World Christian Encyclopedia Online
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Subject: Religious Studies
Authors: Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo
This in the online version of the 3rd edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia, which documents the changing status of World Christianity over the past 120 years from historical and social scientific perspectives. It records the continued shift of Christianity to the Global South and contains estimates for religious and nonreligious affiliation in every country of the world, including detail on Christianity to the denominational level. This reference work features comprehensive descriptions of all Christian traditions, including current information on the uniqueness of Christian experiences around the world.
The online version is fully text searchable, contains cross references and additional photo material.
More information: Brill.com
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This in the online version of the 3rd edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia, which documents the changing status of World Christianity over the past 120 years from historical and social scientific perspectives. It records the continued shift of Christianity to the Global South and contains estimates for religious and nonreligious affiliation in every country of the world, including detail on Christianity to the denominational level. This reference work features comprehensive descriptions of all Christian traditions, including current information on the uniqueness of Christian experiences around the world.
The online version is fully text searchable, contains cross references and additional photo material.
More information: Brill.com
Macao
(1,963 words)
Aomen (Macao Special Administrative Region of People’s Republic of China)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 652,000 Area 28 sq. km (11 sq. mi) Population density 23,300/sq. km (60,300/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 1.64% (per 1,000: births 12, deaths 4) Under 15 years 15% Urban dwellers 100% (1.46% p.a.) Capital city Macao 652,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 92% Chinese, 3% Burmese, 2% Tagalog, 2% Macanese, plus 3 others Peoples 90% Han Chinese (Cantonese); 3% Han Chinese; 3% Filipino; 2% Macanese (Creole); 2% Han Chinese (Mandarin); plus 5 others
S…
Madagascar
(4,009 words)
Republikan'i Madagasikara (The Republic of Madagascar)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 27,691,000 Area 590,000 sq. km (230,000 sq. mi) Population density 47/sq. km (120/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 2.70% (per 1,000: births 31, deaths 6) Under 15 years 40% Urban dwellers 39% (4.26% p.a.) Largest cities Antananarivo 3,369,000; Toamasina 434,000; Antsirabe 356,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 92% Malagasy, 4% Bushi, 1% Makhuwa-Meetto, 1% French, plus 12 others Peoples 13% Merina (Hova, Imerina); 10% Betsileo; 10% Betsimisaraka (So…
Malawi
(4,617 words)
Dziko la Malaŵi (The Republic of Malawi)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 20,284,000 Area 120,000 sq. km (46,000 sq. mi) Population density 170/sq. km (440/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 2.91% (per 1,000: births 34, deaths 6) Under 15 years 43% Urban dwellers 17% (4.41% p.a.) Largest cities Lilongwe 1,122,000; Limbe 932,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 51% Chichewa, 8% Yao, 8% Malawi Lomwe, 7% Ngoni, 6% Tumbuka, plus 25 others Peoples 38% Chewa (Western Nyanja); 12% Southern Nyanja (Maravi); 8% Yao; 8% Lomwe; 7% Ngoni (Mombera, Goma…
Malaysia
(4,370 words)
Malaysia
Demographics (United Nations) Population 32,869,000 Area 330,000 sq. km (130,000 sq. mi) Population density 100/sq. km (260/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 1.36% (per 1,000: births 16, deaths 5) Under 15 years 24% Urban dwellers 77% (1.87% p.a.) Largest cities Kuala Lumpur 7,997,000; Johor Bahru 1,024,000; Ipoh 814,000; Kuching 612,000; Kota Kinabalu 550,000; plus 6 over 300,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 29% Malay, 26% Chinese, 10% Kedah Malay, 6% Tamil, 5% Banjar, plus 141 others Peoples 28% Malay (Melaju, Melayu); 10% Kedah Malay; 6% …
Maldives
(1,116 words)
Divehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa (The Republic of Maldives)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 459,000 Area 300 sq. km (120 sq. mi) Population density 1,500/sq. km (4,000/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 1.87% (per 1,000: births 14, deaths 3) Under 15 years 23% Urban dwellers 41% (2.34% p.a.) Capital city Male 164,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 97% Maldivian, 1% Bengali, 1% Sinhala, plus 9 others Peoples 97% Maldivian (Malki, Mahl); 1% Bengali; 1% Sinhalese; plus 9 others
Socioeconomics Development Index (max 100) 72 Corruption Index (max 100) 69 Incom…
Mali
(2,128 words)
La République du Mali (The Republic of Mali)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 20,284,000 Area 1,200,000 sq. km (480,000 sq. mi) Population density 16/sq. km (42/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 3.03% (per 1,000: births 39, deaths 8) Under 15 years 47% Urban dwellers 44% (4.57% p.a.) Largest cities Bamako 2,618,000; Sikasso 386,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 22% Bamanankan, 9% Soninke, 9% Fulah, 9% Mandingo, 7% Tamashek, plus 44 others Peoples 22% Bambara (Bamanakan); 9% Soninke (Sarakole); 7% Fula Macina (Niafunke); 7% Mamara Senufo…
