Denmark is the world's least religious country
By Lasse SHUTTLE
Published at 24.09.10. 20:50
Only every fifth Dane considers religion as an important part of everyday life.
A new Gallup poll shows that religion plays a crucial role in the daily lives of 84 per cent. of the planet's population.
But not with the Danes.
Here is the picture turn completely reversed - 81 per cent. of Danes consider not religion as an important part of their everyday lives.
And that makes Denmark the world's least religious country in the world along with Estonia (84 per cent.) And Sweden (83 percent)..
Poorest countries are most religious
The survey, conducted during 2009, based on interviews with adult residents in 114 countries. And the main conclusion is that religion fills most of the poorest nations.
Thus is poor countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Yemen top the list. Around 99 per cent. people of the countries have religion as an indispensable aspect of their lives.
"One theory is that religion plays a more functional role in the world's poorest countries, where faith helps people to cope with the daily struggle to support themselves and their families. A former Gallup analysis supports this idea. Last year we completed the following a three-year analysis that showed that the relationship between religiosity and emotional well-being is strongest in poor countries, "said Gallup editor Steve Crabtree.
U.S. stands out
United States differs markedly from the usual picture. The country is among the richest countries in the world, but still indicates 65 per cent. of Americans that religion is important in their daily lives.
Other high income countries, where religion is considered as important, are Italy, Greece, Singapore and countries in the Persian Gulf.