A study that Ipsos recently presented globally, titled Religion 2023: Beliefs around the world, which was carried out in 26 countries, showed that – according to the official statement – “in terms of religious practice countries and Wide variation between generations on faith, the role of religion today, and the extent to which it defines personal identity and morality.
When asked whether they identify with a specific religion, the virtually unbeatable country was India with 99% positive responses, followed closely by Thailand with 98%. Subsequently, the top ten is completed by Turkey (86%), South Africa (83%), Peru (80%), Singapore (79%), Mexico (78%), Colombia (77%), Poland (76%) Happened. and Brazil (76%).
Down a notch in percentage terms were the following ten countries: Italy (70%), Argentina (67%), United States (66%), Chile (63%), Hungary (62%), Canada (58%), France (57%), Germany (56%), Spain (54%) and Australia (53%).
Finally, the last six countries with 50% or less appeared to be surveyed, which were Belgium (50%), Great Britain (48%), Netherlands (46%), Sweden (46%), South Korea . South (44%) and Japan (42%).
On average, a global 40% say they believe in a God “as described in the Holy Scriptures”; 20% “believe in a higher soul, but not as described in the holy scriptures”; Another 21% do not believe in God or a superior soul; and 19% are not sure or would not say.
Other beliefs
Belief in heaven averaged 52% and belief in supernatural spirits (such as angels, demons, fairies and ghosts) averaged 49%. Percentage of believers in each: Heaven, spirits, hell and the devil, with the country with the lowest percentage being Belgium (under 20%) and the countries with the highest percentage being Turkey, Brazil and South Africa (over 70%).
On the other hand, young people are more likely to believe in heaven, hell, the devil, and supernatural spirits, especially in countries where belief is low among all adults. In many of these countries, especially in Northern Europe and Europe, the prevalence of these beliefs is higher among Gen Z than baby-boomers.
Having a place of worship and prayer in the home is more common, as would be expected, in countries where the majority believe in a god or higher spirit. On average, the proportion of those who pray outside a place of worship at least once a month is greater than the proportion of those who visit a place of worship at least once a month.
With regard to religious tolerance, the proportion of adults who feel comfortable with people of different religious beliefs averages 76% across 26 countries. From nearly nine in ten in South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and the United States to only half in South Korea, people are comfortable with different religious views.
An interesting detail reveals that nearly half (47%) of those surveyed say religion does more harm than good in the world. After India, this approach is most common in Western Europe and Japan; It is less common in Latin America, South Africa, Turkey and Southeast Asia. The European countries in which it is most commonly said that “religion does more harm than good” are Sweden, with 70%, followed by Great Britain with 66%.
