(Not) The Medal Table

Over the last few weeks the British press has been going bonkers about the Olympic medal table and the fact that we managed to come second to the United States and ahead of China. However, I thought that I’d show a different table, one which is, perhaps, less flattering to the UK.

This is the list of the ten countries with the most Christians (across all traditions).
[table]
1970,2010,2020
United States,United States,United States
Brazil,Brazil,Brazil
Germany,Russia,China
Mexico,Mexico,Mexico
Russia,China,Russia
United Kingdom, Philippines,Philippines
Italy,Nigeria,Nigeria
France,DR Congo,DR Congo
Philippines,Germany,India
Spain,India,Ethiopia
[/table]

There are a few things of interest here. As in the Olympics, the United States has kept top billing and looks like doing so into the future. However, the United Kingdom (in line with all of the European countries apart from Russia) has dropped out of the list. The Olympic host nation of Brazil has been in a solid second spot, while China has come from nowhere in 1970, to be in line to be in third place by 2020.

This table clearly illustrates the shift of gravity of Christianity from Europe to the Southern continents over the last forty years.

I have adapted the table from Christianity in its Global Context, 1970-2020, which is available as a free download. This is a resource that everyone who reads Kouyanet should be aware of and should refer to from time to time.