1. God, spirits and the natural world
Large majorities around the world say they believe in God. Read about beliefs in spiritual presence “beyond the natural world,” and in animals and nature.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Large majorities around the world say they believe in God. Read about beliefs in spiritual presence “beyond the natural world,” and in animals and nature.
When asked about their national leader’s connection to religion, people are generally more likely to say it is very important to have a leader of their country who stands up for people with their religious beliefs than to have a leader whose religious beliefs are the same as their own, or to have a leader […]
Find out what percentage of adults have joined or left Islam, or remained Muslim since childhood, in 13 countries.
Read how demographic factors – age composition, life expectancy and fertility rates – and religious switching changed the global religious landscape.
Though the war against Hamas has been taking place in Gaza, violence has also increased in the West Bank, according to the United Nations. Israelis are broadly concerned about this: 65% say they are extremely or very concerned about increasing violence against Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and 31% say the same […]
Large shares of adults in most of the 36 countries we surveyed say religion helps society rather than harms it.[2. numoffset=”2″ In the U.S., we previously asked very similar questions about the impact of religion on society using a slightly different scale. For more, read the 2023 report “Spirituality Among Americans.”] Most also say religion […]
Very few Americans (5%) say that the way Hamas carried out its Oct. 7 attack against Israel was acceptable, but a somewhat larger share (22%) view Hamas’ reasons for fighting Israel as valid. Responding to a parallel set of questions about Israel, most Americans (58%) describe Israel’s reasons for fighting Hamas as valid, but the […]
At the time of the survey in March and early April, Israelis voiced differing views of the war. Reactions to the military response against Hamas were generally mixed, as were attitudes toward the principal decision-makers – the three members of Israel’s war cabinet. However, most Israelis shared concerns that the war could expand across the […]
57% of Americans express some sympathy with both Israelis and Palestinians, including 26% who say their sympathies lie equally with both groups.
On balance, Americans say the free public expression of opinions both for and against Israeli and Palestinian statehood should be allowed. But most draw the line at calls for violence against Jews or Muslims, which the vast majority say should not be allowed. The survey asked respondents whether they think people in the U.S. should […]
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