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Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents



There are twelve classical major world religions. These are the religions described most often in surveys of the subject, and studied in World Religion classes (some of them more for historical rather than contemporary reasons):
All major branches listed together

Virtually all of these religions have experienced schism and divisions. This means they are not really unified bodies sharing in identical doctrine, understanding and practice. Most of these world religions may even be viewed as classifications of religious bodies or movements. Within each world religion are many branches which share a historical background and usually have similarities in doctrines, practice and/or organization. Some of the branches classified under a single "world religion" may have no more in common with other branches than they do with other separate religion (as is the case with Hinduism and many neo-Shinto groups).

Some of these world religions (Babi and Baha'i faiths, Zoroastrianism) have very few branches and few differences between branches.

As discussed on the Religions by Adherents page, there are many distinct religions or religious movements which have more adherents than some of the classical major world religions, but which are not part of the classical list for various reasons.

Only branches of the classical major world religions will be listed here. This isn't a very significant omission because the major world religions discussed on this page include the majority of the world's population, and because most of the smaller or newer "non-major" world religions have few, if any, divisions or branches. Religions such as Tenrikyo, Scientology, and Cao Dai are both religious bodies (unified, centrally-organized organizations or denominations) as well as distinct religions.

However, some smaller/newer world religions (or religious movements), such as New Age and Neo-Paganism are really not single religions at all, but are classifications of independent religions and religious bodies which share certain similarities but may have no formal or even historical connections.

Babi and Baha'i faiths

The only major branch of the Babi and Baha'i faiths today is the Baha'i World Faith (often called simply the "Baha'i Faith" or "Bahai Faith"), with headquarters in Haifa, Israel. Baha'ism emerged from a Muslim environment, and was originally considered a by outsiders to be a heretical offshoot of Islam. Today Baha'is, Muslims and the academic community alike agree that these two religions are separate

The immediate precursor of the Baha'i religious tradition was Babism. Indeed, Baha'is consider Babism part of a revelation from God which was fulfilled by the Baha'i Faith. The Iraqi prophet known as the Bab foretold the arrival of a great prophet or messiah figure. A minority of Babis did not accept the Baha'ull'ah and never became Baha'is. The non-Baha'i Babis, such as the Azali Babis constitute a branch, but a numerically insignificant one, of the Babi-Baha'i religion. It is not known if there are any left today.

Various schismatic groups, such as the Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant and the Orthodox Baha'i, split from the main Baha'i body after the death of Shogi Effendi. They reject the Universal House of Justice as the new leadership of the Baha'i Faith. Numerically these groups certainly constitute less than two percent of all Baha'is. The existence of these groups is evidence of the dynamic nature of the Baha'i religion, and the earnestness Baha'is have about their faith. Other than on the matter of leadership and organization, there are few if any differences between the schismatic and mainstream Baha'i in matters of doctrine and practice.

According to the Toronto Consultants on Religious Tolerance Bahai information page, small Baha'i splinter groups include:

Other sources regarding alternative Baha'i groups indicate that their total current membership is very small compared to that of the Haifa-based organization. A useful and fairly comprehensive treatment of the subject (although published by the majority Baha'i body, so it is clearly not without bias) can be found here.

Major Contemporary Branches of the Babi and Baha'i faiths
Branch Number of Adherents
Baha'i World Faith 6,000,000



Buddhism


Major Branches of Buddhism
Branch Number of Adherents
Mahayana 185,000,000
Theravada 124,000,000
Lamaism (Vajrayana/Tibetan/Tantric) 20,000,000


