Faith and religion are declining around the world, as a growing global population is identifying as non-religious, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
This trend has been occurring for decades in the United States. Today, three in ten adults claim to have no religious affiliation. Among them, about half identify as atheists or agnostics, while the other half categorize their religion as “nothing in particular.” What’s even more striking is that this shift away from religion is particularly pronounced among younger adults, with 43 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds identifying as “nones.” In contrast, roughly 20 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 60 fall into this category.
This trend is not limited to the United States; it’s a global phenomenon. In Japan, an estimated 70 percent of the population reports having nonreligious beliefs. In Italy, despite nearly 80 percent of the population identifying as Catholic, the majority view it more as tradition than devout faith, with less than 20 percent attending religious services weekly.
However, it’s crucial to note that public rejection of religion can be much harder and, in some places, even risky. In many African and Asian countries, sharing your religious beliefs, even a lack thereof, can be damaging in numerous ways.
Despite these shifts, organized religion remains a vital source of community for many Americans, with two-thirds of U.S. adults still identifying as Christian, as per Pew Research Center. Nonetheless, this marks a significant decrease compared to the 1990s when this figure stood at 90 percent.
