The World’s Most Atheist Countries: Where Non-Belief Is Most Common

Religious identity varies enormously around the world, and measuring atheism is more complicated than simply counting people who say they have no religion. Some people identify specifically as atheists, while others describe themselves as agnostic, non-religious or religiously unaffiliated.

Which Countries Have the Highest Shares of Self-Identified Atheists?

Gallup International’s global survey results released in 2025 provide one useful comparison. Among the countries included in that survey, the five highest shares of respondents describing themselves as “convinced atheists” were:

1.    China — 58%
2.    Japan — 31%
3.    Republic of Korea (South Korea) — 23%
4.    Spain — 22%
5.    Finland — 20%

These figures should be read as survey estimates rather than a definitive global ranking. Results can change depending on the year, question wording, countries surveyed and cultural understanding of terms such as religion and atheism.

Atheist Is Not the Same as Non-Religious

A person who has no religious affiliation is not necessarily an atheist. The broader 'religiously unaffiliated' category can include atheists, agnostics and people who simply identify with no particular religion. Likewise, some unaffiliated people still hold spiritual beliefs or participate in religious or cultural traditions.

Some of the World’s Most Secular Societies

Pew Research Center’s global demographic work shows that religiously unaffiliated people form a majority in a number of countries and territories. Its estimates for 2020 identified unaffiliated majorities in places including China, North Korea, the Czech Republic, Japan, Vietnam, Uruguay, the Netherlands and New Zealand, as well as Hong Kong and Macao.

Europe Has Several Highly Secular Countries

Northern and Western Europe contain many societies where religious affiliation and participation have declined over generations. Gallup International’s survey found particularly high shares describing themselves as 'not a religious person' in Sweden, Estonia, Denmark and Norway. Pew research has also documented substantial religious disaffiliation across several European countries.

Why Measuring Atheism Is Difficult

International comparisons require caution. Religion can be understood differently across cultures, and identifying with no formal religion does not necessarily mean rejecting belief in God, spirituality, ancestors or an afterlife. In some countries, people may participate in religious traditions while describing themselves as non-religious.

A Global Shift Toward Non-Religion?

Gallup International reported that, across the countries it surveyed, 10% of respondents in its latest global study described themselves as convinced atheists, while 30% said they were not religious. Pew Research Center has separately documented growth in the religiously unaffiliated population in many countries, although global demographic patterns remain diverse.

The Bottom Line

China stands out in recent Gallup International polling for its unusually high share of self-identified atheists, followed by Japan, South Korea, Spain and Finland among the countries surveyed. But there is no single universally accepted list of the world's 'most atheist countries.' Rankings depend heavily on whether researchers measure explicit atheism, absence of religious affiliation, religious practice or belief in God.