The Christian religion is one of the oldest and the most widespread religions in the world with more than two billion adherents. Christianity is divided into a variety of denominations, which can be divided into three major families of denominations; Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox. Christianity is a wide and diverse faith and each denomination has different beliefs, practices and rituals. So, how many denominations of Christianity are there in the world?
The exact number of denominations of Christianity in the world is hard to define since denominations can merge, split and come into existence, as well as change in size and influence. Some estimates suggest that there are around 34,000 different Christian denominations in the world, with the majority being Protestant. The largest of these denominations, the Roman Catholic Church, has around 1.2 billion adherents.
In addition to the major denominational families, there is a great variety within each of these denominations. Within the Roman Catholic Church for example, there are different rites and branches including the Latin Rite, the Anglican Communion, the Byzantine Rite, the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Within the Protestant family of denominations there are numerous independent churches and organizations that may or may not recognize one another’s traditions and beliefs.
Many Christian denominations emphasize different aspects of Christianity such as baptism, the sacrament or doctrine. Generally speaking, churches of a particular denomination converge on core theological beliefs but may differ on social and political issues or diverge in practice due to different cultural contexts. The differences between denominations can also be related to differences in governance or leadership; some churches are centralized while others are more decentralized or independent.
The process of denominationalization is ongoing, and many denominations have formed in response to modernity and postmodernity. As globalization has increased, so too has the interaction between different denominations, leading to greater cross-pollination and a greater emphasis on inter-denominational dialogue.
Such dialogues and initiatives have enabled denominations to become more accepting of one another and more open to different viewpoints. The result is a more tolerant and vibrant Christian faith, which has been beneficial for not only the denominations themselves, but also the wider Christian religion.
Individual Denominations
The most recognized denominations of Christianity are the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the various Protestant churches. Each of these denominations has millions of adherents in different parts of the world. Roman Catholics are found mostly in Western Europe, Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines and parts of the United States. Anglicans are mostly located in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and certain parts of Africa. Eastern Orthodox Christians are mainly located in Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe. Protestantism is found mostly in the United States, Canada, Australia, Western and Northern Europe and in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Evangelical Denominations
There are also a number of evangelical denominations within Christianity, which are generally considered to be fundamental or conservative in their beliefs and practices. These denominations include Baptists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Methodists, Anabaptists and several others. These denominations often overlap with one another in terms of beliefs and practices, but differ in terms of their beliefs on specific issues or the manner in which they practice their faith. Many of these denominations are concentrated in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and certain parts of Western Europe.
Minor Denominations
There are a number of smaller denominations within Christianity that have less adherents, but are still significant in terms of their presence and influence. These denominations include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Old Catholic Church, the Union of Catholic Apostolic Churches, the Church of God, the Latter-day Saint Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ and various independent Christian churches.
House Church Denominations
The House Church movement can be seen as a more recent trend within Christianity, with a growing number of independent Christian churches that do not conform to a traditional denominational structure. These churches are organized in small groups, often meeting in a home or other informal space to worship as a community. House Churches often emphasize a more intimate and communal experience than traditional church services and are seen as a form of revival or renewal within Christianity.
Non-denominational Denominations
Finally, there are denominations that are non-denominational and may form an independent Christian organization or network of churches. Non-denominational churches often describe themselves as Bible-based, spirit-filled and focused on bringing people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These churches may still adhere to particular beliefs and practices, but are not formally linked with any particular denomination or family of denominations. Non-denominational churches are found mostly in the United States, Canada and Australia.
