Global Religious Diversity Shifts, U.S. Stands Out Among Large Nations
As of 2020, Singapore is the world’s most religiously diverse country, while Yemen is the least, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center. However, the United States ranks first in religious diversity among nations with very large populations, followed by Nigeria and Russia.
The findings are part of the ongoing work of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, a collaborative effort designed to understand religious change and its impact on societies worldwide. The project, which began in 2013, is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Templeton Religion Trust.
The Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project encompasses three primary areas of research: international surveys on religion across various regions, a continuous demographic study of religious trends, and measurements of restrictions on religious freedom. Phase VIII of the project, currently underway with a $3,315,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation, will build on these foundations while incorporating a new focus on fostering open science principles.
Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research at Pew Research Center, leads the project. The research team includes Conrad Hackett, Associate Director of Research and Senior Demographer, and Senior Researchers Anne Shi and Stephanie Kramer, alongside Research Assistant Isaac Lamoreaux. Andrew Mercer serves as the principal methodologist, providing guidance throughout the project.
The project aims to produce “transformational, crossover advances” in understanding the dynamics of religious change, according to project details. A key component of Phase VIII involves refining projections of the growth trajectories of major religions, utilizing improved models to analyze factors influencing religious affiliation and shifts in belief.
Researchers are also continuing to measure restrictions on religious freedom using consistent, human-coded methods. However, they are now experimenting with machine-learning systems to supplement this process, aiming for greater efficiency and accuracy. This builds on previous work to track changes in religious restrictions over time.
For the first time, the project’s cross-national survey will be truly global, encompassing 30 or more countries across six continents. This expanded scope will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of religious beliefs and practices worldwide. Notably, the survey will incorporate questions developed in Asia to measure religion and spirituality in Western contexts, and will also assess public support for the separation or integration of religion and state power.
The Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project is also committed to increasing the accessibility of its data. Researchers plan to collaborate with the Association of Religion Data Archives to host workshops promoting open data practices within the field of religious studies. This initiative aims to facilitate broader research and collaboration among scholars.
The Pew Research Center, established in 2004 as a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C. It provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends, conducting public opinion polling, demographic research, and media content analysis. The Center, currently led by President Michael Dimock, states it does not take policy stances.
Recent research from the Pew Research Center has also focused on how the global religious landscape has changed between 2010 and 2020, further illustrating the ongoing shifts in religious demographics and beliefs around the world.
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