A recent study by the Pew Research Center has revealed that Christians make up nearly half of the world’s 280 million international migrants.
According to the report, 47% of migrants identify as Christian, much higher than their 30% share of the global population.
The study examined data from 270 censuses and surveys, identifying Christians as the largest religious group among migrants. “Globally, Christians are the largest migrant group,” said Achsah Callahan, the study’s lead researcher.
Migration patterns also showed that most Christian migrants are moving from Latin America, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa to countries where Christianity is already prevalent. For instance, the United States, Germany, and Russia are top destinations for these migrants.
Mexico is the most common country of origin for Christian migrants, with 11.3 million individuals having moved primarily to the United States. Callahan notes they come to “the U.S. and [be] more religious — and sometimes more Christian in particular — than the native-born people in those countries.”
The report also says that the influx of Christian migrants is helping to maintain the religious composition in destination countries, particularly in the US.
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