Global Christianity Report: Growth Slows as Muslim Population Tops 2 Billion
A new report from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary shows Christianity's annual growth rate at 0.95%, trailing Islam's 1.57%. The global Muslim population has surpassed 2 billion and is projected to reach 3.4 billion by 2075. The report also notes that 2.3 billion people worldwide have never had personal contact with a Christian.
A new report from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's Center for the Study of Global Christianity shows Christianity continues to grow worldwide, but at a slower pace than Islam.
Christianity's annual growth rate stands at 0.95%, compared to Islam's 1.57%. The global Muslim population has now surpassed 2 billion and is projected to reach 3.4 billion by 2075, narrowing the gap with Christianity significantly.
The report highlights sharp regional declines. Europe's Christian population of 553 million is shrinking by 0.41% annually. North America, with 275 million Christians, is declining at 0.16% per year. The Middle East, where Christianity began, has seen its Christian share drop from 12.7% in 1900 to 4.2% today.
Urbanization presents both challenges and opportunities. The number of cities with over one million residents has grown from 20 in 1900 to 670 today. More than 60% of those major cities are now minority-Christian, up from about 25% a century ago.
The report estimates that 27.7% of the world's population, or 2.3 billion people, remains unreached by the gospel. Less than 20% of non-Christians personally know a Christian.
On persecution, the report estimates approximately 900,000 Christians have died for their faith over the past decade, though the annual rate has declined compared to earlier decades.
Financial crime within Christian institutions is also flagged. Theft, fraud, and other ecclesiastical crimes cost ministries and churches an estimated $70 billion annually, up from $19 billion in 2000.
