Global beliefs about the afterlife: A world values survey perspective

A recent analysis of the World Values Survey (2017–2022) has revealed significant differences in beliefs about the afterlife across the globe, with religious traditions playing a major role in shaping public views. According to the findings, countries with strong Islamic and Christian traditions show notably high levels of belief in life after death, while secular nations report much lower belief rates.

Bangladesh leads the survey with an overwhelming 98.8% of respondents expressing belief in the afterlife. This is followed closely by Morocco at 96.2% and Libya at 95.2%, underscoring the deep influence of Islam in these regions. Both Ethiopia and the Philippines, where Christian and Islamic traditions dominate, also report high belief levels, with 82.4% and 83.8% of respondents, respectively, affirming a belief in life after death.

In contrast, Western nations show more moderate belief rates, reflecting the impact of secularization on religious views. In the United States, 68.2% of respondents believe in the afterlife, while in Canada, the figure drops to 56.9%. These numbers suggest a shift from religious orthodoxy, with secular ideologies gaining ground in these societies.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, countries like China and Japan report significantly lower belief rates. In China, only 11.5% of respondents believe in life after death, while Japan's figure stands at 32.2%. These lower figures highlight the dominance of secular and alternative cultural views in these nations, where traditional spiritual beliefs may be less emphasized in the modern era.

The survey's findings provide a snapshot of how deeply cultural, religious, and historical factors influence global perspectives on life after death, revealing a world that is as diverse in its beliefs about the afterlife as in its other cultural practices.