Christianity



NOTE: Depending on the country, government census records often recognize only one, two or three divisions of Christians. Religious affiliation in surveys is always defined by self-identification, not by theology or practice. In predominantly non-Christian nations such as India or Iraq, available data may simply identify "Christians," to separate them from the majority populations of Hindus, Muslims, etc. If the data is more detailed (usually because there are larger numbers of Christians), Christians will be divided into "Catholics" and "Protestants" (with Orthodox/Eastern Christians typically classified as Protestant). With more accuracy, Orthodox are added as a third division, leaving all Christians who are not Catholic or Orthodox classified as Protestant. This includes many groups who would prefer not to grouped with Protestants, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints.
Major Traditional Branches of Christianity
(mid-1995; source: Encyclopedia Britannica)
Branch Number of Adherents
Roman Catholic 968,000,000
Protestant 395,867,000
Other Christians 275,583,000
Orthodox 217,948,000
Anglicans 70,530,000



Major Denominational Families of Christianity
(This table does not include all Christians. These numbers are estimates, and are here primarily to assist in ranking branches by size, not to provide a definitive count of membership.)
Branch Number of Adherents
Catholic 1,030,000,000
Orthodox/Eastern Christian 240,000,000
African indigenous sects 110,000,000
Pentecostal 105,000,000
Baptist 80,000,000
Reformed/Presbyterian/Congregational/United 75,000,000
Anglican 70,000,000
Lutheran 65,000,000
Methodist 50,000,000
Jehovah's Witnesses 14,000,000
Latter Day Saints 11,000,000
Adventist 11,000,000
Apostolic/New Apostolic 10,000,000
Stone-Campbell ("Restoration Movement") 5,400,000
New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) 1,500,000
Brethren (incl. Plymouth) 1,500,000
Mennonite 1,250,000
Friends (Quakers) 300,000

Catholic: Includes Old Catholic, Aglipayan (Philipines), Uniate.
Orthodox/Eastern Christian: As a "branch", the Orthodox/Eastern churches include Eastern churches not in communion with Constantinople, Chalcedonian and Non-chalcedonian, Nestorian, Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox, various Jacobite/Syrian Orthodox, Armenian.
Pentecostal: Examples: Assemblies of God, Church of God in Christ, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, various Churches of God, etc. Includes officially Pentecostal denominations--those which do not identify primarily with other denominational families, such as Baptist or Methodist. There are denominations and/or congregations which have generic pentecostal characteristics, or are charismatic or evangelical, but are not classified primarily as a Pentecostal denomination.
African indigenous sects: Many African Initiated/Indigenous/Independent Churches (AICs) such as the Kimbanguist Church (6.5 million)
Latter Day Saints: Mormons. Mostly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also splinter groups such as RLDS (Reorganized) and other minor splinter groups.
Adventist: Mostly Seventh-day Adventists, plus some others.
New Thought: The three largest New Thought heirs to Christian Science -- Unity Church, Religious Science and Divine Science -- count among them about 780 churches and between 130,000 and 150,000 members in the U.S., according to a 1996 almanac of American religions.
Mennonite: Includes Amish.
Restoration Movement (Stone-Campbell): Primarily includes the "Christian Churches and Churches of Christ", "Church of Christ" (or "Churches of Christ") and the "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)"; [Stone-Campbell churches should not be confused with Latter Day Saint (Mormon) denominations, which are part of a separate Restoration (usually referred to by Latter Day Saints simply as "The Restoration" or "Restoration of the Gospel"). From its organization in 1830 until 1838 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was known simply as the "Church of Christ." But despite similarities in names, the Mormon and Stone/Campbellite movements are not connected.]

NOTE: Division into denominational families offers a more detailed look at the composition of Christianity as a whole, but can be misleading. Among Protestants today, most significant divisions with regard to culture, practice and doctrine are not between denominational families, but between Liberal and Conservative Protestants.

Since the 1940s, one of the most important distinctions Christians have written about is between Evangelical and non-Evangelical Christians. At the denominational level, the Evangelical branch of Christianity is roughly equivalent to the Conservative Protestants, including Pentecostals. But both sociologists and Christian writers usually assign non-historical and non-denominational parameters to "Evangelical", defining the term primarily in theological and behavioral terms. Based on such criteria, sociologists have sometimes even included as "Evangelicals" many people not usually considered Protestant, such as Latter Day Saints and "born-again Catholics".

