ComfyLiving
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • News
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact Us
ComfyLiving
ComfyLiving ComfyLiving
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • News
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact Us
How Many People Celebrate Christmas
  • Blog

How Many People Celebrate Christmas Around the Globe?

  • Marija Kovachevska
  • December 2, 2022

Almost every nation in the world celebrates Christmas in one way or another. While some do so to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, others do it as a tradition or to celebrate time spent together.

But what do the numbers say?

How Many People Celebrate Christmas?

Worldwide statistics show that some 2.3 billion people, or just under a third of the global population, are Christians, who celebrate Christmas as one of the most important religious holidays. Even though Christmas is not part of every nation’s official holidays, almost half of the world’s population participates in celebrations on and around the date.

Who’ll Be Joining a Worldwide Christmas Celebration?

Christmas is the most widely celebrated holiday in the world. A big part of today’s global population of eight billion people engages in Christmas celebrations, and some do so for cultural rather than religious reasons.

Here, we’ll take a look at the key stats and facts about the Christmas celebration around the world. 

1. Globally, 45% of people engage in some sort of Christmas festivity.

(Journeyz) (NYTimes) 

Stats show that almost half of the Earth’s population celebrates Christmas for religious, cultural, commercial, or other reasons. 

Christmas is celebrated even in some predominantly Muslim countries where Jesus is regarded as a prophet of great significance.

2. In more than 160 countries around the globe, Christmas is an official holiday.

(WPR)

Around 80% of the world’s countries celebrate December 25 as a public holiday. People spend their holiday surrounded by family and friends, often exchanging gifts.

3. For over 260 million Christians, Christmas falls on the 7th of January.

(Google A&C) (Office Holidays) (PewResearch)

Over 260 million Orthodox Christians in countries including Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Balkan states such as Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, on January 7. 

An additional 30 million Coptic Christians in Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Lebanon use the same calendar, so January 7 is their Christmas date.

4. About 75% of Europeans celebrate Christmas.

(Berlin Spectator) (Cultural Atlas) (GRF) (WPR)

About 78% of Germans, or some 65 million, celebrate Christmas. In France, up to 66% of the population, or some 43 million, celebrate the holiday. 

5. Most of the Western world celebrates Christmas.

(Abacus Data) (Informed Decision)

Although traditions vary across nations, most Westerners celebrate Christmas, including about 12.6 million people in Australia. At the same time, some 87% of Canadians celebrate Christmas.

6. 93% of Americans celebrated Christmas in 2019.

(Gallup) (Statista)

According to a 2019 Gallup poll, 93% of Americans celebrated Christmas. Data from Statista drawn from a 2021 survey show that 85% of respondents were sure they were going to celebrate Christmas that year, 5% didn’t know, and 10% said they wouldn’t. 

In 2019, the average American spent around $846 on gifts for Christmas.

7. 88% of UK consumers celebrated Christmas in 2021.

(Statista) (WPR)

According to a poll conducted in November 2021, around 88% of UK respondents (adults) said they would celebrate Christmas. Statistics show that British shoppers spend an average of £1,049 on gifts for spouses, significant others, and children.

8. Nearly 90% of Mexicans celebrate Christmas.

(GVI USA) (US DOS)

The vast majority of 128 million Mexicans are Christian. In fact, the country has the world’s longest Christmas celebration (December 12 to January 6). Usually, Mexican children are not taught to believe in Santa, but his popularity is on the rise. 

9. Over 80% of Brazilians are Christians, most of whom celebrate Christmas.

(Statista) (WPR)

About 54% of the population are Roman Catholics, and 24% declare themselves Evangelists.

10. Over 3.6 million Japanese families order KFC for Christmas Eve.

(JRP)

Christmas is widely celebrated in Japan, but it’s not a national holiday. In the Land of the Rising Sun, Christmas is a time for parties with friends under decorated Christmas trees. Only 1% of the Japanese, those of the Christian religion, celebrate traditionally.

11. In India, more than 25 million people celebrate Christmas.

(WhyChristmas)

Less than 2.5% of India’s one billion inhabitants are Christians. Yet, Christmas is a national holiday in India. Popular festivities include attending a midnight mass and a Christmas feast.

Conclusion

Christmas is celebrated in almost every corner of the Earth. However, traditions, customs, and even celebration dates vary. More and more people celebrate Christmas in a secular way, as a cultural rather than a religious holiday.

FAQ

How many countries celebrate Christmas?

