Nearly Half of All Migrants Are Christians

“Today, more than 280 million people, or 3.6% of the world’s population, are international migrants – meaning they live outside their country of birth. Christians made up an estimated 47% . . . as of 2020, the latest year for which global figures are available.” Muslims account for 29%, followed by Hindus (5%), Buddhists (4%), and Jews (1%). People who identify as atheists or agnostics make up 13%.

Over the past three decades, the total number of international migrants has increased by 83%, outpacing global population growth of 47%. “This report focuses on stocks rather than flows of migrants,” but counts all adults and children who now live outside their countries of birth, regardless of when they left.

The religious composition of all international migrants has remained relatively stable since 1990. The PRC analysis reveals that:

• Christians represent a much larger share of migrants (47%) than of the global population (30%). Mexico is the most common country of origin for Christian migrants, and the United States is their most common destination.

• Muslims represent a slightly larger share of migrants (29%) than of the global population (25%).

• People of no religion represent a smaller share of migrants (13%) than of the global population (23%).

• Hindus are significantly underrepresented among international migrants (5%) compared to their share of the global population (15%).

• Buddhists represent 4% of the global population and 4% of international migrants. Myanmar is the most common country of origin.

• Jews make up a larger share of migrants (1%) than of the world population (0.2%). Israel is the most common country of origin and their first destination.

How Is Religion Related?

People move internationally for many reasons: to find work, to study, or to join family members. But religion and migration are often closely linked.

“Many migrants have moved to escape religious persecution or to live among people who hold similar religious beliefs. . .  Sometimes though, migrants shed the religion they grew up with and adopt their new host country’s majority religion, some other religion, or no religion.”

The groups in this analysis have many commonalities, for example, migrants often go to countries where their religious identity is already prevalent: many Muslims have moved to Saudi Arabia, while Jews have gravitated toward Israel.

Christians and religiously unaffiliated migrants have the same top three destination countries: the United States, Germany, and Russia.