World Religion Database
International Religious Demographic Statistics and Sources
Editor-in-Chief:
The World Religion Database (WRD) contains detailed statistics on religious affiliation for every country of the world. It provides information from country censuses as well as best estimates for every religion to offer a definitive picture of religion and non-religion in the past, present, and future.
It offers best estimates at multiple dates for each of the world's religions for the period 1900 to 2050. The WRD is regularly updated with new sources of data, such as estimates of religious affiliation at the province level within countries and religious freedom information for all countries.
NEW: Now available: individual subscriptions for WRD. Please contact sales for all the options via sales@brill.com.
Database Functionality
- Sort, Modify, Print, or Export query results
- Customize reports and download data to generate charts, tables, and graphs
- Simple keyword search
- Browse pre-formatted directories on country, peoples, religions, etc.
- Access user stats (librarians only)
Features and Benefits
- Global comparative figures for every major religion
- Population and religious adherents for every country and United Nations region
- Access to source material on religious affiliation (census and survey figures)
- Breakdown of major religions into traditions (e.g. Sunni-Shi’as within Islam)
- Multiple data points to compare growth rates (1900, 1950, 1970, 2000, 2005, 2025, 2050)
- Feedback mechanism for users to comment on data, sources and methodology
Five demo’s with search examples are available on Brill’s Youtube channel.
For this, see: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHM0LYDn_HSMQICsWav13mFYBYV2ft9MN
It offers best estimates at multiple dates for each of the world's religions for the period 1900 to 2050. The WRD is regularly updated with new sources of data, such as estimates of religious affiliation at the province level within countries and religious freedom information for all countries.
NEW: Now available: individual subscriptions for WRD. Please contact sales for all the options via sales@brill.com.
Database Functionality
- Sort, Modify, Print, or Export query results
- Customize reports and download data to generate charts, tables, and graphs
- Simple keyword search
- Browse pre-formatted directories on country, peoples, religions, etc.
- Access user stats (librarians only)
Features and Benefits
- Global comparative figures for every major religion
- Population and religious adherents for every country and United Nations region
- Access to source material on religious affiliation (census and survey figures)
- Breakdown of major religions into traditions (e.g. Sunni-Shi’as within Islam)
- Multiple data points to compare growth rates (1900, 1950, 1970, 2000, 2005, 2025, 2050)
- Feedback mechanism for users to comment on data, sources and methodology
Five demo’s with search examples are available on Brill’s Youtube channel.
For this, see: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHM0LYDn_HSMQICsWav13mFYBYV2ft9MN
Please contact our sales team for more information on prices and licensing.
All those interested in international religious demographics, including religion scholars, historians, and social scientists.
Gina A. Zurlo holds a Ph.D. in History and Hermeneutics from Boston University School of Theology (2017). She is Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA) and Research Fellow at Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs. Her research interests include world Christianity, quantitative sociology, and mission studies. She is the co-editor of the World Christian Database, editor of the World Religion Database, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Religion and Demography, and co-author of the third edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia.
'The World Religion Database marks an important step for the study of global religion. It will be an indispensable resource for scholars, journalists and anyone else interested in this increasingly salient phenomenon.'
Peter L. Berger, Boston University
'Whether as a researcher or as an interested citizen, it is enormously important to have good data on the shape of religion in today's world. This new resource makes that information reliable and accessible.'
Nancy T. Ammerman, Boston University
'Religion is constantly in the news. Effective contributions to these frequently crucial debates require accurate sources of data. The World Religion Database is one such – I recommend it very strongly.'
Grace Davie, University of Exeter
'The World Christian Database is the most valuable and authoritative source for demographic data on Christian bodies available on the Internet (or elsewhere). The new World Religion Database is destined to extend that valuable service to the entire range of the world’s religious groupings. I recommend it highly to all researchers in religious studies.'
J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion, University of California, Santa Barbara
Peter L. Berger, Boston University
'Whether as a researcher or as an interested citizen, it is enormously important to have good data on the shape of religion in today's world. This new resource makes that information reliable and accessible.'
Nancy T. Ammerman, Boston University
'Religion is constantly in the news. Effective contributions to these frequently crucial debates require accurate sources of data. The World Religion Database is one such – I recommend it very strongly.'
Grace Davie, University of Exeter
'The World Christian Database is the most valuable and authoritative source for demographic data on Christian bodies available on the Internet (or elsewhere). The new World Religion Database is destined to extend that valuable service to the entire range of the world’s religious groupings. I recommend it highly to all researchers in religious studies.'
J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion, University of California, Santa Barbara