Gallopedia Highlights- Week # 135

Dated August 29 – September 04, 2010

This week’s report consists of 20 surveys. 2 of these are multi-country surveys & 2 are cyber surveys. 8 polling organizations have been represented.

ASIA zone-1 National poll & 1 Multi Country poll:
Middle East & North Africa: Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Palestine

West Asia: Afghanistan,

South Asia: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal,

East Asia: Japan, Hong Kong,

South East Asia: Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam,

AFRICA zone- 1 Multi Country poll:

West Africa: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Mauritania,

Central Africa: Congo (Kinshasa), Burundi, Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda,

East Africa: Somaliland, Djibouti

South Africa: Zambia, Malawi, Comoros

EURO-AMERICAS zone-15 national & 2 Multi Country polls:

East Europe: Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Belarus, Russia, Estonia

West Europe- UK, France, Sweden, Denmark

North America- USA, Canada
Australasia: Australia

CYBER WORLD: 2 polls

Commentary: Religiosity Highest in World's Poorest Nations

United States is among the rich countries that buck the trend

by Steve Crabtree

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup surveys in 114 countries in 2009 show that religion continues to play an important role in many people's lives worldwide. The global median proportion of adults who say religion is an important part of their daily lives is 84%, unchanged from what Gallup has found in other years. In 10 countries and areas, at least 98% say religion is important in their daily lives.

Each of the most religious countries is relatively poor, with a per-capita GDP below $5,000. This reflects the strong relationship between a country's socioeconomic status and the religiosity of its residents. In the world's poorest countries -- those with average per-capita incomes of $2,000 or lower -- the median proportion who say religion is important in their daily lives is 95%. In contrast, the median for the richest countries -- those with average per-capita incomes higher than $25,000 -- is 47%.

The United States is one of the rich countries that bucks the trend. About two-thirds of Americans -- 65% -- say religion is important in their daily lives. Among high-income countries, only Italians, Greeks, Singaporeans, and residents of the oil-rich Persian Gulf states are more likely to say religion is important.

Most high-income countries are further down the religiosity spectrum. In 10 countries, no more than 34% of residents say religion is an important part of their daily lives. Six of those are developed countries in Europe and Asia with per-capita incomes greater than $25,000.

In three of the four lower income countries on the list -- Estonia, Russia, and Belarus -- the Soviet government restricted religious expression for decades until the U.S.S.R.'s collapse in 1991. The final country is Vietnam, where the government also has a history of limiting religious practice.

Implications

Social scientists have put forth numerous possible explanations for the relationship between the religiosity of a population and its average income level. One theory is that religion plays a more functional role in the world's poorest countries, helping many residents cope with a daily struggle to provide for themselves and their families. A previous Gallup analysis supports this idea, revealing that the relationship between religiosity and emotional wellbeing is stronger among poor countries than among those in the developed world.

SOURCE: http://www.gallup.com/poll/142727/religiosity-highest-world-poorest-nations.aspx

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The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani's Gallopedia website.