Irreligion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Irreligion is an absence of religion, indifference to religion, or hostility to religion.[1] Depending on the context, it may be understood as referring to atheism, deism, agnosticism, skepticism, freethought, or secular humanism. Irreligious people may have convictions equal in depth to those of religious adherents. For instance, followers of the life stance of Humanism may regard themselves as just as deeply believing in their life stance as corresponding to any religious belief.
Although people classified as irreligious might not follow any religion, not all are necessarily without belief in the supernatural or in deities; such a person may be a non-religious or non-practicing theist. In particular, those who associate organized religion with negative qualities, but still hold spiritual beliefs, might describe themselves as irreligious. It also must be noted that in some countries the government essentially requires religion or secularism, so the numbers might not be entirely accurate.
[edit] List of countries by Irreligion
The Gallup Poll has the most broad definition of irreligion: the question "Is religion important" was asked; the "no" answer is represented below. Dentsu Communication Institute provides data for respondents, who stated they have "no religion". And Zuckerman gives the most strict definition citing "atheist and agnostic" proportion numbers. Take note that the numbers come from different years.
| Country | Gallup[2] (2007-2008) | Dentsu[3] (2006) | Zuckerman[4] (2005) |
|---|---|---|---|
 China |
93% | 8 – 14% | |
 Sweden |
83% | 25% | 46 – 85% |
 Estonia |
84% | 76% | 49% |
 Vietnam |
61% | 46% | 81% |
 Denmark |
80% | 10% | 43 – 80% |
 Hong Kong |
78% | ||
 Norway |
78% | 31 – 72% | |
 Azerbaijan |
74% | ||
 Czech Republic |
74% | 64% | 54 – 61% |
 France |
73% | 43% | 43 – 54% |
 Japan |
73% | 52% | 64 – 65% |
 United Kingdom |
71% | 31 – 44% | |
 Finland |
69% | 12% | 28 – 60% |
 Mongolia |
69% | 9% | |
 Australia |
68% | 24 – 25% | |
 Netherlands |
66% | 55% | 39 – 44% |
 New Zealand |
66% | 20 – 22% | |
 Belarus |
65% | 48% | 17% |
 Cuba |
64% | 7% | |
 Russia |
63% | 48% | 24 – 48% |
 Albania |
62% | 8% | |
 Bulgaria |
62% | 30% | 34 – 40% |
 Latvia |
62% | 41% | 20 – 29% |
 Belgium |
61% | 35% | 42 – 43% |
 Hungary |
59% | 43% | 32 – 46% |
 Slovenia |
59% | 30% | 35 – 38% |
 Spain |
59% | 16% | 15 – 24% |
 Taiwan |
58% | 24% | |
 Germany |
57% | 25% | 41 – 49% |
 Uruguay |
57% | 12% | |
 Switzerland |
56% | 17 – 27% | |
 Canada |
55% | 26% | 19 – 30% |
 South Korea |
54% | 37% | 30 – 52% |
 Ukraine |
54% | 42% | 20% |
 Lithuania |
52% | 19% | 13% |
 Slovakia |
51% | 23% | 10 – 28% |
 Israel |
50% | 15 – 37% | |
 Singapore |
49% | 13% | |
 Montenegro |
48% | ||
 Serbia |
45% | ||
 Kazakhstan |
43% | 11 – 12% | |
 Austria |
42% | 12% | 18 – 26% |
 Ireland |
42% | 7% | |
 Uzbekistan |
37% | ||
 Argentina |
