5 main world religions and their basic beliefs
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By Mary Gormandy White, M.A.
While there are thousands of different religions in the world, the five oldest religions are generally described as the main world religions. These religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Discover some basic facts about these religions and get an overview of their core beliefs.
Population percentages by religion
The followers of the five main religions make up a significant majority of the world’s population. The faiths considered to be the “big five” world religions are the oldest ones but not necessarily the ones with the most followers. They are generally considered to be the most widely recognised and influential religions. Close to three-quarters of the world’s population practices one of the five main religions. Population percentages by religious affiliation break out as follows:
Christianity overview
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with more than 2 billion believers worldwide. The United States is ...
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