Which religious groups will grow fastest in PH and rest of the world?

In the spirit of Easter, today’s Vitals focus on the growth of religious groups.

Religion remains a powerful force in many societies. It influences family ties and the traditions we keep, as well as our attitudes toward different issues, from corruption to the challenge of protecting the environment. Religious differences lie at the heart of some of the world’s most deep-seated conflicts.

A projection by the Pew Center states that by 2050, Christians will remain the largest group, although its ranks will grow faster than those of Muslims. The think tank projected an increase of 115.82 million Christians in the world, between 2010 and 2050. The comparable increase among Islam’s followers was projected at 152.5 million. The Philippines, however, will not follow that trend, if the Pew Center’s projections are correct. For a quick but detailed look, do check out our Vitals page.

Filipinos are a religious lot, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

As of 2010, Filipinos who professed no religion accounted for less than one percent of the total population, with 73,248 individuals.

A separate study has projected that the number of “unaffiliated” Filipinos will increase by fewer than 10,000 persons between 2010 and 2050. But the number of Muslims is projected to increase by 700,000 and the number of Christians, by more than 8.3 million.

Today, as Christians celebrate Easter, we offer this quick look at the faiths Filipinos keep.