World – Announcement of the 2023 State of Global Christianity and Outlook
- mmihpedit
- Nov 28, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2024
Since 1985, David B. Barrett has published the “Status of Global Christianity” statistical tables in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research (IBMR). His goal was to annually update key global and regional statistics crucial to understanding the status of global Christianity. This year marks the 39th release of such data by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. The data includes estimates for the years 1900, 1970, 2000, 2023, 2025, and 2050. The most notable trend is that by 2050, approximately 77.5% of all Christians are likely to reside in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands. In 1900, the Christian population in the Northern Hemisphere was 450 million, and it has since grown to 830 million. However, by 2050 it is expected to decline to about 750 million. In contrast, the Christian population in the Southern Hemisphere was 98 million in 1900, has surpassed 1.7 billion today, and is projected to reach about 2.6 billion by 2050.
Additionally, the unevangelized population was 870 million in 1900, making up 54% of the world population at that time. Today, it stands at 2.2 billion, which is 28% of the global population. Looking at the distribution of world religions, the Christian population rose from 550 million in 1900 to 2.6 billion today, and is projected to reach 3.3 billion by 2050. The Muslim population, currently at around 2 billion, is expected to grow to 2.8 billion by 2050. Hindus, currently at 1 billion, are expected to increase to 1.2 billion by 2050. Non-religious individuals, including agnostics and atheists, are currently estimated at 890 million.
In the face of disease, poverty, natural disasters, and economic crises, it is our hope that reflection and cooperation between Christians in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres will lead to further growth of global Christianity. Let us pray that, through love, we may approach the 2.2 billion unevangelized individuals worldwide. (Source: IBMR 47, no. 1)