The distribution pattern of the phylum Acidobacteria, a previously uncultured bacterial group, was investigated by molecular ecological analyses of global soil samples collected from pristine ecosystems across five continents. Acidobacterial 16S rDNAs were observed in almost all soil samples, and members of acidobacterial primer group A were detected in all samples that harbored the phylum Acidobacteria. Other primer groups, Y, G, and O, showed limited distribution patterns. We further divided the primer groups into acidobacterial subdivisions (class-level). Subdivisional distribution patterns were determined by comparing the observed T-RFs with theoretical T-RFs predicted by in silico digestion of acidobacterial 16S rDNAs. Consistent with the PCR results obtained with subgroup-specific primers, T-RFLP analyses showed that acidobacterial subdivision 1 belonging to primer group A was present in the majority of the soil samples. This study revealed that the phylum Acidobacteria could be globally distributed. At the subdivisional level, acidobacterial subdivision 1 might be the most widely distributed group in this phylum, indicating that members of subdivision 1 might be adapted to various soil environments, and members belonging to other subdivisions might be restricted to certain geographic regions or habitats.