What is the percentage of Christians to non-Christians worldwide?
The Percentage of Christians to Non-Christians Worldwide
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the largest religious group in the world, encompassing approximately 31.2% of the global population of 7.3 billion people. Islam follows with 24.1%, then those unaffiliated with any religion at 16%, Hinduism at 15.1%, Buddhism at 6.9%, folk religions at 5.7%, other religions at 0.8%, and Judaism at 0.2%.
The Pew Research Center defines Christians broadly, relying on self-identification. This means that anyone who considers themselves a Christian is included in the group, regardless of their specific beliefs or practices. While this method is useful for demographic purposes, it does not reflect the number of people who are genuinely born-again believers, trusting in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior by grace alone through faith alone, as emphasized in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (NKJV).
Subdivisions Within Christianity
Christianity, as a global religion, is divided into various groups:
Catholicism
Approximately 50% of those identified as Christians are Roman Catholic. Catholics are united under the leadership of the Pope and adhere to specific doctrines, including the veneration of Mary, the sacraments, and tradition alongside Scripture.Protestantism
About 37% of Christians are Protestants, a group that includes denominations such as Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Pentecostals. Protestants emphasize the authority of Scripture (sola scriptura) and salvation by grace through faith (sola fide), as rooted in passages like Romans 10:9–10: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (NKJV).Orthodox Christianity
Around 12% of Christians belong to Orthodox churches, including the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox. These churches emphasize tradition, liturgical worship, and the sacraments as central to their faith.Other Groups
The remaining 1% of Christians include groups such as Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Scientists. However, many of these groups hold beliefs that deviate significantly from biblical Christianity. For instance, both Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the full deity of Christ, contradicting foundational doctrines like John 1:1,14: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (NKJV).
How Many Are Truly Saved?
While 31.2% of the world’s population identifies as Christian, the number of true believers—those who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior—remains unknown. Jesus Himself warns us in Matthew 7:13–14: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (NKJV). This sobering statement reminds us that not all who claim the name of Christ are truly His followers.
True Christianity is defined not by external identification but by an inward transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (NKJV). Genuine Christians demonstrate their faith through repentance (Luke 13:3), obedience to God’s Word (John 14:15), and a life transformed by the gospel.
The Great Commission: A Call to Action
The disparity between the number of professing Christians and true followers of Christ underscores the urgency of the Great Commission. Jesus commands His followers in Matthew 28:19–20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NKJV).
The work of evangelism is critical because many in the world either follow false religions or have a superficial understanding of Christianity. Romans 10:14–15 emphasizes the necessity of preaching the gospel: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (NKJV).
Lessons for Believers
Pray for the Lost
Believers are called to pray for those who do not know Christ. First Timothy 2:1–4 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men… For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (NKJV).Live as Witnesses
Christians must live in a way that reflects the gospel. Matthew 5:16 exhorts us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV). A Christ-centered life is a powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel.Share the Gospel Faithfully
The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). As ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), we are called to share the good news with boldness and clarity, trusting God to work in the hearts of those who hear.
Conclusion
While Christianity remains the world’s largest religious group, the true number of those who are genuinely saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is far smaller. This reality challenges believers to pray, evangelize, and live as faithful witnesses for Christ. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). May we heed the call to make disciples and trust God to bring many into His kingdom through the power of the gospel. As John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV).