The variety of terms applied to different divisions and movements among conservative American Protestants can be confusing. Some of the most important and widely used are: born again Christians, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Charismatics and Fundamentalists. These terms frequently overlap or are defined differently by different writers.

It is beyond the scope of this page to fully describe major divisions in conservative Protestantism, but the following definitions from an article by Harvey Cox for The Atlantic Monthly (Nov. 1995) are useful:

  • "Born-again" is the broadest category. It includes the 39 percent of the American population who claim they have had a personal experience of Christ. Their political ideas span the spectrum, and Jimmy Carter is not the only born-again political liberal.

  • "Evangelical" describes a theological position, one recognizing not only the need for such a personal experience with God but also the unique religious authority of Scripture and an obligation to share one's faith with others. Billy Graham is the paradigmatic evangelical.

  • "Fundamentalists," though they share many of the evangelicals' beliefs, also fiercely insist on the "verbal inerrancy" of the Bible, and this has led them into noisy conflicts over creation and evolution. William Jennings Bryan, who defended a literal reading of Genesis at the famous Scopes "monkey trial" in 1925, was a classic fundamentalist.

  • Pentecostals, by far the fastest-growing wing of Christianity today, share most evangelical beliefs, but for them all theology is secondary. What is most important is an immediate encounter with the Holy Spirit in a style of worship that is exuberant and even ecstatic. Aimee Semple McPherson was the first Pentecostal preacher to achieve celebrity status in America.

  • "Charismatics" (the word's root means "gift of grace") are people who practice a Pentecostal form of worship but remain in their own Catholic or Protestant churches.

    • Sociologically Most Significant Branches of Christianity


    The list of branches shown below represents an attempt to be less arbitrary, showing major branches between which there are real differences with regard to culture, practice, doctrine, and history. Given these criteria, this list is more subjective than a listing of denominational families, which was primarily based on historical considerations only. Once again, the numbers are estimates. The boundaries between some of these groups are somewhat blurry (such as between some Pentecostal and Conservative Protestant groups).

    Branch Number of Adherents
    Catholic 1,030,000,000
    Liberal Protestant * 240,000,000
    Orthodox/Eastern Christian 240,000,000
    Conservative Protestant 200,000,000
    African indigenous sects 110,000,000
    Pentecostal 105,000,000
    Jehovah's Witnesses 14,000,000
    Latter Day Saints 11,000,000
    New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.) 1,500,000
    Friends (Quakers)* 300,000

    * Liberal Protestant in this table ("Sociologically Most Significant Branches of Christianity") includes most Anglicans. It is true that African and Asian Anglicans are far more conservative than American Anglicans (Episcopalians), but in those regions, as well as in the U.S., Anglicans are now closely allied with more liberal Protestants such as Methodists, Congregationalists, Lutherans.

    Also, it should be noted that a recent development in the United States has been the formal ecumenical movement marking increased cooperation among a number of long-separated liberal-to-moderate Protestant denominations. Currently a significant part of this unification of this branch of Protestantism is the "Churches United in Christ" agreement, which will create a network of denominations which share ministries and recognize one another's churches and share in Communion. Currently the combined membership of this movement is 17 million, representing about 7% of U.S. Christians, or about 12% of affiliated Christians in the U.S. [Article.]

    * Quakers: Classification of Quakers into functionally meaningful "branches" of Christianity is difficult. Certainly the Quaker faith and witness arose from a Protestant background and Quakerism is correctly classified today as Protestant. But it is not as simply to group Quakers as "Conservative Protestant" or "Liberal Protestant." Like many other historical denominatinal families (Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc.), different Quaker denominations, and even congregations, are clearly either Liberal or Conservative with regards to many issues. But, although embracing certain degrees of ecumenicalism, Quakers nevertheless have maintained denominational identity which exceeds that of most other Protestant denominations. Various innovations by founder George Fox, including distinctive forms of Quaker worship (Meetings, "gathering", etc.), emphasis on Inner Light, as well as the pacifistic stand against violence in all forms, including self defense, all serve to heighten Quaker identity. Quakers still exhibit separate expressions of art and culture. So while "Lutheranism", "Presbyterianism", "Methodism", etc. are no longer sociological significant categories, "Quakerism" still is and will continue to be so into the forseeable future.

