Religion’s Importance Varies Around the World

People in sub-Saharan Africa are typically among the most likely to say that religion is very important in their lives. At least 90% of adults say this in Senegal, Mali, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, and Zambia, according to a series of Pew Research Center surveys fielded across 102 countries and territories between 2008 and 2023. 

In contrast, people in nearly all European countries surveyed are among the least likely to say that religion is very important in their lives. In Estonia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Latvia, and Finland, 10% or fewer adults say this.

The pattern in South and Southeast Asia is not as consistent as in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Adults in some places in this region are among the most likely worldwide to place a great deal of importance on religion. Consider Indonesia, for example, where nearly all adults say religion is very important in their lives. But far smaller shares in Singapore (36%) and Vietnam (26%) give this answer.

In the United States, 42% of adults say religion is very important in their lives. This is below the 102-place median of 55%.

The surveys also looked at how frequently people pray and found that Latin Americans are among the most likely in the world to say they pray daily. In both Guatemala and Paraguay, 82% of adults say this, as do 78% in Costa Rica and Honduras.

Meanwhile, in no place surveyed in East Asia do more than 21% of adults say they pray daily. This includes 13% of people in Hong Kong and 19% in Japan.

Adults in the U.S. are in the middle of the 102 countries and territories analyzed when it comes to rates of daily prayer. Some 45% of Americans say they pray daily, which is nearly identical to the 102-place median of 46%.