Listed out of many, this article has garnered some of top 10 most religious countries in the world for your interest and zeal for vital information. Although it may seem like the world is becoming less and less religious with every passing generation in the era of globalization, statistics reveal that this may actually not at all be the case.
According to the some International Poll, the most cited study on religious involvement worldwide, there are many countries worldwide where at least 90% of residents identify as being religious.
Top 10 Most Religious Countries in the World
In our list below, we provide an overview of the list of the top 10 most religious countries in the world. No doubt this is a topping list. It is interesting to note that the world’s most religious countries do not adhere to one religion in particular, but instead represented a diverse set of religious beliefs.
1. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the giant of the Middle East, with both the vast majority of land and wealth of the Arabian Peninsula falling within its borders. Millions of devout Muslims from around the world participate in a pilgrimage to Mecca each year, believed to be the birthplace of the Muslim prophet Mohammed and the cradle of Islam.
A fierce religious identity dominates the Sunni-majority nation, with principles of the Koran, conservative Sunni teachings known as Wahhabism and strict Islamic Shariah law present in all aspects of life. The king, officially the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in this Islamic state, has always been a direct relative of the nation’s 1932 founder. Limited democracy was extended to men in 2005, and women are just beginning their path to equal voting and other human rights.
2. Israel
Israel, the only Jewish nation in the world, is a small country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. For its relatively small size, the country has played a large role in global affairs. The country has a strong economy, landmarks of significance to several religions and strained relationships with many of its Arab neighbors.
The founding of modern Israel can be traced back to World War I, when Zionists lobbied the British for recognition of a Jewish state in Palestine. After World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the United Nations proposed dividing the area into Arab and Jewish states, an idea opposed by the Arabs. Nonetheless, Israelis declared independence in 1948 and the new country then defeated the Arabs in a series of wars.
3. India
Located in South Asia, India sits on a peninsula that extends between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The country, the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, is the world’s second most-populous nation after China.
For many years of its long history, India faced incursions from the north by Turks, Arabs, Persians and others. By the 19th century, Great Britain became the dominant power on the subcontinent. After years of nonviolent struggle against British rule, India gained its independence in 1947.
English is the most important language for national, political and commercial communication, but Hindi is the most widely spoken. India has a fast-growing, diverse economy with a large, skilled workforce.
4. Sri Lanka
5. Yemen
Even though the followers of the different schools of Islam occupy separate territories in Yemen, Islam unifies the Yemenis across all boundaries in the country. The Yemenis strictly adhere to the five tenets of Islam. Men gather together at the mosques for prayers and, on the Sabbath, for sermons, while women are strictly prohibited from entering these public places of worship. All of the major festivals on the Arab Muslim calendar are observed by the Yemenis.
6. Iran
Iran, once the heart of the great Persian Empire, sits in southwestern Asia, bordered to its east by Afghanistan and to its west by Iraq. Iran has one of the largest economies in the Middle East and one of the largest populations, with about 86 million people. While Iran experienced secular reforms and a glimpse of democracy in the mid-20th century, today it is governed by an authoritarian regime.
Iran can trace its history back 2,500 years to the time of the Achaemenids. The country has long been of interest to global powers because of its strategic location within the Middle East and its abundant supply of oil and other natural resources. The modern state of Iran was founded in 1925. After several western-backed attempts to control Iran’s leadership, the country became an Islamic Republic in 1979.
7. Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, there is not one official religion, but instead a number of religions practiced. The most popular of these is the Ethiopian Orthodox faith, with 43.5% of the country’s population adhering to it. Other religions in the country include Protestant Christians, Catholicism, Islam, and traditional beliefs.
8. Indonesia
Islam is the most popular religion in Indonesia, with 87.2% of the population practicing it. The Constitution of the country guarantees the freedom to practice one’s own religion. The international spiritual movement called Subud was founded in Indonesia.
9. Niger
99% of the citizens of Niger consider themselves to be religious. Islam is the religion for the majority of the residents of Niger, with 94% of the population following this religion. The majority of Niger’s Muslims are Sunnis practicing the Maliki school of jurisprudence. Animism, Christianity, Hinduism, Baha’ism, and some traditional African religions are some of the other minority religions practiced in the country.
10. Bangladesh
Islam plays an important role in the daily lives of the Muslims of Bangladesh (about 88% of Bangladesh’s population). Islam is also the official religion of this country, which has one of the largest Muslim communities in the world. Muslim festivals are celebrated with great pomp and festivity throughout the region.
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