36% | 13% | 4 – 8% |
 Chile |
29% | 34% | |
 Belize |
33% | ||
 United States |
33% | 20% | 3 – 9% |
 Kyrgyzstan |
31% | 7% | |
 Moldova |
31% | ||
 Venezuela |
31% | 27% | |
 Croatia |
30% | 13% | 7% |
 Greece |
30% | 4% | 16% |
 Luxembourg |
30% | ||
 Armenia |
29% | 14% | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
29% | ||
 Jamaica |
29% | ||
 Mexico |
29% | 21% | |
 Portugal |
27% | 11% | 4 – 9% |
 Italy |
26% | 18% | 6 – 15% |
 Kosovo |
26% | ||
 Cyprus |
24% | ||
 Iceland |
4% | 16 – 23% | |
 Poland |
23% | 5% | |
 Botswana |
22% | ||
 Georgia |
22% | ||
 Haiti |
21% | ||
 Tajikistan |
21% | ||
 Macedonia |
20% | ||
 Trinidad and Tobago |
19% | ||
 Romania |
18% | 2% | |
 Zimbabwe |
18% | ||
 Dominican Republic |
17% | 7% | |
 Ecuador |
17% | ||
 India |
17% | 7% | |
 Iraq |
17% | ||
 Nicaragua |
17% | ||
 Iran |
16% | 1% | |
| Northern Ireland |
16% | ||
 Costa Rica |
15% | ||
 El Salvador |
15% | ||
 Kuwait |
15% | ||
 Malaysia |
14% | ||
 North Korea |
15% | ||
 Peru |
14% | 5% | |
 Lebanon |
13% | ||
 Puerto Rico |
13% | 11% | |
 Bolivia |
12% | ||
 Brazil |
12% | ||
 Burkina Faso |
12% | ||
 Colombia |
12% | ||
 South Africa |
12% | 11% | |
 Algeria |
11% | ||
 Cambodia |
11% | ||
 Guatemala |
11% | ||
 Honduras |
11% | ||
 Panama |
11% | ||
 Philippines |
5% | 11% | |
 Togo |
11% | ||
 Ethiopia |
10% | ||
 Rwanda |
10% | ||
 Mozambique |
9% | ||
 Palestinian Authority |
9% | ||
 Paraguay |
9% | ||
 Turkey |
9% | 3% | |
 Burundi |
8% | ||
 Namibia |
8% | ||
 Tunisia |
8% | ||
 Uganda |
8% | 1% | |
 Angola |
7% | ||
 Chad |
7% | ||
 Ghana |
7% | ||
 Madagascar |
7% | ||
 Nepal |
7% | ||
 Benin |
6% | ||
 Cameroon |
6% | ||
 Central African Republic |
6% | ||
 Liberia |
6% | ||
 Serbia and Montenegro |
6% | ||
 Mali |
5% | ||
 Mauritania |
5% | ||
 Nigeria |
5% | 1% | |
 Jordan |
4% | ||
 Kenya |
4% | ||
 Sudan |
4% | ||
 Thailand |
4% | ||
 Yemen |
4% | ||
 Afghanistan |
3% | ||
 Guinea |
3% | ||
 Laos |
3% | ||
 Myanmar |
3% | ||
 Niger |
3% | ||
 Pakistan |
3% | ||
 Saudi Arabia |
3% | ||
 Zambia |
3% | ||
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
2% | ||
 Djibouti |
2% | ||
 Malawi |
2% | ||
 Morocco |
2% | ||
 Senegal |
2% | ||
 Sierra Leone |
2% | ||
 Tanzania |
2% | 2% | |
 United Arab Emirates |
2% | ||
 Bangladesh |
1% | ||
 Indonesia |
1% | ||
 Malta |
1% | ||
 Sri Lanka |
1% | ||
 Egypt |
0% |
[edit] See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Irreligion |
- Demographics of atheism
- Irreligion in Australia
- Irreligion in America
- Irreligion in Asia
- Irreligion in Europe
[edit] References
- ^ Irreligion. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. (accessed: December 14, 2008).
- ^ GALLUP WorldView - data accessed on 17 january 2009
- ^ Dentsu Communication Institute 電通総研・日本リサーチセンター編「世界60カ国価値観データブック (Japanese)
- ^ The Largest Atheist / Agnostic Populations Zuckerman, 2005
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