Singapore Is World’s Most Religiously Diverse Country, Pew Research Finds

The Pew Research centre’s latest analysis of religious diversity reveals striking contrasts across the globe, highlighting which societies blend faith traditions most evenly and where single religions dominate.

Key Findings

The study examined 201 countries and territories, covering 99.98% of the world’s population. It used a Religious Diversity Index (RDI) that scores from 0 (single‑faith dominance) to 10 (perfectly even distribution among seven groups: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, “other” religions and the unaffiliated).

World’s Most Religiously Diverse Countries

Singapore tops the list with an RDI of 9.3, the closest any nation comes to an even split among the seven categories. Buddhists constitute the largest group at 31%, followed by the unaffiliated (20%), Christians (19%), Muslims (16%), Hindus (5%) and other religions (9%).

Suriname ranks second, the only Latin American nation in the top ten, where 53% of residents are Christian, 22% Hindu, 13% Muslim and 8% unaffiliated.

The remaining top‑ten spots are filled by Taiwan, South Korea and Australia in the Asia‑Pacific region, and Mauritius, Guinea‑Bissau, Togo and Benin in sub‑Saharan Africa. France is the sole European entry, with 46% Christian, 43% unaffiliated and a 9% Muslim minority.

Did You Know? Singapore’s Religious Diversity Index score of 9.3 is the highest of any country in the world, indicating an almost perfectly balanced religious composition.

Religious Diversity Among the World’s Largest Nations

When the focus narrows to the ten most populous countries (each with at least 120 million people), the United States emerges as the most diverse, with an RDI of 5.8. About 64% of Americans are Christian, 30% unaffiliated, and the remaining 6% are split among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and other religions.

Nigeria follows, featuring a near‑even split between Christians and Muslims, each exceeding 40% of the population. Pakistan, by contrast, scores a low 0.8, with 97% of its residents Muslim.

Countries With Minimal Diversity

The analysis identifies Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia as the least diverse, each scoring near 0, where Muslims comprise 99.8% or more of the population. Timor‑Leste and Moldova round out the ten least diverse, being almost entirely Christian.

Regional Patterns

The Asia‑Pacific region records the highest overall RDI of 8.7, reflecting a “very high” level of diversity with no single faith holding a majority. North America, sub‑Saharan Africa and Europe fall into the “high” category, while the Middle East‑North Africa region scores a low 1.3, dominated 94% by Muslims.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter, senior editorial analyst, notes that high religious diversity can foster vibrant interfaith dialogue but also poses challenges for policy cohesion. Conversely, societies with overwhelming majority religions may experience stronger social uniformity, yet risk marginalizing minority faiths. Monitoring shifts in the RDI helps anticipate where social tensions or collaborative opportunities might arise.

Trends Since 2010

global religious diversity levels have remained stable from 2010 to 2020. However, about two dozen nations saw notable RDI changes, driven largely by Christian disaffiliation and growth of the unaffiliated. In the United States, the Christian share fell by 14 percentage points, lifting the country’s diversity level from “moderate” to “high.” Ireland experienced a similar rise, while the Netherlands saw its diversity level dip as the unaffiliated grew to 54%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country is the most religiously diverse?

According to the study, Singapore holds the highest Religious Diversity Index score of 9.3, making it the most religiously diverse nation as of 2020.

What does the Religious Diversity Index measure?

The RDI evaluates how evenly a country’s population is distributed among seven broad religious categories: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, adherents of other religions, and people with no religious affiliation. Scores range from 0 (complete dominance by one group) to 10 (perfect balance).

How does religious diversity differ among the world’s most populous countries?

Among the ten most populous nations, the United States ranks first in diversity with an RDI of 5.8, followed by Nigeria and Russia. Pakistan scores the lowest at 0.8, reflecting a near‑monolithic Muslim population.

What aspects of religious composition intrigue you most, and how might they shape societies in the years ahead?