    Hinduism


    Major Branches of Hinduism
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Vaishnavites 580,000,000
    Shaivites 220,000,000
    neo-Hindus and reform Hindus 22,000,000
    Veerashaivas (Lingayats) 10,000,000


    Note that Lingayats consider their religion separate and distinct from Hinduism, although the Indian government and most general religious texts do not classify them separately.

    Islam


    Major Branches of Islam
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Sunni 940,000,000
    Shiite 120,000,000
    Ahmadiyya 10,000,000
    Druze 450,000

    Note: As with all other religions listed on this page (including Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism), not all historical branches of Islam consider each other acceptably orthodox. The numerically largest branch of Islam, Sunnis, believe that adherence to the five pillars of Islam and acceptance of certain key doctrinal positions are requisite for an individual's classification as a Muslim. Statistical data collection and secular/academic classification, however, are primarily based on self-identification and historical considerations.

    The Druze, for example, are not considered part of the numerically dominant (i.e. "mainstream") Muslim grouping. But Druze are classified from a secular/historical perspective as a branch of Islam because they are derived from a branch of Shi'ite Islam. Having developed independently for hundreds of years, their cultural and religious self-concept is primarily Druze, without regard to how outside groups perceive or classify them. Nevertheless, they retain some self-concept as Muslims in addition to their clear historical ties.

    Jainism


    Major Branches of Jainism
    (very rough estimates)
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Svetambara 4,000,000
    Sthanakavasis 750,000
    Digambaras 155,000

    Judaism

    Differences in practice and belief between the branches of Judaism are compared in this chart by Gilbert Rosenthal.

    Major Branches of Judaism
    (very rough estimates)
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Conservative 4,500,000
    Unaffiliated and Secular 4,500,000
    Reform 3,750,000
    Orthodox 2,000,000
    Reconstructionist 150,000

    Shinto

    Traditionally comparative religious literature has acknowledged three main divisions in Shinto: Sect Shinto, State Shinto, and Shrine Shinto. There is no reliable way to determine how many people are in which branches.

    In about 1975: "Organizationally, the majority of Shinto shrines were soon joined together into a major, nation-wide shrine association which presently claims close to 80,000 members and a few national associations."

    State Shinto essentially refers to government-associated Shinto activities and shrines, and has few or no actual adherents who relate to it as their primary religious identity.

    Only about 4 million people worldwide (nearly all of them in Japan) claim Shinto as their religion. Most Japanese who consider themselves religious cite Buddhism as their religion, but occasionally participate in Shinto-derived public holidays, celebrations, ceremonies, etc. Individual Shinto organizations and shrines are able to claim at least 80% of the Japanese population as "members" due to community-based record-keeping practices that date back hundreds of years. But few Japanese think of themselves as Shintoists.

    Most people who do consider Shinto their religion are presumably involved in "Sect Shinto." The largest Shinto-derived sects (such as Tenrikyo, PL Kyodan) do not wish to be considered Shinto any longer and are classified officially as "Other" or "New Religious Movements." These are not included in this 4 million adherents figure.

    NOTE: The table below does NOT include any officially Buddhist religions, but there are no doubt Buddhist influences found within most or all of these.
    Major Branches of Shinto, and other Japanese New Religions
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Shinto all branches 4,000,000
    Seicho-No-Ie 3,200,000
    Tenrikyo 2,800,000
    PL Kyodan 2,600,000
    Sekai Kyuseikyo 800,000
    Zenrinkai 600,000
    Tensho Kotai Jingukyo 400,000
    Ennokyo 300,000

    The groups in the table above are officially registered and classified by the Japanese government as "Shinto" or "other" (neither Buddhist nor Shinto).

