Global Survey Finds 63% of World’s Population is Religious, While 11% Are “Convinced Atheists”

A new survey just released by WIN Gallup International (no relation to Gallup, Inc.) says that 63% of people around the world are religious, while those who are “a convinced atheist” make up 11% of the global population. (Global, in this case, refers to the 65 countries from which they were able to acquire data.) Unlike most surveys that put atheists under a broader “non-religious” umbrella, this one actually separates us from the rest of the “Nones.”

The most faith-filled countries in the world, with more than 90% of the population describing themselves as religious, are Thailand, Armenia, and Bangladesh:

(Why is the percentage of atheists so low in Bangladesh? Maybe because people there kill anyone who admits it.)

On the other end, the least religious countries are China, Japan, and Sweden:

China, of course, is known for its human rights abuses and has (actually) persecuted Christians. I’m not about to celebrate the high percentage of atheists in that country.

In general, African and Middle Eastern nations are the most religious while Western Europe and Oceania are home to the most “Nones.”

In case you’re wondering, Atheists make up 6% of the United States, while the religious represent 56% (a percentage that’s much lower that I would’ve expected). 33% of people fall into the “not religious” category.