Losing Their Religion: 25 Most Atheistic Countries in The World
There are approximately 500 to 750 million atheists worldwide, and what connects them is a lack of belief in any of the Gods. No other rules regarding upbringing, cultural heritage, social classes, or geographical position exist. A large portion of people are not affiliated with any religion in particular, though they do have some belief in higher powers.
More than a trend
Contrary to popular belief, atheism is not a passing trend. In fact, over 70 countries criminalize blasphemy, which can extend to atheism. This global stigmatization of atheism suggests that there may be a larger number of atheists worldwide.
Younger ones are more likely to be atheists in the US
Some US reports suggest there are 40 percent of atheists and agnostics among those aged 18 to 29 and 37 of those 30 to 44. However, younger generations are spiritual. While they are not too keen on attending Sunday mass, they like exploring religions, working with crystals, meditating, and being open-minded but not affiliated with one religion.
Iceland
Irreligion is strong in Iceland, one of the safest countries in the world. Around 10 percent of the population are atheists, and an additional 30% are not affiliated with a specific religion. Iceland’s irreligion is on the rise, though over 52 percent still identify as Lutherans belonging to the Church of Iceland.
Belarus
Around nine percent of Belarusians are atheists, and the other 28 percent are not religious. Eastern Orthodox is the largest denomination, followed by Catholicism. The country’s relationship with religion is interesting, with the new law stating that a religious group or denomination needs to have at least one parish that has operated in Belarus for at least 30 years.
Bulgaria
Irreligion is Bulgaria’s second most common “belief” behind Eastern Orthodoxy, part of Christianity. Around nine percent are atheists, but up to 36 percent are not associated with any religion in particular. Nearly 10 percent are undecided.
Finland
The happiest country in the world has around 21 percent of atheists, though some reports claim that number goes up to 47 percent. There has been a steady decline in Christianity in Finland, but interestingly, the country was never as invested in religion as some other European countries. That did not stop people from having a strong sense of community and finding their purposes.
Canada
Around 35 percent of Canadians are atheist, agnostic, or something similar. Canadian Christians are the most dominant group, though they are less invested in customs than US Christians, but still more than most Western European countries. While overall, only 8 percent claim to be atheists, among younger generations, that number goes up to over 50 percent.
Australia
One of the most prosperous countries in the world, Australia, has around 39 percent of the population not identifying with any religion. Though traditionally a Christian country, the number of people who reject religion is on the rise. Australians who declared “no religion” have risen 30 percent in 2016.
Slovenia
Slovenia, once a part of Yugoslavia, has around 25 percent of non-religious residents, and that number is projected to grow. Among the non-believers, 13 percent are considered to be atheists. That’s nearly double the numbers compared to 2010.
Belgium
Over 20 percent of people in Belgium are labeled as non-believers and agnostics, with an additional 10 percent being atheists. That makes irreligion second largest behind Christianity. Belgium is famous for accepting free thinkers, and most people do not find religions affect their everyday lives.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has only 49 percent of people who believe in God, compared to 45 percent of Brits who would describe themselves as either atheists or non-religious. The younger population is even more irreligious, though overall, only 7 percent are reported to be atheists.
France
According to 2021 data, around one-third of the French population had no religious affiliations. Approximately 14 percent are agnostic, and 13 percent are indifferent. Statista’s polling found that in 2023, 44 percent of the respondents confirmed they believed in God, while 56 percent were non-believers, showing a dramatic jump in irreligion.
Mongolia
Mongolia has nearly 27 percent of atheists, compared to over 59 percent of those who practice Buddhism. The rest are irreligious, then Muslims and only two percent are Christians. The country has no state religion, but the majority recognizes Buddhism as their natural religion.
Germany
Berlin is often called the atheist capital of Europe. According to the 2021 survey, approximately 42% of Germans are irreligious, though that number could be higher. Most Germans find that religion does not affect their lives. The country with the strongest economy, Europe, has spent decades divided, which likely influenced the lack of religious affiliations.
