Introduction
Since the start of Christianity in the 1st century AD, Christianity has become one of the biggest religions in the world. Christianity is a major religion, with 2.4 billion followers accounting for over a third of the global population in 2020. Christianity has been able to spread to all corners of the world, from Saudi Arabia to Brazil and spread the teachings of Jesus. Though the majority of the followers are found in certain areas, so where are the majority of Christian followers located?
Where Are The Majority Of Christianity Followers Located?
The majority of Christianity followers are located across the world in varying percentages. According to the Pew Research Center, the countries with highest number of Christians are the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Russia. The United States has the highest number of Christian followers at 73%, followed by Brazil at 65%. Mexico is the third highest at 83%, with Russia in fourth at 81%.
African countries also account for a large portion of Christianity followers. Nigeria is one of the African countries with a high percent of Christianity followers with 81%. Other countries with large proportions of Christians include the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania with 75% and 68%, respectively. Overall, Africa is home to 830 million Christians and 20 out the top 25 countries with the highest number of Christians are African countries.
Europe has had a long history of Christian followers. In the year 2000, Eastern Orthodoxy accounted for 58% of the European population while Catholicism accounted for 24%. In more recent years, the percentage of Catholic followers went down to 21%. Although there had been a decrease, Europe still has some of the largest number of Christians.
Areas With Low Number Of Christianity Followers
While there are many countries with a high proportion of Christians, there are also several countries with a low number of Christianity followers. These countries include Muslim predominant countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In Saudi Arabia, only 1.1% of the population are Christian followers. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates both have an even lower rate at 0.4% and 0.5%. In other countries, Christianity followers have been shrinking and still decreasing.
Challenges and Implications For Christianity Followers
Despite the pockets of Christianity followers across the world, the religion still faces considerable challenges in the regions. In the United States, Europe, and other places with a large number of Christianity followers, the followers are experiencing a decrease in the number of members according to secularism and a decline in the influence of religious institutions such as churches. Countries with a limited number of followers often face persecution and persecution threats, ranging from Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE to Buddhist and Confucian majority countries in Asia.
What’s Causing Christianity Followers To Decline?
One of the main factors leading to a decline in the number of Christianity followers is the lack of clear message from the religion to its followers worldwide. As a result, many Christianity followers are drawn away from the teachings of Christianity and are attracted to other belief systems.
Apart from this, the changing structure of society coupled with globalization and technology is one of the major reasons for Christianity followers to decrease. This can be seen as a positive or a negative, as it allows for individuals to find a place and a religion where it resonates most with them.
Conclusion
Though the majority of Christian followers are located around the world, they still face many challenges and implications. With the changing structure of society, globalization, and technology, it has become easier for Christianity followers to be drawn away and to unsubscribe from their beliefs. To ensure that Christianity followers remain in the majority and to ensure their safety, religious entities and countries must do their best to ensure that Christianity followers stay safe and are not discriminated against.