    SHINTO religious bodies:

    OTHER religious bodies: Seicho-no-Ie, Tenrikyo, PL Kyodan, Sekai Kyuseikyo, Zenrinkai, Tensho Kotai Jingukyo, Ennokyo.

    Sikhism

    Fritz B. Voll:
    "The spiritual leadership of Sikhism is invested in five elected heads of five major Gurdwaras in India. After more than two hundred years of non-uniformity within Sikhism these leaders consulted with Sikh scholars and theologians in the first half of this century and defined belief and practice of Sikhism in a code of conduct for individual and corporate life."

    "Sikhism is opposed to exclusive claims of any religion, including Sikhism itself."
    Major Branches of Sikhism
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Sikhism 18,000,000

    Zoroastrianism

    Worldwide there are less than 200,000 Zoroastrians. Many estimates indicate there are only about 100,000 practicing Zoroastrians. As a proud but dwindling group, Zoroastrians are fairly unified and there is little in the way of "denominationalism." But there remains a clear division between the two traditional communities -- Iraqi ("Gabars") and Indian ("Parsis"). Although surprisingly similar considering the length of time the two communities were separated from each other, there are differences in dress, custom, ritual and understanding. The religious calender is one of the hotly-debated areas of difference.

    Some issues of modernization are emerging around which there is some internal dissension. The most divisive topic seems to be that of conversion. Many traditionalists desire to maintain the status quo which disallows conversion entirely, and even disallows membership in Zoroastrianism to children of mixed marriages if the father is not a Zoroastrian. Some reform-minded Zoroastrians fear the strict guidelines are dooming their people to extinction, and they wish to make the faith less exclusive, perhaps even allowing unrelated converts. Although there are organizations set up to promote both points of view, such issues are unlikely to cause a complete "schism" in the faith.

    There are growing communities of immigrant Zoroastrians in the United States, Canada, England and elsewhere -- perhaps 30,000 total outside of the Persian and Indian homelands. But these communities have yet to acquire sufficiently unique national identities to be considered divergent "branches." In this era of improved communication, especially via the Internet, and because the overall Zoroastrian community is already so small, the diaspora Zoroastrians should remain quite unified with those in the geographic centers. Most individuals retain the Zoroastrian identity of their national origin.

    Zurvanism, the only known Zoroastrian heresy of real numerical significance, died out about 1,000 years ago.
    Major Branches of Zoroastrianism
    Branch Number of Adherents
    Parsis 110,000
    Gabars 20,000

    Major Branches of Major World Religions Ordered by Number of Adherents


    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 1,030,000,000
    Sunni Islam 940,000,000
    Vaishnavites Hinduism 580,000,000
    Liberal Protestant Christianity 240,000,000
    Orthodox/Eastern Christian Christianity 240,000,000
    Shaivites Hinduism 220,000,000
    Conservative Protestant Christianity 200,000,000
    Mahayana Buddhism 185,000,000
    Theravada Buddhism 124,000,000
    Shiite Islam 120,000,000
    African indigenous sects Christianity 110,000,000
    Pentecostal Christianity 105,000,000
    neo-Hindus
    and reform Hindus    		 Hinduism 22,000,000
    Lamaism
    (Vajrayana/Tibetan, etc.)    		 Buddhism 20,000,000
    Sikhism Sikhism 18,000,000
    Jehovah's Witnesses Christianity 14,000,000
    Latter Day Saints Christianity 11,000,000
    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
    Shinto all branches Shinto 4,000,000
    Svetambara Jainism 4,000,000
    Reform Judaism 3,750,000
    Seicho-No-Ie New Japanese 3,200,000
    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) 300,000
    Ennokyo New Japanese 300,000
    Digambaras Jainism 155,000
    Reconstructionist Judaism 150,000
    Parsis Zoroastrianism 110,000
    Gabars Zoroastrianism 20,000


    This page copyright © 2000 by Adherents.com. Created February 1999. Last updated 8 August 2000.
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