Around the World, Many People Are Leaving Their Childhood Religions
In many places surveyed, 20% or more of all adults have left their childhood religious group. Christianity and Buddhism have had especially large losses.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In many places surveyed, 20% or more of all adults have left their childhood religious group. Christianity and Buddhism have had especially large losses.
People in mostly middle-income survey countries say it’s ideal to start a family and own a home by 30, and retire by 60.
When asked what it takes to “truly” belong in a country, many people globally say speaking the local language is key.
We asked people in three dozen countries how they see religion’s role in society, government and national identity.
The monthly number of U.S. Border Patrol encounters with migrants crossing from Mexico has plummeted in 2024 from 2023’s record high.
Views vary on other ideas, such as recognizing same-sex marriages. Most see Pope Francis as a change in the church’s direction, and he’s broadly popular.
Pope Francis is broadly popular in much of Latin America and the U.S., but favorability has fallen in the Latin American countries surveyed.
A median of 52% of adults across the six surveyed countries have a favorable opinion of Brazil, while 28% have an unfavorable opinion.
Brazilians increasingly say their country is or will become a top world power, and trust in their government has roughly doubled since 2017.
Adults in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines are the most likely to say it is important to have a leader who stands up for people with their religious beliefs.
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