More than 160 countries around the world officially celebrate Christmas. People in around 20 other countries participate in Christmas-related festivities, even though Christmas is not their official holiday.

What percentage of the world celebrates Christmas?

Nearly 32% of the world’s population professes to be Christians. However, each year about 45% celebrate Christmas in some fashion.

How many people celebrate Christmas in December?

Around two billion people celebrate Christmas on December 25. The rest, about 260 million Orthodox and 30 million Coptic Christians, celebrate Christmas on January 7. Their churches choose the dates for Christmas following the Julian calendar.

What country doesn’t celebrate Christmas?

China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey don’t officially celebrate Christmas. However, they have unofficial celebrations. 

Countries with some sort of Christmas celebration include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Vietnam, Djibouti, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, and Oman.  

Countries that don’t celebrate Christmas in any degree or form include Afghanistan, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Mongolia, North Korea, Somalia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

 

Sources:

  • Abacus Data
  • Cultural Atlas
  • Informed Decision
  • Gallup
  • Global Religious Futures
  • Google Art & Culture
  • GVI USA
  • Japan Rail Pass
  • Journeyz
  • NYTimes
  • Office Holidays
  • Pew Research
  • Statista
  • Statista
  • Statista
  • The Berlin Spectator
  • The Week
  • US State Department
  • WhyChristmas
  • World Population Review
1
0
0
0
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin it
Share
Marija Kovachevska

Marija is a content writer, biochemist, and communications associate for several nonprofit organizations. After earning her bachelor’s, she worked as a scientific writer before engaging in the world of nonprofits—first as an English translator and an activist, and later, as head of communications. In content writing, she finds the perfect stimulus for her curiosity and aptitude for research, as well as a way to deploy her linguistic creativity for the purpose of better understanding.

Previous Article
How to Wash a Crochet Blanket
  • Blog

How to Wash a Crochet Blanket Without Damaging It

  • Marija Kovachevska
  • December 1, 2022
View Post
Next Article
  • Reviews

Best Electric Fireplace Heater in 2022 (Reviewed & Compared)

  • Hermina Drah
  • December 4, 2022
View Post
You May Also Like
How to Get Gum Out of Clothes
View Post

How to Get Gum Out of Clothes: 10 Simple Tricks That Work

  • December 22, 2022
How Much Does It Cost to Upholster a Couch
View Post

How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Couch (Prices & Time)

  • December 21, 2022
Enchanting Natural Christmas Decorations
View Post

14 Enchanting Natural Christmas Decorations for 2023

  • December 19, 2022
Reading Statistics - Featured
View Post

21 Captivating Reading Statistics and Facts for 2022

  • December 18, 2022
Recycling Statistics
View Post

29 Recycling Statistics We Need to Be Aware of in 2022

  • December 12, 2022
How Much Caffeine Is in Sweet Tea
View Post

Spilling the Tea: How Much Caffeine Is in Sweet Tea?

  • December 8, 2022
Is Starbucks Open on Christmas
View Post

Is Starbucks Open on Christmas: When to Get Your Frappuccino

  • December 7, 2022
How Big Are Bed Bugs
View Post

How Big Are Bed Bugs & Do They Pose a Big Threat?

  • December 4, 2022
How to Wash a Crochet Blanket
View Post

How to Wash a Crochet Blanket Without Damaging It

  • December 1, 2022
how to get chocolate out of clothes
View Post

How to Get Chocolate Out of Clothes Easily & Effectively

  • November 24, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Table of Contents:
  1. How Many People Celebrate Christmas?
  2. Who’ll Be Joining a Worldwide Christmas Celebration?
  3. Conclusion
  4. FAQ
Recent Posts
  • How to Get Gum Out of Clothes 1
    How to Get Gum Out of Clothes: 10 Simple Tricks That Work
    • December 22, 2022
  • How Much Does It Cost to Upholster a Couch 2
    How Much Does It Cost to Reupholster a Couch (Prices & Time)
    • December 21, 2022
  • Enchanting Natural Christmas Decorations 3
    14 Enchanting Natural Christmas Decorations for 2023
    • December 19, 2022
  • Reading Statistics - Featured 4
    21 Captivating Reading Statistics and Facts for 2022
    • December 18, 2022
  • Recycling Statistics 5
    29 Recycling Statistics We Need to Be Aware of in 2022
    • December 12, 2022
Follow Us On:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
ComfyLiving
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
©2022 ComfyLiving.net – All Rights Reserved.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.