Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

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Stockton, Alabama, USA - April 22, 2023: Montpelier Methodist Church is pictured in Baldwin County Bicentennial Park in Stockton, Alabama. The church was built in 1895.

How religion declines around the world

Religion in a country tends to decline in three transitional stages that unfold across generations, a new paper using Center data proposes.

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  • short reads

    Making Pot Legal

    Four-in-ten Americans support the full legalization of marijuana.

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    Favor Legalizing Medical Marijuana

    A strong majority of Americans say they favor allowing the sale and use of marijuana for medical purposes if it is prescribed by a doctor.

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    Smoked Marijuana

    Four-in-ten American adults say they have tried marijuana.

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    Few Census Dodgers

    Nearly all Americans (87%) say they will participate in the 2010 census.

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    Crossfire

    Americans split on gun control, with the public evenly divided over whether it is more important to protect the rights of gun owners or to control gun ownership.

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    Clergy Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church

    Roughly a quarter of former Catholics who are now religiously unaffiliated say the clergy sexual abuse scandals were a reason for their leaving the Church.

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    Want Tougher Financial Regulation

    Six-in-ten Americans support the idea of the government imposing tighter controls on the financial sector.

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    Tattoo Taboo

    The great majority of adults with tattoos (72%) say they are usually hidden from view.