Religious Identity & Affiliation

A rising share of Asian Americans say they have no religion (32%), but many consider themselves close to one or more religious traditions for reasons such as family or culture. Christianity is still the largest faith group among Asian Americans (34%).

Read about some of the ways focus group participants with ties to different faith traditions explain the complex relationship of religion and culture in their lives.

Overall, 56% of Singaporean adults say that having people of different religions, ethnic groups and cultures makes the country a better place to live.

Most people in all six South and Southeast Asian countries surveyed say they believe in God or unseen beings.

In Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, more than 90% of Buddhists see strong links between their religion and country. In the neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia, nearly all Muslims say being Muslim is important to being truly part of their nation.

Based on formal religious identity, China is the least religious country in the world - with just 10% of Chinese adults self-identifying with a religion.

Only one-in-ten Chinese adults formally identify with a religion, but surveys indicate that religion plays a much bigger role in China when the definition is widened to include questions on spirituality, customs and traditional beliefs.

Most parents pass along religious and political affiliations, and they do so at similarly high rates, according to a new analysis of several surveys.

About a third of U.S. parents with children under 18 say it’s extremely or very important to them that their kids share their religious beliefs.

Religiously unaffiliated people were harassed by governments, private groups or both in 27 countries in 2020.