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Below are some [[global atheism]] statistics from research organizations and scholars. See also: [[Atheism statistics]]

Below are some [[global atheism]] statistics from research organizations and scholars. See also: [[Atheism statistics]]

The global [[atheism]] and religious [[demography]] research below covers the time period from 1900 to the end of 2016. In addition, the research below includes irreligion/religion demographic projections going as far as 2100.

The global [[atheism]] and religious [[demography]] research below cover the time period from 1900 to the end of 2016. In addition, the research below includes irreligion/religion demographic projections going as far as 2100.

== Percentage of the world's population who are atheists - statistics and trends ==

== Percentage of the world's population who are atheists - statistics and trends ==

=== Eric Kaufman on global atheism as a percentage of the world's population ===

=== Eric Kaufman on global atheism as a percentage of the world's population ===

[[File:Birkbeck College London.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]] whose work focuses on how demographic changes affects religion/politics, points out that that the atheist population has a sub-replacement fertility rate while religious [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]] have high rates of birth (See: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]). .<ref>

[[File:Birkbeck College London.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]] whose work focuses on how demographic changes affects religion/politics, points out that that the atheist population has a sub-replacement fertility rate while religious [[fundamentalism|fundamentalists]] have high rates of birth (See: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).<ref>

*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]

*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwmgFZsgSo0 Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>  ]]  

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwmgFZsgSo0 Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>  ]]  

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London and whose academic research specialty is how [[demography|demographic]] changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote:

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], who teaches at Birkbeck College, University of London, and whose academic research specialty is how [[demography|demographic]] changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote:

{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

==== 2100 projection by Dr. Todd M. Johnson ====

==== 2100 projection by Dr. Todd M. Johnson ====

Dr. Todd M. Johnson is associate professor of Global Christianity and director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Massachusetts. He is co-author of several important resources in the emerging field of religious demography, including The World's Religions in Figures (2013) and Atlas of Global Christianity (2009).

Dr. Todd M. Johnson is an associate professor of Global Christianity and director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Massachusetts. He is co-author of several important resources in the emerging field of religious demography, including The World's Religions in Figures (2013) and Atlas of Global Christianity (2009).

If present trends continue, Johnson projects that by 2100 two-thirds of the world's population would be either Christian or Muslim.<ref>[http://archived.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a429a.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=16849&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1634&cHash=be444ec024f26a3b16b9309239c054e2 Global data upend usual picture of Christianity trends], World Council of Churches</ref>

If present trends continue, Johnson projects that by 2100 two-thirds of the world's population would be either Christian or Muslim.<ref>[http://archived.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a429a.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=16849&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1634&cHash=be444ec024f26a3b16b9309239c054e2 Global data upend usual picture of Christianity trends], World Council of Churches</ref>

"Atheists, agnostics and other people who do not affiliate with any religion – though increasing in countries such as the United States and France – will make up a declining share of the world’s total population." - Pew Research, The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050 The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050, Pew research]</ref>

"Atheists, agnostics and other people who do not affiliate with any religion – though increasing in countries such as the United States and France – will make up a declining share of the world’s total population." - Pew Research, The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050 The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050, Pew research]</ref>

For addition information on the future of [[American atheism]], please see:  

For additional information on the future of [[American atheism]], please see:  

*[[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]]

*[[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]]

=== Ipsos statistics on global atheism ===

=== Ipsos statistics on global atheism ===

[[Ipsos]], a major global market research company, published a report on report on religious belief/skepticism from a worldwide perspective and the report provides [http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670 various statistics gained from survey results].

[[Ipsos]], a major global market research company, published a report on religious belief/skepticism from a worldwide perspective and the report provides [http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670 various statistics gained from survey results].

=== W. Edwards Deming Institute and World Future society projection on religion/irreligion ===

=== W. Edwards Deming Institute and World Future society projection on religion/irreligion ===

The current [[atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]  

The current [[atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]  

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'': "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

=== Chinese atheism and the growth of Christianity in China ===

=== Chinese atheism and the growth of Christianity in China ===

[[China]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref name="thechapmans.nl">[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref>

[[China]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref name="thechapmans.nl">[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref>

According to ''Slate'', "[[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in China."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is especially growing sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref>

According to ''Slate'', "[[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in China."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is growing especially sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref>

On November 1, 2014, an article in ''The Economist'' entitled ''Cracks in the atheist edifice'' declared:

On November 1, 2014, an article in ''The Economist'' entitled ''Cracks in the atheist edifice'' declared: