Around a fifth (21%) of the 198 countries evaluated banned at least one religion-related group in 2019, our analysis found.
Some Americans clearly long for a more avowedly religious and explicitly Christian country, a March survey finds. However, a clear majority of Americans do not accept these views.
For more than a decade, Pew Research Center has been tracking global patterns in restrictions on religion – both those imposed by governments and hostilities committed by individuals and social groups.
Negative views of Vladimir Putin are at or near historic highs, with a median of 22% saying they have confidence in him to do the right thing in world affairs.
A median of 66% of adults in 14 countries express an unfavorable view of Russia, with majorities in 12 of the countries holding that view.
As artificial intelligence plays a growing role in the everyday lives of people around the world, views on AI’s impact on society are mixed.
Majorities say scientific research on gene editing is a misuse – rather than an appropriate use – of technology. But public acceptance of gene editing for babies depends on how it will be used, and views often differ by age and religion.
In international surveys, Donald Trump has generally received lower ratings than either of his two predecessors.
Government restrictions in 2018 were at their highest level since 2007, when Pew Research Center began tracking these trends.
In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on religion – that is, laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and practices – continued to climb, reaching an all-time high since Pew Research Center began tracking these trends in 2007.
