Religion has significantly influenced the fabric of societies around the globe, playing a pivotal role in daily life for many, while for others, it holds less weight.
To compile its report, Pew Research Center analyzed data gathered from over 100 countries between 2008 and 2023, asking individuals about the significance of religion in their daily lives.
Indonesia stood out with 98 percent of participants affirming that religion is crucial to their lives. Notably, it’s one of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nations, with around 87 percent of its population identifying as Muslim, alongside smaller communities of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Confucians.
Other countries ranking high in religious importance included Senegal, Pakistan, Mali, and Tanzania.
Interestingly, Sub-Saharan Africa emerged as one of the most religious regions, with over 80 percent of respondents in numerous countries acknowledging the central role of religion in their lives.
Conversely, East Asia and Western Europe exhibited lower levels of religious significance. For instance, less than 10 percent of respondents in Japan regarded religion as very important. Similar trends were noted in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.
In Western Europe, fewer than 20 percent from countries like Denmark, Switzerland, the U.K., and Germany prioritized religion in their lives. Eastern European nations reflected comparable sentiments, with less than 20 percent of people in countries such as Russia, Hungary, and Latvia emphasizing religion’s importance, though Greece saw over half of its population valuing it highly.
In the United States, slightly over 40 percent reported that religion was an essential aspect of their lives.
Latin American countries featured prominently in the report, with several nations like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador placing in the upper echelon of religious commitment.
Pew’s findings also highlighted countries with the highest frequency of daily prayer, where Indonesia again took the lead, followed by Nigeria, Senegal, Iraq, and Niger.
In the U.S., Alabama ranked highest for daily prayer, while states like Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont occupied the lower ranks.