Methodology
This is the ninth time Pew Research Center has measured restrictions on religion around the globe.75 This report, which includes data for the year ending Dec. 31, 2016, generally follows the same methodology as previous reports. Pew Research Center use…
Acknowledgments
This report was produced by Pew Research Center as part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, which analyzes religious change and its impact on societies around the world. Funding for the Global Religious Futures project comes from The…
4. Among the 25 most populous countries, Egypt, Russia, India, Indonesia and Turkey had the highest overall restrictions on religion in 2016
About three-quarters of the world’s people (more than 5 billion) live in the 25 most populous countries in the world. Examining the religious restrictions in these countries can show how government restrictions and social hostilities impact large porti…
3. Americas the only region with a rise in both government restrictions and social hostilities involving religion in 2016
Government restrictions by region In 2016, the global median level of government restrictions on religion increased slightly to 2.8 from 2.7 in 2015. The median score rose in three out of five regions (the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle Ea…
2. Harassment of religious groups hits highest point since 2007
The analysis of 2016 sources found reports of religiously motivated harassment – whether perpetrated by governments or social groups – in the vast majority of the world’s countries (187, up from 169 in 2015). This marks the biggest number of countries …
1. Number of countries with ‘very high’ government restrictions on religion at highest level since 2007
Countries with the most extensive government restrictions on religion Most countries around the world have some form of restrictions on religion – whether it is through laws that limit actions like public preaching or conversion, or actions that can in…
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