Report: Islam, Catholicism have relatively high numbers of young followers in China

July 09, 2015

A report published in a newspaper supported by China’s government suggests that Islam and Catholicism-- in contrast to Buddhism and Taoism-- have a relatively high number of youthful adherents.

“Islam has the largest number of young believers, with 22.4% of them aged below 30,” the Global Times reported. “Catholicism ranks second with 22%. “Buddhism and Taoism, however, have the highest number of followers older than 60, with 54.6% and 53.8%, respectively.”

“Most believers of Islam belong to ethnic minority groups and it is common for a woman to give birth to several children,” said a professor quoted in the report. “The children would also become Muslims, while it is very rare to have an adult converting to Islam.”

 

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Further information:

• Religious Chinese are younger: report (Global Times)