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Least Religious Countries
When you travel to Europe, don't be surprised to find that many Europeans don't believe in God. I have even witnessed some alcohol-infused conversations between Americans and Europeans that almost ended in fistfights over His/Her existence. When you travel to the following countries, you might want to pick a less controversial topic of conversation ... umm, maybe George W?Here are the Top 10 least religious countries in the world:
1. Sweden (up to 85% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)
2. Vietnam
3. Denmark
4. Norway
5. Japan
6. Czech Republic
7. Finland
8. France
9. South Korea
10. Estonia (up to 49% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)
The one that surprised me was Israel, ranking 19th, with up to 37% claiming to be non-believer, atheist, agnostic. Compare that with the United States, ranking 44th, with 3-9% non-believers, atheists, agnostics. (I think I have met them all on the streets of New York City, too.)
The survey concluded that "high levels of organic atheism are strongly correlated with high levels of societal health, such as low homicide rates, low poverty rates, low infant mortality rates, and low illiteracy rates, as well as high levels of educational attainment, per capita income, and gender equality. Most nations characterized by high degrees of individual and societal security have the highest rates of organic atheism, and conversely, nations characterized by low degrees of individual and societal security have the lowest rates of organic atheism. In some societies, particularly Europe, atheism is growing. However, throughout much of the world -- particularly nations with high birth rates -- atheism is barely discernable."
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 19)
suresh Oct 4th 2008 7:57AM
Having faith in god is just to power us to do our work successfully.It is a power or imagination which helps to increase our confidence.I an indian.we beleive god as nature.
Kaybee Nov 24th 2008 7:42AM
It surprises me to see Japan, Vietnam and South Korea on the list! The local culture and traditions in these nations are very strong. Unlike western nations, these nations have still strong presence of traditional faith and beliefs... So I am amazed... Who collected the data?
jenny Jan 27th 2010 8:35AM
Kaybee. tell the truth: You're just surprised because these nations are non-white!
Gabe Dec 2nd 2008 5:56PM
If the best religion can do is scare us out of committing suicide for fear of hell, I'd still call it worthless.
alex Dec 12th 2008 6:23PM
vietnam should not be on the list and you forgot to mention Cuba. When Castro came into power he banned and closed all religon
Benjamin from CANADA Jan 10th 2009 4:09PM
I predict in 10 years that Canada will be among the 5 least religious countries. The attitudes displayed by generation x and y is a sorta hopeful belief in God, "I'd like to believe in God". And the other other side is apathetic who simply do not ponder questions about God's existence, "I don't know and I don't care". Regardless of your country's economic state, it dosn't have to be dependant on religion for social/moral stability. Even my parents who are babyboomers stopped going to church and have very little to do with religion besides funerals and marriages. Methinks the future does not belong to religion.
Virus Jan 15th 2009 7:13PM
A true atheist just needs to know this:
"The law of conservation of mass/matter, also known as law of mass/matter conservation says that the mass of a closed system will remain constant, regardless of the processes acting inside the system. An equivalent statement is that matter cannot be created/destroyed, although it may be rearranged. This implies that for any chemical process in a closed system, the mass of the reactants must equal the mass of the products."
Why loose time talking about religion, or have afraid of death?
In a way you are already eternal, recycled, but eternal.
Ron Feb 2nd 2009 9:45PM
By far religion has been responsible for the most causes of death throughout history. Senseless wars over which religion is right or wrong, the crusades, etc..... is enough to make anyone in their right mind turn their back on such beliefs. On top of this we have delusional people throwing their ignorant, selfrighteous propaganda in your face at every turn. All awhile the rest of us are trying to live a modern, hightech existance free of such superstitions and ignorances.
If intelligent life is visiting our planet you can rest assured that their intentions are not to harm or help us, for them it is most likely just a trip to the circus.
WopWife Dec 22nd 2011 12:38PM
Thank you for the circus comment, you made my day!
Waffa Feb 14th 2009 7:29AM
Estonia has one of the highest level of irreligious individuals in the world, with over 76% of the population stating no specific religious affiliation - why it's on 10th?
