Religious Extremism

In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on religion – that is, laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and practices – continued to climb, reaching an all-time high since Pew Research Center began tracking these trends in 2007.

The spread of infectious diseases is the top concern in the U.S., UK, Japan and South Korea as global economic concerns grow.

Malala Yousafzai's shooting came at a time when social hostilities involving religion were at a high point, both globally and in Pakistan.

About eight-in-ten U.S. Muslims (82%) say they are either very (66%) or somewhat concerned (16%) about extremism committed in the name of Islam around the world.

People across Europe and in the U.S. and Canada have pervasive concerns about the threat of Islamic extremism in their countries.

While most Americans disapprove of Donald Trump’s recent refugee policy, there is a sizable divide on the issue among major religious groups.

In 2014, the median level of religious hostilities in the Middle East and North Africa reached a level four times that of the global median.

Government restrictions on religion and social hostilities related to religion decreased somewhat between 2013 and 2014, the second consecutive year of such declines.

Public opinion data going back to the 1930s shows that generally speaking, Americans oppose large numbers of refugees entering the country.

Most people in the countries we surveyed – including 11 countries with significant Muslim populations – had negative views of the Islamic State extremist group as of spring.