Restrictions on Religion

Laws enacted in several European countries that restrict the religious clothing of Muslim women are largely in line with Western European attitudes on the issue.

India is home to 1.4 billion people – almost one-sixth of the world’s population – who belong to a variety of ethnicities and religions. While 94% of the world’s Hindus live in India, there also are substantial populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and adherents of folk religions. Here are five facts about religion in India.

Among the 25 most populous countries, Egypt, Russia, India, Indonesia and Turkey have the most restrictions on religion, while Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, the Dem. Rep. of the Congo and the U.S. have the fewest restrictions.

Restrictions on religion continued to climb in 2016 around the world, the second year in a row of increases.

Restrictions on religion increased in 2016 for the second straight year. Nationalist parties and organizations played an increasing role in harassment of religious minorities, especially in Europe.

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

Today, more than 80 countries either have an official religion or favor one or more religious groups over others.

Islam is the most common state religion, but many governments give privileges to Christianity.

Christians were harassed by governments or social groups in a total of 128 countries in 2015 – more countries than any other religious group.

While sub-Saharan Africa had fewer religious restrictions than many other parts of the world in 2015, it experienced a larger increase than any other region.