|
Major World Religions |
 |
|
The following table presents all the major branches (of major world religions) listed above in a single table, ordered by size. Remember that the meaning of a division between branches of a religion differs between religions, and between each branch. Also, remember that some of these estimates may be inaccurate. Be advised against reading too much meaning into this particular table.
Remember, this is not a table of all branches of all religions, just a summary of major branches of the classical major world religions.
| Branch | Religion | Number of Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | Christianity | 1,050,000,000 |
| Sunni | Islam | 940,000,000 |
| Vaishnavites | Hinduism | 580,000,000 |
| Orthodox/Eastern Christian | Christianity | 240,000,000 |
| Shaivites | Hinduism | 220,000,000 |
| Conservative Protestant | Christianity | 200,000,000 |
| Mahayana | Buddhism | 185,000,000 |
| Liberal Protestant | Christianity | 150,000,000 |
| Theravada | Buddhism | 124,000,000 |
| Shiite | Islam | 120,000,000 |
| African indigenous sects (AICs) | Christianity | 110,000,000 |
| Pentecostal | Christianity | 105,000,000 |
| Anglican | Christianity | 73,000,000 |
| Sikhism | Sikhism | 23,000,000 |
| neo-Hindus and reform Hindus |
Hinduism | 22,000,000 |
| Lamaism (Vajrayana/Tibetan, etc.) |
Buddhism | 20,000,000 |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | Christianity | 14,800,000 |
| Latter Day Saints | Christianity | 11,200,000 |
| Ahmadiyya | Islam | 10,000,000 |
| Veerashaivas (Lingayats) | Hinduism | 10,000,000 |
| Baha’i World Faith | Baha’i Faiths | 6,000,000 |
| Conservative | Judaism | 4,500,000 |
| Unaffiliated and Secular | Judaism | 4,500,000 |
| Svetambara | Jainism | 4,000,000 |
| Reform | Judaism | 3,750,000 |
| Seicho-No-Ie | New Japanese | 3,200,000 |
| Shinto all branches | Shinto | 3,000,000 |
| Tenrikyo | New Japanese | 2,800,000 |
| PL Kyodan | New Japanese | 2,600,000 |
| Orthodox | Judaism | 2,000,000 |
| New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) |
Christianity | 1,500,000 |
| Sekai Kyuseikyo | New Japanese | 800,000 |
| Sthanakavasis | Jainism | 750,000 |
| Zenrinkai | New Japanese | 600,000 |
| Druze | Islam | 450,000 |
| Tensho Kotai Jingukyo | New Japanese | 400,000 |
| Friends (Quakers) | Christianity | 300,000 |
| Ennokyo | New Japanese | 300,000 |
| Digambaras | Jainism | 155,000 |
| Reconstructionist | Judaism | 150,000 |
| Parsis | Zoroastrianism | 110,000 |
| Gabars | Zoroastrianism | 20,000 |
* Ahmadiyya: Estimates vary widely regarding the total number of Ahmadiyyans worldwide. Some sources report 170 million to 200 million worldwide, but we believe the only original source for these figures is representatives of the movement. We are unaware of any independent corroboration for these estimates.