Four-in-ten countries and territories worldwide had blasphemy laws in 2019
79 countries and territories out of the 198 studied around the world (40%) had laws or policies in 2019 banning blasphemy.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Sub-Saharan Africa
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The world’s most committed Christians live in Africa, Latin America – and the U.S.
Christians in Africa and Latin America tend to pray more frequently, attend religious services more regularly and consider religion more important in their lives than Christians elsewhere in the world, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. At the same time, Christians in the United States also have comparatively high levels of commitment to their faith.
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Record number of forcibly displaced people lived in sub-Saharan Africa in 2017
The number of people living in sub-Saharan Africa who were forced to leave their homes due to conflict reached a new high of 18.4 million in 2017, up sharply from 14.1 million in 2016 – the largest regional increase of forcibly displaced people in the world.
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Education of Muslim women is limited by economic conditions, not religion
Muslim societies have gained a reputation in recent decades for failing to adequately educate women. But a new analysis of Pew Research Center data on educational attainment and religion suggests that economics, not religion, is the key factor limiting the education of Muslim women.
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Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in the U.S. Are Often More Educated Than Those in Top European Destinations
Sub-Saharan immigrants in the United States are also more highly educated than the U.S. native born population.
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At Least a Million Sub-Saharan Africans Moved to Europe Since 2010
International migration from sub-Saharan African countries to Europe and the U.S. has grown over the past decade. Many who live in sub-Saharan Africa say they would move to another country if they could.
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Negative views of democracy more widespread in countries with low political affiliation
Across 35 nations, a median of 26% do not identify with any political party in their country. In countries where more people are unaffiliated with any political party, popular support for representative democracy is also lower.
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International migration from sub-Saharan Africa has grown dramatically since 2010
Sub-Saharan African nations account for nine of the 10 fastest growing international migrant populations since 2010.
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Many people in other countries closely follow news about the U.S.
Across 37 countries surveyed in the spring of 2017, a median of 48% say they closely follow news about the U.S., compared with 50% who do not. Interest in news about the U.S. is highest in Canada, where 78% say they track it closely. Next highest is the Netherlands (75%), followed by some of America’s closest allies: Japan, Germany and Australia. Across 10 European nations, a median of 51% say they follow news about America closely.
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Public Opinion Research in Sub-Saharan Africa
Pew Research Center hosted a survey methodology workshop on the opportunities and challenges of conducting public opinion research in sub-Saharan Africa to identify and discuss best practices and future directions for the field.
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‘Particularly good days’ are common in Africa, Latin America and the U.S.
If you live in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America or the United States, you are more likely than people in other regions of the world to say you’re having a particularly good day. For the past several years, Pew Research Center’s annual Global Attitudes Survey has started with the following question: “How would you describe your […]
