Asia holds most, least religious nations

Asia holds most, least religious nations

BEIJING — China is the country with the least number of religious people while Thailand is the world’s most religious country, according to a 68-country survey by Gallup International.

The study, which explored religious tendencies of 66,000 people in 68 countries across the world in 2017, found that 67 percent of Chinese citizens do not believe in religion; only 9 percent of Chinese surveyed identify as religious. In Thailand, 98 percent of the people declare themselves to be religious, the survey found.

Japan, Slovenia, Czech Republic and South Korea also had high numbers of unbelievers. European countries, including Belgium and France, had relatively low percentages of unbelievers, according to Gallup.

The survey also found that 71 percent of the world’s population say they believe in God and 74 percent believe humans have a soul. More than half (54 percent) believe in life after death: 56 percent believe in heaven and 49 percent believe there is hell. (TAB)