The rate of non-religious citizens is increasing in many countries, and a rise in secularism can have various causes, including state-sponsored religious restrictions.
While a decline in religion often correlates with greater prosperity, some of the least religious countries still face economic and societal challenges.
The following list of the world’s least religious countries is based on polling by the Pew Research Center, which focused on the number of citizens not affiliated with a specific organized religion.
These non-religious individuals may still have ethical or moral frameworks and partake in spiritual practices but do not follow an organized religion.
Here are the 15 least religious countries:
1: Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is identified as the least religious country globally, with a non-religious rate of 78.4%. A significant factor contributing to this high number of non-religious citizens is the country’s communist history.
From 1948 to 1989, the Czech Republic was under communist rule, a period during which communism typically promoted atheism or other secular ideologies.
This long period of state-backed secularism appears to have left a lasting impact on the religious landscape of the nation, resulting in a large majority of its citizens identifying as non-religious.
2: North Korea
North Korea reports a non-religious rate of 71%. Although the North Korean constitution ostensibly grants freedom of religion, it concurrently prohibits the use of religion to “harm the state”.
This specific constitutional clause is utilized by the government to justify severe actions against individuals practicing religion, including arrests, torture, imprisonment, and even execution.
Consequently, despite the theoretical freedom, the repressive governmental environment significantly curtails religious practices, contributing to the high percentage of the population identifying as non-religious.
3: Estonia
In Estonia, sixty percent of the population is non-religious. This Baltic State has historical ties to several religious groups, such as Lutherans, Orthodox Christians, and Roman Catholics.
However, Estonia’s period of communist rule from 1940 to 1990 played a crucial role in the decline of religious adherence.
Similar to other former communist nations, the state’s influence during this era led to a significant decrease in the number of citizens who actively practiced a religion. The legacy of this period continues to influence the country’s high secularization rate.
4: Japan
Japan has a non-religious rate of 60% of its citizens. Despite this, Japanese citizens often maintain a deep reverence for cultural traditions that originate from Shintoism and Buddhism.
The country is home to approximately 80,000 Shinto Shrines, underscoring the pervasive cultural presence of these traditions.
However, this reverence for cultural and traditional practices does not necessarily translate into adherence to organized religion for a significant portion of the population, leading to a high number of individuals identifying as non-religious.
5: Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, almost 55% of citizens report being not religious. The relatively low religious affiliation in this region is attributed to its diverse demographics and a profoundly cosmopolitan culture.
Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub and its blend of various cultural influences contribute to an environment where religious adherence is not as prevalent as in some other parts of the world.
The open and varied societal structure fosters a more secular outlook among a majority of its population.
6: China
Just over half of China’s population, specifically 52%, is non-religious. Historically, practices like Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were popular and deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.
However, the current government forbids many religious practices and frequently engages in the censorship of religious materials.
These stringent state policies against religious expression have significantly impacted religious adherence, leading to a large proportion of the population identifying as non-religious, reflecting a state-enforced secularization.
7: South Korea
South Korea has a non-religious rate of 46%. The decline in religious practice in South Korea is largely attributed to the rise of more secularized worldviews.
These contemporary perspectives often emphasize economic advancement as a primary life goal, which has, in turn, led to a decrease in the number of South Koreans attending services at religious institutions.
The focus on material and professional success appears to overshadow traditional religious observances for a significant portion of the population.
8: Latvia
Latvia’s non-religious rate stands at 45.3%. Europe has experienced a general trend of increasing secularization over time, and Latvia is part of this broader phenomenon. Furthermore, Latvia was subject to a state policy of atheism during the Soviet era.
The beliefs and practices enforced or promoted during that period of Soviet rule appear to have lingered and continue to influence the secular leanings of the population today, contributing to its high non-religious percentage.
9: Netherlands
The Netherlands has a non-religious rate of 44.3%. The rise of secularism in the Netherlands began notably after World War II.
A significant contributing factor to the current secular landscape is that much of today’s youth has been raised completely outside of religious institutions.
This generational shift, where religious upbringing is less common, has fostered a growing non-religious population, indicating a sustained trend of secularization that began decades ago.
10: Uruguay
Uruguay stands out as a non-religious outlier in South America, a continent generally characterized by high religious observance.
Just over 40% of Uruguayan citizens report not being affiliated with any religion. This unique position can be attributed to Uruguay’s long history of secularization.
A notable example of this deeply ingrained secular tradition is a national law that explicitly bans any mention of God in oaths of office.
This historical commitment to secularism has profoundly shaped the country’s religious landscape.
11: New Zealand
In New Zealand, just under 40% of citizens identify as non-religious. The reasons for this high rate are believed to include a general lack of public religious rhetoric within the country.
Additionally, New Zealand’s culture promotes maintaining sharp distinctions between public and personal life.
This emphasis on privacy and the separation of personal beliefs from public discourse may contribute to why many New Zealanders do not actively identify with or practice an organized religion.
12: Mongolia
Mongolia has a non-religious rate of 36.5%. A primary explanation for this high percentage is Mongolia’s experience with a communist period that spanned from 1924 to 1990. During this significant duration, all forms of religion were systematically suppressed by the state.
The policies implemented during this era aimed to diminish religious influence and practice, leaving a lasting impact on the religious landscape of the country and contributing to its current high rate of non-religious citizens.
13: France
France has a non-religious rate of 31.9% of its citizens. While France officially separated church from state in 1905, secular views were already gaining considerable popularity even before this landmark event.
Secularists actively promoted non-religious views during the 1789 French Revolution, laying early foundations for the country’s secular identity.
This long-standing historical trajectory of advocating for and implementing secular principles has led to a significant portion of the French population identifying as non-religious today.
14: Aland Islands
The Aland Islands exhibit a non-religious rate of 31.5%. These Swedish-speaking islands, located off the coast of Finland, are largely dominated by the Lutheran church, indicating a strong historical religious presence.
Despite this, a significant minority of the population retains secular views. This suggests that even in areas with a predominant religious influence, a considerable portion of the community has adopted non-religious perspectives, contributing to the islands’ inclusion on this list.
15: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, home to the Church of England, is currently experiencing rising rates of secularism, with a non-religious rate of 31.2%.
This trend is particularly evident as more of the younger generation is choosing to leave their religious history behind. Secularism has been on the rise in the UK since the end of the Second World War.
This sustained increase reflects a societal shift where traditional religious affiliations are diminishing, especially among newer generations, leading to a more secular populace.
Alicia Richards