5 facts about the religious lives of African Americans
Religion, particularly Christianity, has played an outsize role in African American history. For Black History Month, here are five facts about the religious lives of African Americans.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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The share of Americans who leave Islam is offset by those who become Muslim
About a quarter of adults who were raised Muslim no longer identify as members of the faith. But Islam gains about as many converts as it loses.
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New estimates show U.S. Muslim population continues to grow
An estimated 3.45 million Muslims of all ages were living in the United States in 2017, accounting for about 1.1% of the country’s total population.
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Meditation is common across many religious groups in the U.S.
Substantial shares of Americans of nearly all religious groups – as well as those who have no religious affiliation – say they meditate at least once a week.
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Europe’s Growing Muslim Population
Even with no new migration, Muslims are projected to increase as a share of Europe’s population.
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Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century
Concentrated in Europe, Orthodox Christians have declined as share of the global Christian population, from 20% in 1910 to 12% today. But the Ethiopian community is highly observant and growing.
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Many Countries Favor Specific Religions, Officially or Unofficially
Islam is the most common state religion, but many governments give privileges to Christianity.
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Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe
Religion has reasserted itself as an important part of individual and national identity in a region that was once dominated by atheist communist regimes.
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In America, Does More Education Equal Less Religion?
Overall, U.S. adults with college degrees are less religious than others on some measures. However, Christians with higher levels of education appear to be just as religious as those with less schooling.
