Data is from a now-defunct website (adherents.com) compiled and managed by Preston Hunter; updated 2007.
Chart of Religions
|
Faith Tradition
|
Adherents Worldwide
|
Date of Origin
|
|
Atheism and Agnosticism
|
1.1B
|
unknown
|
|
Indigenous religions worldwide
|
300M
|
unknown
|
|
Hinduism, indigenous to India
|
900M
|
unknown
|
|
Shintoism, indigenous to Japan
|
4M
|
unknown
|
|
Judaism
|
14M
|
1300 BCE
|
|
Jainism
|
4.2M
|
1300 BCE or older
|
|
Zoroastrianism
|
2.6M
|
1000 BCE
|
|
Taoism
|
20M (conservative estimate)
|
550 BCE
|
|
Buddhism
|
376M
|
520 BCE
|
|
Confucianism
|
6M (conservative estimate)
|
500 BCE
|
|
Christianity (all)
|
2.1B
|
30 CE
|
|
Roman Catholicism
|
1B (also included in “Christianity” above)
|
30 CE; emerged from the religion spread by apostles of Jesus
|
|
Islam
|
1.5B (940 Sunni)
|
622 CE
|
|
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
|
350M
|
schism with Church of Rome, 1054 CE; emerged earlier in local areas to the east of Europe
|
|
Sikhism
|
23M
|
1500 CE
|
|
Protestantism (the Reformation)
|
NA
|
1517 CE
|
|
Quakers
|
300K
|
1650 CE
|
|
Unitarianism
|
NA
|
emerged out of Anglican and Protestant religions in18th century; theology is much older
|
|
Universalism
|
NA
|
emerged out of Protestantism in 18th century; theology is much older
|
|
Mormonism
|
13M
|
1830 CE
|
|
Baha’i
|
7M
|
1863 CE
|
|
Seventh Day Adventists
|
10M
|
1863 CE
|
|
Christian Science
|
150-400K
|
1879 CE
|
|
Jehovah’s Witnesses
|
6.5M
|
1879 CE
|
|
Humanism
|
unknown
|
Ancient roots: organizations in 20th century
|
|
Unitarian Universalism
|
800K
|
UUA organized in 1961 CE
|
|
Wicca
|
1-3M
|
1900 CE
|
