What is each countrys second-largest

religious group?
By Conrad Hackett and Timmy Huynh2 comments

Religiously unaffiliated people sometimes called the nones account for 16% of the worlds
population, and they make up the largest religious group in seven countries and territories.
Perhaps more remarkably, they also are the second-largest group in roughly half (48%) of the
worlds nations.
Indeed, while either Christians or Muslims make up the largest religious group in nine-in-ten
nations around the globe, nones rank second in size in most of the Americas and Europe, as
well as in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nones are a diverse collection of people, including atheists and agnostics, as well as those who
have a mix of religious beliefs and practices but do not identify with a particular faith. While the
nones are not a religion per se, they are broadly categorized as such because, regardless of
their beliefs, they dont identify with a religious group.
Of the 112 countries and territories in which the unaffiliated rank second, Christians are the
largest religion in 106. In many of these nations, including the U.S. and most of Western Europe,
nones are a substantial minority. They make up a quarter or more of the population in the
United Kingdom and Germany, for example.

Christians are the second-largest religious group in 43 countries including in much of

predominantly Muslim North Africa and the Middle East although in many of these states, such
as Saudi Arabia and Libya, less than 5% of inhabitants are Christian. Indeed, in many countries,
the largest group is far larger than the second-largest group. Across all countries and territories in
the world, the median share of the country population in the largest religious group is 88%,
whereas the median share in the second-largest group is 9%. Three-quarters of the worlds people
live as part of the largest religious group in their country, while 16% are part of the secondbiggest group.

Muslims are the second-largest group in 30 countries. Islam ranks second to Christianity in many
African countries, particularly in the sub-Saharan belt of nations that run across the continent.
Many of these countries, such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, are situated between the predominantly
Muslim Maghreb of North Africa and the more solidly Christian countries in the southern part of
the continent. Islam also is the second-largest religion in India, after Hinduism.

Adherents of folk religions are

the largest religious group in just three countries (Macau, Taiwan and Vietnam), but they are the
second-largest group in 23 nations, including China (where nones are the biggest group).
Hindus, meanwhile, make up the second-largest group in 12 countries, perhaps most notably
Pakistan. Buddhists are the second-largest group in seven countries (including Japan). Jews are
not the second-largest religious group in any nation.
Note: This analysis is based on the eight religious categories used in The Future of World
Religions report: Christians, Muslims, the religiously unaffiliated, Hindus, Buddhists,
adherents of folk religions, Jews and followers of other religions. These results would vary if
subgroups within these categories were classified as separate religions.
Country and regional religious composition data, along with future composition projections, are
available in sortable tables. You can also download a list (Excel file) of the largest and secondlargest religious groups in each country. Additional data on country-level religious demography
is available at the Global Religious Futures website.
Topics: Religious Affiliation, Religiously Unaffiliated
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1.
Conrad Hackett is a demographer focusing on religion at Pew Research Center.
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2. Timmy Huynh is an advanced analytics intern focusing on demography and religion at

Pew Research Center.