Significant numbers of adults around the world are leaving their childhood religions, with Christianity and Buddhism experiencing notable losses, according to data from recent Pew Research Center surveys released last week. Conducted across 36 countries and with nearly 80,000 respondents, the studies reveal a widespread trend of religious switching, primarily toward non-affiliation.

Religious switching, as defined by the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center, refers to a witch by individuals from the religious tradition they were raised in to a new religious identity as adults. Unlike conversion, which typically implies adopting a new faith, religious switching encompasses movements toward religious non-affiliation, including atheism, agnosticism, or no particular belief.

Rates of switching vary significantly. Countries such as India, Israel, Nigeria, and Thailand exhibit very low rates, with more than 95 per cent of adults maintaining their childhood religious affiliation. In contrast, South Korea (50 per cent), the Netherlands (36 per cent), the United States (28 per cent), and Brazil (21 per cent) report substantial percentages of adults who no longer identify with their initial religions.

Christianity and Buddhism have witnessed the largest net losses from religious switching. Christianity, the predominant religion in 25 of the surveyed countries, has seen substantial declines, particularly in European nations such as Germany, where nearly 20 individuals leave Christianity for every new adherent gained. Similarly, in Sweden 29 per cent of adults raised as Christian now identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

Buddhism, predominant in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand, also faces considerable declines due to switching, especially in East Asia. In Japan, 23 per cent of adults surveyed reported being raised Buddhist but now identifying with no religion. South Korea reports a similar trend, with 13 per cent raised as Buddhists “but don’t identify with any religion today.” (Religion Unplugged)

Many individuals leaving Buddhism are shifting toward religious non-affiliation rather than adopting another formal religion, according to the Pew Research Center. For instance, in Japan, about 40 per cent of adults raised Buddhist are now religiously unaffiliated, and smaller percentages have converted to Christianity, especially in countries such as South Korea (18 per cent) and Singapore (12 per cent).

However, not all religious switching results in secularization. South Korea presents a unique case, with 9 per cent of adults previously unaffiliated now identifying with a religion, predominantly Christianity. Additionally, in countries such as Singapore and South Africa, around 10 per cent of adults have switched between religious traditions rather than becoming unaffiliated.

Retention rates vary widely for Buddhism. Sri Lanka and Thailand report high retention rates, around 98 per cent, reflecting strong cultural and societal ties to Buddhism. Conversely, South Korea has a retention rate of only 39 per cent, highlighting a more fluid religious landscape.

The United States demonstrates the highest rate of entry into Buddhism, with 48 per cent of US Buddhists indicating they were raised in another tradition or with no religion at all. Despite this influx, Buddhists constitute only 1 per cent of the total US adult population. Meanwhile, in South Korea, 33 per cent of Buddhists say they converted to the religion and 24 per cent of Singaporean Buddhists did as well, suggesting that despite losses of Buddhists due to switching out, there are also trends of non-Buddhists switching into the religion in both countries.

Demographic factors such as age, education, and gender show varying impacts on religious switching. Younger adults in countries such as Canada, Italy, Spain, and the US are generally more likely to have switched religions compared with older generations, suggesting possible ongoing secularization trends. Education also influences switching in some nations: highly educated individuals, particularly in the Netherlands, report higher switching rates. Gender differences are minor, although statistically significant in some countries, where men slightly surpass women in rates of religious switching.

These findings illustrate a global shift toward religious non-affiliation, significantly impacting major religious traditions such as Christianity and Buddhism. However, these movements are complex and nuanced, influenced by demographic, cultural, and social factors, indicating evolution and uncertainty for the future of global religions.

See more

Switching My Religion: 20% Around The Globe Have Left Their Childhood Faith (Religion Unplugged)
Around the World, Many People Are Leaving Their Childhood Religions (Pew Research Center)
Religious switching into and out of Buddhism (Pew Research Center)
Over a fifth of adults have left religious groups they were raised in: Pew study (Christian Post)

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