Mapping Religious Nones in 112 Countries: An Overview of European Values Study and World Values Survey Data (1981-2020)

Religious non-affiliation is an increasingly discussed topic. Nones constitute a rapidly growing population that occupies a central role in the secularization debate. The report “Mapping Religious Nones in 112 Countries” uses European Values Study and World Values Survey data collected between 1981 and 2020 to offer an overview of socio-demographic characteristics, geographical distribution, and religiosity of non-affiliated respondents. In four decades nones doubled at a global level reaching 25.9% – 21.7% in non-European countries – and triplicated in Europe with 30.2%. On average, non-affiliation is more common among male, young and highly educated respondents living in densely populated areas. Particular attention is dedicated to religious beliefs, attendance of religious services and relevance attributed by religious nones to God in their everyday life.