Top 10 World's Largest Followed Religions As Per Populations

1. Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion. This religion is been followed throughout the world by over 2.1 billion people. Christianity is been divided in three major branches : Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Now these branches are further sub-divided. Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God and savior of humanity, being referred by them as Messiah. Bible is their holy book. It is now world's largest religion and also the state religion of most of the countries.

2. Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion. This religion is been followed throughout the world by over 1.5 billion people. Islam is been divided in three major branches : Sunni, Shia and very less in number Sufi. Now these branches are further sub-divided. Muslims believe in the teachings of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. Quran is their holy book. It is now world's second largest religion, the state religion of most of the countries and most fastest growing religion of the world..

3. Hinduism

Hinduism is the most oldest living religion of the world. It is predominant in the Indian subcontinent. It is third largest religion of the world. It is been followed by over 900 million people around the world. Many of the Hindus have faith in most of the texts by this religion such as Vedas , Upanishads , Puranas , Mahabharata and Ramayana. Generally this religion is been divided into four classes : Brahmins , Kshatriyas , Vaishyas and Shudras.

4. Chinese Traditional Religions

Chinese Folk Religions is predominant religion of China. It comprises of collection of ethnic religious tradition of China. Shenism comprises mostly of worship of shens which can be deities, cutural heroes, dragons and ancestors. It is been followed by 396 million people around the world. It comprises of 6% of overall population of the world. Some of the commonly worshiped deities are : Guan Yu, Baosheng Dadi , Cai Shen , Shou Xing and Fu Shen.

5. Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion and tradition followed by 376 million people around the world. It has beliefs and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama , also referred as Buddha. Its been recognized by two major branches : Theravada and Mahayana. Generally religion has The Four Noble Truths which are :

"The noble truth that is suffering"
"The noble truth that is the arising of suffering"
"The noble truth that is the end of suffering"
"The noble truth that is the way leading to the end of suffering".
6. Animist Religion

Animism is been considered as a idea which is philosophical , spiritual and religious that the souls not only exists in the body of the human but also exists in animals, plants , rocks , mountain and rivers etc.... Over 300 million people follow its practices and beliefs . Sir Edward Taylor worked on the word Animism.

7. African Traditional Religion

African Traditional Religions are the groups or the collection of small religions that exists in the continent of Africa. The four linguistic phylums spoken in Africa are : Afro-Asiatic , Nilo-Saharan , Niger-Congo and Khoi-San. Its been followed by over more than 100 million people around the continent of Africa.

8. Sikhism

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in the fifteenth century. It comprises of teachings and practices of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and ten successive Sikh Gurus. The religion sacred text is Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They have faith in Waheguru, meaning one god. Its been followed by over 23 million peolpe around thw world.

9. Juche

Juche is ideology of North Korea. It teaches that "Man is the master of everything and decides everything". It meaning is "subject". Its been followed by over 19 million people around the world.

10. Judaism

Judaism is been followed by over 14 million people around the world. Judaism is mostly religion and way of life of the Jewish people. It has been around now for more then 3000 years. The largest of Judaism movements are : Orthodox Judaism , Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. Tanakh is the holy book of the Judaism.  

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