Poorer countries are more likely to place high regard for religion compared to wealthier ones, as presented by a recent survey.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, religion is seen to play a bigger role in the lives of people living in less developed countries. For instance, 98 percent of Ethiopians responded to the survey by saying that religion is very important to them.
In addition, 97 percent of Senegalese and 88 percent of Nigerians also say that religion is very important. Other African nations that rate a percentage higher than 80 percent are Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. It's common in these nations to have a GDP per capita of no more than $5,000.
In contrast, more developed nations tend to value religion less as part of their everyday living. Some notable nations on that list include Australia (18 percent), Germany (21 percent), Russia (19 percent), Japan (11 percent) and Canada (27 percent). The United States stands as an exception, with more than half (53 percent) of Americans saying that religion is an important part of their lives.
However, this number posted by the U.S. marks a decline as last 2007's survey indicated that 56 percent of Americans place importance on religion. A separate survey by Pew Research Global state that Americans land close to the overall media of 55 percent.
Countries that place high regard for religion have various reported religious makeups, including some nations that are predominantly Christian one example being the Philippines where 87 percent of Filipinos claim that religion is important to them.
Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation, records 95 percent of their population to have high value for religion. Also one of the higher members of the 80 percent and above tier includes India, which is majority Hindu, with 80 percent.
China rates the lowest percentage with only 3 percent of the Chinese viewing religion as important.
Japan follows, and then France comes in third with 14 percent.
