2011-12-18-皮尤-The_Size_and_Distribution_of_the_World_s_Christian_Population_130页_12mb

Summary of Global Christianity Report ("Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population", December 2011)

This report provides a comprehensive demographic analysis of Christianity worldwide, focusing on the year 2010.

• Global Christian Population: Approximately 2.18 billion Christians (32% of the 2010 world population of about 6.9 billion). Christianity grew roughly threefold since 1910, while the global population expanded rapidly.

• Regional Distribution:

  • Americas had the largest Christian population (37% of global Christians) with nearly one-quarter of the population identifying as Christian.
  • Europe dropped from 66% to 26% of its population identifying as Christian between 1910 and 2010.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa nearly tripled its Christian population, with Christians making up about 63% of the region.
  • Asia-Pacific experienced substantial growth, rising from 2.7% to 7% of its population.
  • Middle East-North Africa had the lowest Christian proportion (4%) and saw the slowest growth.

• Christian Traditions:

• Catholics (50.1% of global Christians) and Protestants (36.7%) were the largest traditions.

• Orthodox and other Christian groups (7.1%) totaled the remainder.

• Americas featured a large Catholic majority (70% of region) and growing Protestant pentecostalism.

• Country Spotlight:

  • The United States and Brazil had the highest Christian populations, with Brazil experiencing significant Protestant growth.
  • Pentecostalism expanded rapidly across America, accounting for 4.0% of global Christians (12.8% of the world's population).

• Christianity as a Minority:

  • 208 million Christians (10%) lived as religious minorities, concentrated in countries like China, India, and Indonesia.
  • Most regions (19/20) in Middle East-North Africa classified as having Christian minorities.

• Methodology: Estimates combined census data, surveys, and expert analysis, adjusted for omitted groups and missing data. Challenges included accessibility in countries like China where religion is politically sensitive.

This analysis demonstrates that while Christianity is losing prominence in historically dominant regions like Europe, it is experiencing remarkable growth in the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia-Pacific.