List of Christian denominations by number of members

This is a list of Christian denominations by number of members. It is inevitably partial and generally based on claims by the denominations themselves. The numbers should therefore be considered approximate and the article an ongoing work-in-progress.

The list includes the Catholic Church, all the Eastern Catholic Churches affiliated to the Catholic Church and its relevant breakaway groups; all the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches with some recognition and their spin-offs; the Protestant denominations and the provinces of the Anglican Communion with at least 0.2 million members; all the other Christian branches with a distinct theological tradition, notably Restorationist and Nontrinitarianian denominations and the Church of the East.

Christian denominational families

Further information: Christian denominations
Branches of Christianity
Protestantism
Restoration Movement
Anabaptism
Calvinism
Anglicanism
Lutheranism
(Latin Church)
Catholic Church
(Eastern Catholicism)
Eastern Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodoxy
Assyrian Church
Reformation
(16th century)
Great Schism
(11th century)
Council of Ephesus 431
Council of Chalcedon 451
Early Christianity
Union

Illustration of major branches of Christianity.[1][2] Not all aspects of Christianity are illustrated.

Largest denominations in the world

The Roman Catholic Church - 1.2 billion

A map of Catholicism by population percentage.

Protestantism - 800 million

A map of Protestantism (including Anglicanism) by population percentage.

Estimates of the total number of Protestants are very uncertain, partly because of the difficulty in determining which denominations should be placed in the category. However, it seems clear that Protestantism is the second largest major group of Christians after Catholicism by number of followers. Often that number is put at 800 million.[12] Some sources, which put the number at 800 million, include also Anglicanism (see below) within Protestantism.[13][14] However, Protestant denominations in the world differ vastly to slightly theologically and do not form a single communion.

Eastern Orthodox Church - 225–300 million

A map of Eastern Orthodoxy by population percentage.

The most common estimates of the number of Orthodox Christians worldwide are approximately 225–300 million, forming a single communion, making it the second largest, single Christian denomination behind the Catholic Church.[136] These are the adherents of the recognized Orthodox jurisdictions (autocephalous and autonomous churches) that are in full communion with each other. In addition, there are some Orthodox splinter groups and non-universally recognized churches.

Oriental Orthodoxy - 86 million

A map of Oriental Orthodoxy by population percentage.

Anglicanism - 85 million

A map of the the Anglican Communion (blue), the Porvoo Communion (green), comprising European Anglican and Lutheran churches, and the Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic) (red), a federation of Old Catholic Churches.

Restorationists and Non-Trinitarian - 42–48 million

Church of the East - 0.6 million

See also

References

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