It is impossible to list all 45,000 Christian denominations because the number is an estimate that is constantly changing, and the precise figure is debated. This figure includes thousands of local congregations and is based on specific counting methods. Instead of a complete list, it is more helpful to categorize them into major groups like the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches, and then explore the large branches within those traditions, such as Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostalism.
Major branches of Christianity
- Catholicism: Includes the Latin Church and various Eastern Catholic Churches.
- Eastern Orthodox: Includes the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
- Protestantism: A broad category that includes many of the denominations mentioned below.
Major Protestant traditions
- Anglicanism: Includes the Anglican Communion, with an estimated 85 million members across 165 countries.
- Baptist: A large tradition that includes numerous denominations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Calvinism / Reformed: Includes denominations like the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ.
- Lutheranism: Includes large denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- Methodism: Includes the United Methodist Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Pentecostalism: A fast-growing movement that includes the Assemblies of God and the New Apostolic Church.
Other major groups
- Restorationism: Includes groups like the Church of Christ and Seventh-day Adventists.
- Anabaptism: Includes groups such as the Mennonites and the Amish.
- Non-denominational Christianity: Refers to a wide range of independent churches, sometimes called nondenominational evangelicalism.
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