Armenia was for many centuries an independent nation and kingdom that in some periods of its history extended far beyond its present geographical location in the South Caucasus. It adopted Christianity as the official religion in 301, and thus became the first Christian nation of the world. From 1920 onwards, Armenia was a republic in the Soviet Union. It regained its independence in 1991. The country is in the process of rebuilding its economy. The Armenian Apostolic Church is by and large the majority church. The Catholic Church has had a minority presence in Armenia since the time of the Crusaders and Catholic missions that begun in the 15th century. Protestant missions (mainly Baptist) arrived in the 19th century. In recent years there has been an influx of some Evangelical and Pentecostal groups. Due to historic circumstances there is a large Armenian diaspora. At present a little over three million Armenians live in the Republic of Armenia, more than two million in Russia and the other republics of the former Soviet Union, and another three million in the diaspora.