Many Religious ‘Nones’ Around the World Hold Spiritual Beliefs
Despite their nonreligious identity, many unaffiliated adults hold spiritual or religious beliefs. About a fifth or more in 22 countries believe in an afterlife, for example.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project
The Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation, is an effort by Pew Research Center to understand religious change and its impact on societies around the world. It includes three main lines of research: a series of international surveys on religion in various regions; an ongoing demographic study of religion around the world; and an annual coding project that examines restrictions on religion in 198 countries and territories.
Spirituality and Religion: How Does the U.S. Compare With Other Countries?
How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020
Key Findings From the Global Religious Futures Project
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Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project
Publications
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The number of Christian-majority countries fell between 2010 and 2020
Countries that lost their Christian majorities all saw growing percentages of religiously unaffiliated people.
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Globally, 1 in 10 adults under 55 have left their childhood religion
The share of people who retain their childhood religious identity in adulthood varies across religious categories.
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Islam was the world’s fastest-growing religion from 2010 to 2020
From 2010 to 2020, the number of Muslims increased by 347 million people to 2.0 billion people.
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Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2020
Find how many people identify with each religious group and what percent each made up in 201 countries and territories, and by region, in 2010 and 2020.
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Believing in Spirits and Life After Death Is Common Around the World
Belief in an afterlife, God and spirits in nature is widespread globally. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to believe in God.
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4 facts about religious switching within Judaism in Israel
About one-fifth of Israeli Jews (22%) have switched from one Jewish group to another since childhood.
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Around the World, Many People Are Leaving Their Childhood Religions
In many places surveyed, 20% or more of all adults have left their childhood religious group. Christianity and Buddhism have had especially large losses.
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Comparing Levels of Religious Nationalism Around the World
We asked people in three dozen countries how they see religion’s role in society, government and national identity.
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Government Restrictions on Religion Stayed at Peak Levels Globally in 2022
Long-term analysis of 198 countries and territories shows government restrictions on religion and social hostilities toward religious groups go hand in hand.
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Religious Restrictions Around the World
How do governments and social actors limit religion? Our interactive has tracked restrictions on religion in 198 countries and territories since 2007.
