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Country |
AI during 2005 | AI during 2012 | Difference over seven years |
---|---|---|---|
China |
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Japan |
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Czech Republic |
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France |
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South Korea |
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Germany |
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Netherlands |
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Austria |
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Iceland |
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Australia |
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Ireland |
Another
11 countries reported an intermediate Atheism index (AI) of 6 to 9% during 2012:
Country |
AI during 2005 | AI during 2012 | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Canada |
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Spain |
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Switzerland |
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Hong Cong |
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Sweden |
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Belgium |
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Italy |
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Argentina |
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Russian Federation |
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Finland |
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South Sudan |
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23 countries reported an low Atheism index (AI) of 0 to 5% during 2012:
Country | AI during 2005 | AI during 2012 | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Moldova |
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United States |
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Poland |
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South Africa |
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Bosnia & Herzegovina |
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Ukraine |
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Colombia |
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Cameroon |
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India |
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Peru |
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Serbia |
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Bulgaria |
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Pakistan |
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Ecuador |
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Kenya |
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Lithuania |
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Romania |
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Macedonia |
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Nigeria |
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Malaysia |
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Ghana |
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Vietnam |
Among countries with a:
-
High Atheism Index (AI), Atheism generally made major gains between 2005 and 2012.
-
Intermediate Atheism Index, Atheism either gained or was stable. Two countries showed a loss in AI, but this change was within the margin of error and thus was not statistically significant.
- Low Atheism Index, changes were mixed.
There are some some reasons why the data collected may not be accurate:
- In China, which is officially an Atheist country with few civil liberties, it takes a lot of courage for an adult to admit that she or he is "a religious person."
- In countries with a theocratic government which grant few few civil liberties and almost no religious liberty to its citizens and residents, it takes a lot of courage for an adult to admit that they are an Atheist or not a religious person. That is probably why Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia were not included in the survey.
- Even in countries in which there is freedom of expression and religion, there is often a major public prejudice against Atheists; they are generally viewed as being intrinsically immoral people. Thus, it takes courage for Atheists who are contacted by phone by a stranger claiming to be from an anonymous polling agency to admit that they are an Atheist. An innovative polling technique estimates that 26% of U.S. adults are Atheists, a much larger value than the 3% and 11% reported by well established polling agencies. More details.
References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
- "Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism - 2012: Press Release: Table 4: Trends in Atheism index among 39 countries surveyed in both waves," WIN-Gallup International, 2012-JUL-25, at: http://redcresearch.ie/
Site navigation:
Home > Religions of the world > Atheism > here |
or Home > Christianity > Christian personalities > God > Atheism > here |
or Home > Religious information > God > Atheism > here |
or Home > Spirituality > God > Atheism > here |
No copyright claimed because the data was extracted from the survey
Original posting: 2012-AUG-12
Latest update: 2018-SEP-24
Author: B.A. Robinson

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