The Age Gap in Religion Around the World: By Several Measures, Young Adults Tend to be Less Religious Than Their Elders
Pew Research Center (2018), 96 pp.
"Although the age gap in religious commitment is larger in some nations than in others, it occurs in many different economic and social contexts – in developing countries as well as advanced industrial economies, in Muslim-majority nations as well as predominantly Christian states, and in societies that are, overall, highly religious as well as those that are comparatively secular. For example, adults younger than 40 are less likely than older adults to say religion is “very important” in their lives not only in wealthy and relatively secular countries such as Canada, Japan and Switzerland, but also in countries that are less affluent and more religious, such as Iran, Poland and Nigeria." (Page 5)
Overview, 5
1 Why do levels of religious observance vary by age and country? 13
2 Young adults around the world are less religious by several measures, 30
3 How religious commitment varies by country among people of all ages, 50
Appendix A: Methodology, 59
Appendix B: Detailed tables showing overall figures and age breaks by country and measure, 64
Appendix C: Detailed tables showing age gaps by country, religious group and measure, 68
Appendix D: Question wording from each survey, 81
Appendix E: Sources, 89
1 Why do levels of religious observance vary by age and country? 13
2 Young adults around the world are less religious by several measures, 30
3 How religious commitment varies by country among people of all ages, 50
Appendix A: Methodology, 59
Appendix B: Detailed tables showing overall figures and age breaks by country and measure, 64
Appendix C: Detailed tables showing age gaps by country, religious group and measure, 68
Appendix D: Question wording from each survey, 81
Appendix E: Sources, 89
