Secularism

Religious Switching

Projected Cumulative Change due to Religious Switching, 2010-2050

Secular Revival

The most dominant global religious change in the coming decades will be those leaving Christianity for unaffiliated.

The shift will be concentrated in Europe and North America and, to a lesser extent, in Latin America.

Regions with the highest current rates of the unaffiliated are Western Europe and East Asia.

% Of Global Population

Declining West

While many in the West will leave Christianity, the unaffiliated will shrink as a percentage of the population. This is due, in part, to declining birth rates in wealthy nations and population booms in Africa and parts of Asia, regions that will likely retain high rates of Christian and Muslim adherence.

Not Atheists

Most unaffiliated are not Atheists, and in the West most unaffiliated hold very Christian ideas about God and humanity. The unaffiliated are simply those who do not affiliate with any religion. High levels of wealth along with shrinking social networks are the most dominant factors associated with disaffiliation

% Unaffiliated By Region

Countries With Largest % Unaffiliated