Malta
(1,811 words)
Repubblika ta' Malta (The Republic of Malta)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 434,000 Area 320 sq. km (120 sq. mi) Population density 1,400/sq. km (3,600/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 0.31% (per 1,000: births 10, deaths 10) Under 15 years 15% Urban dwellers 95% (0.28% p.a.) Capital city Valletta 212,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 94% Maltese, 4% English, 1% Italian, plus 4 others Peoples 94% Maltese; 2% British; 1% Italian; 1% Anglo-Australian; plus 6 others
Socioeconomics Development Index (max 100) 88 Corruption Index (max 100) 46 Income per …
Marshall Islands
(1,314 words)
Aelon in Majel/The Republic of the Marshall Islands
Demographics (United Nations) Population 53,300 Area 180 sq. km (70 sq. mi) Population density 290/sq. km (760/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 0.10% (per 1,000: births 16, deaths 6) Under 15 years 24% Urban dwellers 78% (0.61% p.a.) Capital city Majuro 29,300
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 89% Marshallese, 6% English Peoples 89% Marshallese; 7% USA White
Socioeconomics Development Index (max 100) 71 Corruption Index (max 100) 60 Income per capita (US$) $3,800 Education 92% Adult literacy 98% Internet users 30…
Martinique
(1,783 words)
Le Département de la Martinique (The Department of Martinique)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 385,000 Area 1,100 sq. km (440 sq. mi) Population density 340/sq. km (890/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. -0.02% (per 1,000: births 10, deaths 9) Under 15 years 17% Urban dwellers 89% (0.03% p.a.) Capital city Fort-de-France 79,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 96% Martiniquan Creole French, 2% French, plus 4 others Peoples 93% Mulatto; 2% French; 2% Tamil (East Indian); 1% French Creole; plus 4 others
Socioeconomics Development Index (max 100) 68 Corrupt…
Mauritania
(1,393 words)
Al Jumhūriyyah Al Islāmiyyah Al Mūrītāniyyah (The Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 4,784,000 Area 1,000,000 sq. km (400,000 sq. mi) Population density 5/sq. km (12/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 2.72% (per 1,000: births 32, deaths 7) Under 15 years 39% Urban dwellers 55% (3.84% p.a.) Capital city Nouakchott 1,315,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 76% Hassaniyya, 8% Fulah, 7% Wolof, 3% Tamashek, 3% Soninke, plus 9 others Peoples 24% Black Moor (Maure); 20% White Moor (Bidan); 10% Arabized Berber; 9% Trar…
Mauritius
(2,334 words)
The Republic of Mauritius
Demographics (United Nations) Population 1,274,000 Area 2,000 sq. km (790 sq. mi) Population density 620/sq. km (1,600/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 0.23% (per 1,000: births 10, deaths 9) Under 15 years 17% Urban dwellers 41% (0.28% p.a.) Capital city Port Louis 150,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 43% Morisyen, 33% Bhojpuri, 6% French, 6% Urdu, 4% Chinese, plus 12 others Peoples 31% Indo-Mauritian (Hindi); 22% Franco-Mauritian; 20% Indo-Mauritian; 6% Indo-Mauritian (Urdu); plus 18 others
Socioeconomics Development Index (…
Mayotte
(910 words)
The Department of Mayotte
Demographics (United Nations) Population 273,000 Area 370 sq. km (140 sq. mi) Population density 730/sq. km (1,900/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 2.62% (per 1,000: births 26, deaths 2) Under 15 years 39% Urban dwellers 46% (2.19% p.a.) Capital city Mamoudzou 6,700
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 55% Maore Comorian, 39% Bushi, 3% Swahili, 1% Makhuwa-Meetto, 1% Makonde, plus 3 others Peoples 55% Comorian (Mauri,Mahorais); 39% Bushi (Shibushi, Sakalava); 3% Swahili; 1% Makua (Makhua); 1% Makonde; plus 4 others
Socioeconomics Developm…
Methodology and sources of Christian and religious affiliation
(24,153 words)
The following essay is adapted from the
World Christian Encyclopedia, first edition, 1982 (pp. 45–56), which was later updated for
World Christian Trends, 2001 (pp. 468–76). In 2013, a more comprehensive treatment was presented in
The World’s Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography. This short text, adapted primarily from these three sources, is intended to give the reader of this
Encyclopedia some ideas on how the data in the maps, tables and graphs were compiled and analysed. International Religious Demography Demography is the statistical…
Mexico
(8,167 words)
Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (The United Mexican States)
Demographics (United Nations) Population 133,870,000 Area 2,000,000 sq. km (760,000 sq. mi) Population density 68/sq. km (180/sq. mi) Growth rate p.a. 1.24% (per 1,000: births 16, deaths 5) Under 15 years 25% Urban dwellers 81% (1.40% p.a.) Largest cities Mexico City 21,782,000; Guadalajara 5,179,000; Monterrey 4,874,000; Puebla 3,195,000; Toluca 2,467,000; plus 49 over 300,000
Languages & peoples (World Christian Database) Mother tongues 91% Spanish, 1% Yucatec Maya, 1% Arabic, plus 224 others Peoples 55% Mexican Mest…