New Zealand
The 2021 data shows that nearly 54 percent of New Zealanders are irreligious compared to less than 47 percent who are believers. Though 33 percent of the country identifies as Christians, only nine percent attend church. It is a highly secular country, so people are commonly not affected by religion.
Uruguay
Data suggests that 30 to 47 percent of the population chose irreligion. The South American country has around 32 percent Catholics, though only 5 percent of Uruguayans are confirmed to be atheists. However, the country is considered one of the least religious in this part of the world.
Latvia
The latest data found that 15 percent of Latvians are atheists. Approximately 32 percent are irreligious or undecided, compared to 2011 data showing only 5 percent as irreligious. The jump puts the country among the least religious in Europe. The dominant religions are Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox.
Denmark
Eurobarometer Poll found in 2010 that 28 percent of Danish people believe in God, while 47 believe in some other force. Around 24 percent said they were atheists, though recent surveys reported that these numbers rose to 32 percent. Though Danes are over 90 percent Lutheran by birth, they are known to be uninterested in religion, which does not stop them from being the second happiest country in the world.
South Korea
Most South Koreans have no religion, though according to the World Population Review, only 23% are atheists. The number of religious people is around 35%, leaving the majority not affiliated with any religion. The world’s 13th-largest economy has two main religions: Buddhism and Christianity.
Norway
One of the world’s wealthiest countries, with GDP per capita among the highest in the OECD, is also one of the least religious. Norway has more “non-believers” than religious people, with a survey finding that 50 percent are atheists, compared to 30 percent who are religious. Catholics entered the country in the XIII century, but there has been a growing number of atheists in the past decade.
Czech Republic
This Central European country has approximately the same percentage of atheists and believers. Roman Catholicism is prevalent, followed by Protestantism and the Hussite Reform Church. According to surveys, between 29 and 39 percent of Czechs are atheists, making the Czech Republic one of the most non-religious countries in Europe.
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The Religious Characteristics of States Dataset Project found in 2015 that 70.9 percent of North Koreans are atheists. The rest are divided between Chondoism, Shamanism, and Buddhism. In a 2021 Gallup Korea poll, 60 percent identified with no religion, though officially, North Korea is an atheist state.
Netherlands
A 2021 survey found that around 58% of the Dutch people label themselves as irreligious. Irreligion is predominant in the Netherlands, with 33 percent not believing in God, compared to around 24 percent who firmly believe in God’s existence. Still, many Dutch people are spiritual despite not being traditionally religious.
Estonia
Estonia has ties to atheism that date back to the XIX century. Estonian irreligion is still dominant, with approximately 58 percent of the population not affiliated with any religion. In 2015, 52% of people claimed they did not believe in God, while 38% did. The number of non-believers grew, though only 10% are atheists.
Sweden
Sweden has a high number of religiously unaffiliated people, including atheists, agnostics, and others. Over 26 percent are atheists, while irreligious people make up 55 percent of the Swedish population. The small European country is the 8th economy in the world and one of the best countries for affordability, safety, and overall quality of life.
Japan
Japan is the 4th-largest economy in the world, with the most impressive work ethic and discipline. The country has a rich and colorful history, with 29 percent atheists, 31 percent non-religious people, and 26 percent who are still deciding. Only 13 percent are religious, but the country is proud of its long-lasting traditions and heritage.
China
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the second-most populated country in the world, and it has the largest number of religiously unaffiliated people worldwide, according to the Pew Research Centre. Other surveys reported that around 67 percent of Chinese are atheists, while religious people represent only nine percent of the population.
Things to consider
Global surveys usually separate several groups, such as religious, non-religious, atheists, and those who don’t know. Gallup’s 2023 survey found that 62 percent of the world’s population is religious. Some believe there is something greater than us, but they do not associate it with religion. This polling found that around 10 percent are atheists.
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