In an ever-changing global landscape, religious profiles have become one of the key aspects undergoing remarkable evolution. The main factors influencing this evolution are fertility rates and the proportion of young people in the world's major religious groups.
According to projections by the PEW Research Center, Christianity will be the most practiced religion in the world in 2020, with approximately 2.4 billion adherents, or about 31% of the total world population. These projections assume growth of 22.4% to more than 2.9 billion by 2050, maintaining its 31% share of the world's population.
On the other hand, Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 24% of the world's population, or about 1.8 billion people. However, according to the Pew Research Center, projections for 2050 indicate that the Muslim population will approach the current number of Christians, reaching 2.4 billion.
Moreover, Islam is projected to experience the most significant growth during this period, with the Muslim population increasing from 1.9 billion in 2020 to nearly 2.8 billion in 2050.
Between 2010 and 2050, the Muslim population is projected to grow by 73%, while the Christian population is projected to grow by 35%. Conversely, the proportion of atheists and those with no religious affiliation is expected to decline.
According to the PEW Research Center, several countries in Southeast Asia are expected to experience significant growth in their Christian and Muslim populations.
Indonesia and the Philippines are two countries where significant growth in the Christian population is projected.
The Christian population in Indonesia is estimated to reach 33 million by 2050, with an estimated population increase of 6.27 million between 2020 and 2050. The percentage increase is also projected to be 23.3%. Although Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, the significant Christian population accounts for about 10% of the total population. Projections from 2020 to 2050 show that the Christian population in Indonesia will continue to grow by 23.3%.
In addition, the number of Christians in the Philippines is estimated to reach 143.6 million by 2050, with a population increase of about 41.2 million from 2020 to 2050, a growth of 40.3%. The Philippines ranks fourth as the country with the largest Christian majority in the world, with about 102 million Christians in 2022. The majority will identify as Catholic.
Furthermore, Malaysia and Indonesia are countries in this region that are projected to experience significant growth in their Muslim populations.
The Muslim population in Malaysia is estimated to reach 32.72 million by 2050, with an estimated population increase of about 10.65 million between 2020 and 2050, a growth rate of 48%. Islam dominates religious practices and is growing rapidly in the country, with over 66% of Malaysia's population identifying as Muslim. Projections for 2050 indicate that this figure will increase to 72.4%.
Indonesia also shows significant growth in its Muslim population. By 2050, the Muslim population in Indonesia is estimated to reach 256.82 million, with an estimated increase of about 27.20 million between 2020 and 2050, a growth rate of 12%. As the world's largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia currently has about 229 million Muslims, accounting for 87.2% of the total population.
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