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Friday, April 24, 2015

World religions: Pew projections for 2050

Afghan Muslims   (PD)
"The times they are a changing" is as true for religion as for everything else.

Largely due to “differences in fertility rates,” as well as to conversions and “the size of youth populations,” the world’s “religious profile” is quickly shifting.

The Pew Research Center notes that the number of Muslims is catching up to the number of Christians worldwide.  These two groups could be about equal in number by the year 2050.

Since Islam is growing faster than any other world religion, it could overtake Judaism as the largest non-Christian religion in the United States within the next several decades. By 2050, Muslims are predicted to constitute 10 percent of Europe’s overall population.  At that time, India might “have the largest Muslim population of any country in the world.”

Christian demographics are shifting away from the United States and towards “sub-Saharan    Africa.”  Within 40 years (from 2010 to 2050), the number of Christians within the United States is expected to decrease from “more than three-quarters of the population… to two-thirds…”

Pew also predicts that by 2050 the “global Buddhist population” will remain steady, but the “Hindu and Jewish populations will be larger than they are today.”

As for “atheists, agnostics” and non-affiliates of any religion?  Their overall numbers are on the decline. 

Resources
http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/

Copyright April 24, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved


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