Phenomenal growth in Protestantism, Post-Mao
Since 1978, Protestantism has been the fastest-growing religion in China. Before 1949, its growth was not impressive by any standards. What caused the massive uptick?
Protestant missionary work began in China in 1807. It was supported heavily by 170 Protestant denominations based in Europe and North America.
Protestantism as a religion was also supported by the political elites during the Republican era (1912-1949).
Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek were both Protestant Christians. The inaugural 1913 Republican parliament had 60 Christians among 274 members.
Chiang’s 1929 10-member cabinet had 7 Christians in it. (See p. 222, Religious Change in Post-Mao China).
With these favourable conditions, why did the growth of Protestants only begin post-Mao, i.e., 1976?
There were only 1 million Protestants in China in 1949. In 2010, it grew to 58 million.
LWH, 4 Jan 2026