--- title: "In 30 countries, heads of state must belong to a certain religion" description: "A new Pew Research analysis finds that 30 of the world’s countries (15%) belong to a unique group of nations that call for their heads of state to have a particular religious affiliation. " date: "2014-07-22" authors: - name: "Angelina E. Theodorou" job_title: "Former Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/angelina-e-theodorou/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/07/22/in-30-countries-heads-of-state-must-belong-to-a-certain-religion/" categories: - "Beliefs & Practices" - "International Religious Freedom & Restrictions" - "Leaders" - "Non-U.S. Governments" - "Religion" - "Religion & Government" - "Religion & Government" - "Religion & Government" - "Religion & Politics" - "Religion & Politics" - "Religious Freedom & Restrictions" - "Rural, Urban and Suburban Communities" --- # In 30 countries, heads of state must belong to a certain religion [![Most countries with religious requirements for heads of state are in the Middle East and North Africa](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/07/FT_Heads_State.png)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/07/FT_Heads_State.png) A new Pew Research analysis finds that 30 of the world’s countries (15%) belong to a unique group of nations that call for their heads of state to have a particular religious affiliation. From monarchies to republics, candidates (including descendants of royal monarchies) in these countries must belong to a specific religious group. This list includes Lebanon, which requires its president to be a member of the Maronite Christian Church. On Wednesday, Lebanon’s parliament will make a [ninth attempt](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/02/us-lebanon-president-idUSKBN0F715Q20140702) since May at filling the office. [![List of countries where the law requires a head of state to be of a certain religion.](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/07/FT_Religious_Requirements.png)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/07/FT_Religious_Requirements.png) More than half of the countries with religion-related restrictions on their heads of state (17) maintain that the office must be held by a Muslim. In Jordan, for example, the [heir to the throne](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Jordan_2011) must be a Muslim child of Muslim parents. In Tunisia, [any Muslim male or female voter](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Tunisia_2014) born in the country may qualify as a candidate for president. [Malaysia](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Malaysia_1996), [Pakistan](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Pakistan_2012) and [Mauritania](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mauritania_2012) also restrict their heads of state to Muslim citizens. Two countries, Lebanon and [Andorra](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Andorra_1993), require their heads of state to have a Christian affiliation. Lebanon also has a religious requirement of its prime minister, who must be a Sunni Muslim. Two other countries require the heads of their monarchies be Buddhist: [Bhutan](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008) and [Thailand](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Thailand_2007). And one country, Indonesia, requires the official state belief in [Pancasila](http://www.setneg.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3914) to be upheld by its head of state. Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country; Pancasila is a summation of “common cultural elements” of Indonesia, including belief in God. A handful of countries do not require a particular religious affiliation for heads of state, but do limit candidates for the office to laypersons. Eight countries, including [Bolivia](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bolivia_2009), [Mexico](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mexico_2007) and [El Salvador](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/El_Salvador_2003), specifically prohibit clergy from running in presidential elections. In Burma (Myanmar), the president is [prohibited from being a member of a religious order](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Myanmar_2008). [![Countries where the head of state is a ceremonial monarch.](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/07/FT_Ceremonial_Monarchs.png)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/07/FT_Ceremonial_Monarchs.png) In addition to the 30 countries in this analysis, another 19 nations have religious requirements for ceremonial monarchs who serve as their heads of state. Sixteen of these, including the [United Kingdom](http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandChurch/QueenandtheChurchofEngland.aspx), Australia, Canada and New Zealand, are members of the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth II – also known as the [Defender of the Faith](http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchuk/queenandchurch/queenandchurch.aspx) – as their head of state. The other countries in this category are [Denmark](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Denmark_1953), [Norway](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Norway_2004) and [Sweden](https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Sweden_2012). Most of the world’s countries (85%) allow citizens of any religious affiliation to be head of state. In the United States, the Constitution specifically prohibits any kind of “religious test” as a qualification for holding federal or state public office. At the same time, a number of states still have laws on the books [prohibiting nonbelievers from holding office](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/07/08/there-are-states-where-you-technically-cant-hold-public-office-if-youre-an-atheist/). However, the Supreme Court has ruled that First Amendment's [prohibition on the establishment of religion](http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/establishment_clause) clearly prohibits states from requiring office-holders to profess a belief in God. *This analysis was conducted through a coding of country constitutions – or basic law – and through reference to official country-specific government websites. *[*Download the data used in this analysis here*](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2014/07/HeadofState_CodedText.pdf)*.*