Sub-Saharan Africa

short readJan 25, 2022

79 countries and territories out of the 198 studied around the world (40%) had laws or policies in 2019 banning blasphemy.

short readJul 21, 2022

People at a water park in China, which is home to the world's largest population. Half of the world's population lives in just seven countries.

short readDec 7, 2021

A parishioner who immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo sings during Sunday service in Portland, Maine, in 2017.

short readDec 7, 2020

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reportJul 25, 2013

As Mali Votes, Mixed Reception to French Intervention from Publics in Africa and Middle East

Survey Report Mali holds a presidential election July 28, its first election since the French military led a January 2013 intervention to oust Islamic rebels from the north of the country. As Malians go to the polls, Africans, on balance, approve of the French military incursion in its former colony and France enjoys a largely […]
short readsJun 27, 2013

Obama seeks to improve economic ties with South Africa as China edges in

President Obama’s trip to South Africa this week aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries at a time when China’s growing economic presence in the region has added a new dynamic. According to the European Commission, in 2011, China accounted for a larger share of South Africa’s trade than the U.S. did. And the […]
short readsJun 25, 2013

In Senegal, an overwhelming majority has a positive opinion of the U.S.

Around eight-in-ten Senegalese have a favorable view of the United States
reportApr 30, 2013

The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society

A new survey report looks at attitudes among Muslims in 39 countries on a wide range of topics, from science to sharia, polygamy to popular culture. The survey finds that overwhelming percentages of Muslims in many countries want Islamic law to be the official law of their land, but there is also widespread support for democracy and religious freedom.
reportFeb 13, 2013

The Global Catholic Population

Over the past century, the number of Catholics worldwide has more than tripled. But the world’s overall population also has risen rapidly from 1910 to 2010. As a result, Catholics have made up a remarkably stable share of all people on Earth, though their geographic distribution has changed substantially.
databaseDec 18, 2012

Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Numbers

.footnotes p{ color: #58585B;font-size: 1.2em !important; } .sortable th a{ color:#000000; } .sortable th .desc, .sortable th .asc{ color:#456A83; } td{ padding: 8px 5px !important; } View as: Numbers | Percentages Country Est. 2010 Christian Population Est. 2010 Muslim Population Est. 2010 Unaffiliated Population Est. 2010 Hindu Population Est. 2010 Buddhist Population Est. 2010 Folk […]
reportDec 18, 2012

The Global Religious Landscape

A country-by-country analysis of data from more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers finds that 84% of adults and children around the globe are religiously affiliated. The study also finds that the median age of two major groups – Muslims (23 years) and Hindus (26) – is younger than the world’s overall population (28), while Jews have the highest median age (36).
reportSep 26, 2012

How people get local news and information in different communities

Depending on the topic, urban residents are more likely to use mobile and online sources; suburbanites are most heavily into social media; and rural residents are more inclined to word of mouth sources
featureAug 9, 2012

Infographic: The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity

The world’s Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during Ramadan and almsgiving to assist the needy. But they have widely differing views about other aspects of their faith, including how important religion is to their lives, who counts as a Muslim and what practices are acceptable in Islam.
reportAug 9, 2012

The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity

The world’s Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during Ramadan and almsgiving to assist the needy. But they have widely differing views about other aspects of their faith, including how important religion is to their lives, who counts as a Muslim and what practices are acceptable in Islam.