And most of the people who ARE religious are Russians NOT Estonians.
Waffa Feb 14th 2009 7:29AM
For extra information - 99-95% of Estonians are NOT religious, whit russians the % is more then 76 - so we should be in the top :)
aggarwal Jun 13th 2009 12:39AM
u r 100%right
Daniela Sep 6th 2009 8:00PM
i'm probably just barging in this little convo, but, i believe that everyone should just mind their own business. christians, leave the atheists alone, theyre not hurting anyone and you guys are just shitting your pants b/c you can't convince them. as for the atheists, same as above. don't waste your time trying to tell someone there isn't a god. if everyone could just scratc religion from their conversations, then people wouldn't be so mad. btw, i'm a buddhist and i practice shintoism. i also believe in a supreme being, maybe not the same christian god, but i believe in creator. and japan is quite a religious country. they just arent christian is what makes the difference. when i went to japan, the whole scene was really different b/c they have a great ability to be religious, traditional, and modern. most of the people's lives run very smoothly and it's inspirational to see how they run so efficiently. anyway, i didn't mean to offend anybody, just wanted to add my opinion.
niro Mar 9th 2009 1:50PM
Albania is one of the countries in east Europe that people are not grown up with any kind of the religous because it was restricted from 1960 until 1990 during the communist regime
Emmanuel A. Mar 9th 2009 11:46AM
I know at least that the list is true about Norway.My cousin married a Norwegian girl and she said that's true that population up north more than 50% don't believe in God.She also mentioned that they very unfriendly for example :no greetings even between neighbors and they barely smile.I would hate to live in such a country.I may visit that's about it.
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 10:24AM
May Peace Be Upon You...
Believing any religion does not make anyone happy and success but believing the true religion will make them happy and success.
But to know the true religion one has to research various religions. if u dont have much time atleast read "QURAN" and see wheather it is the word of god.
Trust me u will find it.. sure..
May Peace Be Upon You...
tsmith Mar 9th 2009 10:57AM
Atheists are typically overly secure that God does not exist, but obviously this cannot be proven so they have no claim nor justification for their faith. They are simply believing in thin air, making a blind leap. At least the religious have certain historical events they can tie their faith to, such as the founding of a religious movement by a given founder, persecution, claims to revelation, etc.
The atheist on the other hand attempts to tie his faith and justify it by various origin myths just as religious movements have done, these myths are attempts to explain the natural order. But these myths are created by the human imagination, for instance the big bang and order from chaos theory, and macro evolution accepted regardless of any counter factual data. But all these myths are ideologically driven used to justify secular insecurity and the vacuum existing in human knowledge and certainty just as it has been in the case of religioun. Religious myths, so called "science" of origins which are nothing more than secular religious myths, and various other narratives are simply absurd because nothing in regard to origins can be known. No one was there and it could have happened by any number of permutations.
How arrogant it is to believe that humans can determine their origins given that we were mere peasants little more than a 1000 years ago, and have had advances in science only within the last 100 years and our science is extrodinarily myth laiden particularly theoretical biology and physics.
God is not dead, human imagination as creative as it is, is futile to base and to justify atheistic or religious belief. Every agnostic is a de facto atheist since he/she has no religious faith and no justification for their agnostic belief/faith. All there is and can be at this stage of human history is silence.
sera Mar 9th 2009 10:50AM
Hindusim explain lots of things almost every thing about life, death, our current life , past life.
god is known as the creater, we are here to perform certain duty which we were not able to complete in previous life, we are not god trial as the wish we request for . we should make try to do best in our life, why do u think some people have a better life compare to those suffering in africa.
just 4 a thought
sera frm malaysia a born hindu(religion)
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 11:02AM
May Peace be Upon You!!!
No body in the world proves or realises that he was born before... in ur case do u have any proof to say that u were born before..?? if.. what was your name before?? where u born?? ur family details..??
Think!!! never believe sumthing Blind!!!
May Peace be Upon You!!!
Dee Mar 9th 2009 10:52AM
I cringe at the thought of europe or any other countries who have the bad luck to witness the southern bible belt in America.. A bunch of stupid toothless morons