A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live

[microrobert]

A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live



Data source: WIN/Gallup International poll

Pope Francis’s pronouncement that God has “redeemed all of us … even the atheists” Wednesday surprised both believers and nonbelievers around the world, who are used to stricter edicts from the Catholic church. It also got us wondering where the world’s atheists live.

There’s surprisingly little data available on the subject. But a 2012 poll by WIN/Gallup International — an international polling firm that is not associated with the D.C.-based Gallup group — asked more than 50,000 people in 40 countries whether they considered themselves “religious,” “not religious” or “convinced atheist.” Overall, the poll concluded that roughly 13 percent of global respondents identified as atheists, more than double the percentage in the U.S.

A surprising map of where the world?s atheists live

[member]

Can anyone explain the high % of Japanese?

[Baluarte]

Not surprised about Czech Republic being n1 in Europe.
Never met any European folk who care as little as they do about religion. And once again, the cult of laicism in France shows its ugly face again.

For the rest it's quite normal. East Asians have never been that much into religion and their spirituality is naturalist not trascendental.

[member]

I'm really suprised Poles are more atheist than Lithuanians. The difference must be small despite different colours.

[Insuperable]

Ireland and Sweden are surprising to me

[Wolf]

Can anyone explain the high % of Japanese?

I think this results from the fact that Japanese faith is syncretic.

[Baluarte]

I think this results from the fact that Japanese faith is syncretic.

Yes, I have a Japanese close friend, who is very into Shintoism, but still says he doesn't truly believe in "God" as we conceive it.
More a practical/inner peace aim for them.

[Szegedist]

Hungary would have been on par with France, maybe even Czech Republic if it was on there.

[Grumpy Cat]

I think Canada would be higher up. Most Canadians just don't have the balls to admit they're atheist. My family was for generations but I was still raised in the Catholic church, so I wouldn't be bullied in school (but I still was). My mother just told us it was all lies when we got home, and that the church was anti woman so don't listen to them. My sister is doing the same with her son. Several of my friends, their families were the same.

[Baluarte]

that's some teaching. Church is anti-woman :S