cheif editor and writer at WorldUnfolds.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen editorial eye, he crafts engaging content that captivates and enlightens readers worldwide.
