No religion
- Origin
- people without a religious affiliation (atheists, agnostics, non-religious)
- Sacred text
- –
- Followers today
- about 1.9 billion (approx. 24%)
Especially common in China, Japan, Western Europe, Czechia and Estonia. Many still believe in something.
Origin
People without religion are not a religious community but a group who do not identify with any religion. They include atheists (who believe in no god), agnostics (who consider it unknowable) and the non-religious.
Beliefs and practice
There are no shared beliefs. Many follow science, humanism or their own values. Some still believe in something higher or in spirituality without belonging to a religion.
Spread
The number grew since the 20th century, especially in Europe, China and East Asia, partly because education and wealth rose and states pushed religion back.
Today
About 1.9 billion people, around a quarter of the world population, state no religion. The share is especially high in China, Japan, Czechia, Estonia and Western Europe.
Good to know
- In surveys, self-reported “none” counts here.
- Many of them still believe in something.
- In Czechia and Estonia the majority has no religion.
Figures are rough estimates, rounded, based on self-reported survey data.
▶ See it on the map