Christianity has been present in China since the 7th century, though it faces ongoing regulation by the state. The number of adherents is difficult to confirm, but estimates range widely from official government figures of around 44 million Christians to independent estimates of over 100 million in 2025, with some projections suggesting it could become the largest Christian nation by 2030.
History
Early Middle Ages: Christianity, specifically the Church of the East (Nestorian Christianity), first arrived in China during the Tang dynasty in the 7th century, as documented on the Xi’an Stele.
Yuan Dynasty: Catholicism was present and even patronized by emperors during the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.
16th–18th Centuries: Jesuit missionaries like Matteo Ricci reintroduced Catholicism during the Ming and early Qing dynasties, leveraging Western science to gain influence in the imperial court. However, the “Rites Controversy” over Chinese customs led to a papal ban and the expulsion of missionaries in the 18th century.
19th–20th Centuries: Missionary activity increased significantly after the Opium Wars in the 1840s under the protection of Western powers. Missionaries established schools, clinics, and hospitals, playing a major role in China’s westernization. The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was, in part, a violent reaction against Christianity and foreign influence.
Communist Era: After the Communist Party took power in 1949, missionaries were expelled, and the government established state-controlled religious bodies (the Three-Self Patriotic Movement for Protestants and the Catholic Patriotic Association for Catholics). During the Cultural Revolution, all religious practice was severely suppressed.
Current Status
Official Recognition and Regulation: The Chinese government officially recognizes Christianity (Protestantism and a state-supervised form of Catholicism) as one of five legal religions. However, religious activities are heavily regulated under a policy of “sinicization,” which aims to align religion with Chinese culture and socialist values.
Registered vs. Unregistered Churches:
Chinese citizens are generally only permitted to join Christian groups registered with state-controlled bodies. Many Christians, however, are members of informal “house churches” or “underground churches” that operate outside of state control and often face crackdowns, surveillance, and arrests of their leaders.
Population Estimates: Official 2023 figures reported approximately 44 million registered Christians. Independent sources, which include members of unregistered churches, estimate the total number to be much higher, potentially over 100 million.
Challenges: The government continues to monitor religious groups, remove crosses from church buildings, ban religious education for minors, and compel clergy to express loyalty to the Communist Party.
Stichting HEALING THE NATIONS 