What's happened
A recent Pew Research study highlights significant shifts in global religious demographics from 2010 to 2020. Islam is now the fastest-growing religion, with a 21% increase in followers, while Christianity and Judaism show declines in certain regions. The findings underscore the impact of demographic factors over conversion rates.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights
- Islam's Growth: The Muslim population surged by 347 million, primarily due to higher fertility rates and a younger demographic. This trend is expected to continue, potentially making Islam the world's largest religion by 2075.
- Christianity's Decline: In contrast, Christianity's global population decreased by 1.8%, particularly in Europe and the Americas, where significant emigration and secularization are evident.
- Judaism's Complex Identity: The Jewish population's growth is nuanced, with Pew's metrics excluding those identifying culturally rather than religiously. This highlights the challenges in accurately counting religious adherents.
- Demographic Factors: The study emphasizes that natural demographic factors, such as birth rates, are more influential than conversion in shaping religious populations. This trend raises questions about the future landscape of global religions and their societal implications.
What the papers say
According to The New Arab, the Pew Research Center's study indicates that Islam is the fastest-growing religion, with a notable increase driven by births rather than conversions. The report states, "Most of the change in Muslim numbers comes from births, not people converting into or out of the faith."
In contrast, The Times of Israel highlights the complexities surrounding Jewish population counts, noting that Pew's methodology excludes individuals who identify as Jewish culturally but not religiously. This has led to a reported Jewish population of 5.7 million in the U.S., which does not account for those identifying as Jewish by ethnicity or culture. The article states, "The metric was used because the goal of the project was to report which religion, if any, people around the world identify with."
These contrasting perspectives illustrate the challenges in measuring religious affiliation and the implications of demographic trends on global religious landscapes.
How we got here
The Pew Research Center's latest report analyzes global religious population changes over the past decade, focusing on birth rates and self-identification. This study builds on previous research, revealing ongoing trends in religious affiliation and demographic shifts.
Go deeper
- What factors are driving the growth of Islam?
- How does the decline in Christianity affect global demographics?
- What challenges exist in counting the Jewish population?
More on these topics
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The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington, D.C. It provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world.