Country Comparison :: Religions
This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below.
Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be achieved on earth. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine, believes all were manifestations of God given to specific communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional prophet meant to call all humankind. Bahais are an open community, located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in South Asia.
Buddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C. teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha "the enlightened one"). Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of which we are a part. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of rebirth. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders or laity.
Basic Groupings
   Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand, with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West. Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and suffering for oneself; this process may take one or several lifetimes.
   Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan Buddhism: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and parts of the West. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching. Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately achieve enlightenment.
Christianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are salvific for the world. Christianity is one of the three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or the Christian Gospels).
Basic Groupings
   Catholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest established western Christian church and the world's largest single religious body. It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at the Vatican. Catholics believe the Pope is the divinely ordered head of the Church from a direct spiritual legacy of Jesus' apostle Peter. Catholicism is comprised of 23 particular Churches, or Rites - one Western (Latin-Rite) and 22 Eastern. The Latin Rite is by far the largest, making up about 98% of Catholic membership. Eastern-Rite Churches, such as the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, are in communion with Rome although they preserve their own worship traditions and their immediate hierarchy consists of clergy within their own rite. The Catholic Church has a comprehensive theological and moral doctrine specified for believers in its catechism, which makes it unique among most forms of Christianity.
   Mormonism (including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): Originating in 1830 in the United States under Joseph Smith, Mormonism is not characterized as a form of Protestant Christianity because it claims additional revealed Christian scriptures after the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. The Book of Mormon maintains there was an appearance of Jesus in the New World following the Christian account of his resurrection, and that the Americas are uniquely blessed continents. Mormonism believes earlier Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant reform faiths, are apostasies and that Joseph Smith's revelation of the Book of Mormon is a restoration of true Christianity. Mormons have a hierarchical religious leadership structure, and actively proselytize their faith; they are located primarily in the Americas and in a number of other Western countries.
   Orthodox Christianity: The oldest established eastern form of Christianity, the Holy Orthodox Church, has a ceremonial head in the Bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), also known as a Patriarch, but its various regional forms (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox) are autocephalous (independent of Constantinople's authority, and have their own Patriarchs). Orthodox churches are highly nationalist and ethnic. The Orthodox Christian faith shares many theological tenets with the Roman Catholic Church, but diverges on some key premises and does not recognize the governing authority of the Pope.
   Protestant Christianity: Protestant Christianity originated in the 16th century as an attempt to reform Roman Catholicism's practices, dogma, and theology. It encompasses several forms or denominations which are extremely varied in structure, beliefs, relationship to state, clergy, and governance. Many protestant theologies emphasize the primary role of scripture in their faith, advocating individual interpretation of Christian texts without the mediation of a final religious authority such as the Roman Pope. The oldest Protestant Christianities include Lutheranism, Calvinism (Presbyterians), and Anglican Christianity (Episcopalians), which have established liturgies, governing structure, and formal clergy. Other variants on Protestant Christianity, including Pentecostal movements and independent churches, may lack one or more of these elements, and their leadership and beliefs are individualized and dynamic.
Hinduism - Originating in the Vedic civilization of India (second and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority. Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita are among some of the most important. Hindus may worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within their own home. The most common figures of devotion are the gods Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi. Most Hindus believe the soul, or atman, is eternal, and goes through a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one's positive or negative karma, or the consequences of one's actions. The goal of religious life is to learn to act so as to finally achieve liberation (moksha) of one's soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.
Islam - The third of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Islam originated with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. Muslims believe Muhammad is the final of all religious prophets (beginning with Abraham) and that the Qu'ran, which is the Islamic scripture, was revealed to him by God. Islam derives from the word submission, and obedience to God is a primary theme in this religion. In order to live an Islamic life, believers must follow the five pillars, or tenets, of Islam, which are the testimony of faith (shahada), daily prayer (salah), giving alms (zakah), fasting during Ramadan (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
Basic Groupings
   The two primary branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia, which split from each other over a religio-political leadership dispute about the rightful successor to Muhammad. The Shia believe Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was the only divinely ordained Imam (religious leader), while the Sunni maintain the first three caliphs after Muhammad were also legitimate authorities. In modern Islam, Sunnis and Shia continue to have different views of acceptable schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and who is a proper Islamic religious authority. Islam also has an active mystical branch, Sufism, with various Sunni and Shia subsets.
    Sunni Islam accounts for over 75% of the world's Muslim population. It recognizes the Abu Bakr as the first caliph after Muhammad. Sunni has four schools of Islamic doctrine and law - Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali - which uniquely interpret the Hadith, or recorded oral traditions of Muhammad. A Sunni Muslim may elect to follow any one of these schools, as all are considered equally valid.
    Shia Islam represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible, divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as "Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the righteous.
Variants
   Ismaili faith: A sect of Shia Islam, its adherents are also known as "Seveners," because they believe that the rightful seventh Imam in Islamic leadership was Isma'il, the elder son of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq. Ismaili tradition awaits the return of the seventh Imam as the Mahdi, or Islamic messianic figure. Ismailis are located in various parts of the world, particularly South Asia and the Levant.
   Alawi faith: Another Shia sect of Islam, the name reflects followers' devotion to the religious authority of Ali. Alawites are a closed, secretive religious group who assert they are Shia Muslims, although outside scholars speculate their beliefs may have a syncretic mix with other faiths originating in the Middle East. Alawis live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.
   Druze faith: A highly secretive tradition and a closed community that derives from the Ismaili sect of Islam; its core beliefs are thought to emphasize a combination of Gnostic principles believing that the Fatimid caliph, al-Hakin, is the one who embodies the key aspects of goodness of the universe, which are, the intellect, the word, the soul, the preceder, and the follower. The Druze have a key presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
Jainism - Originating in India, Jain spiritual philosophy believes in an eternal human soul, the eternal universe, and a principle of "the own nature of things." It emphasizes compassion for all living things, seeks liberation of the human soul from reincarnation through enlightenment, and values personal responsibility due to the belief in the immediate consequences of one's behavior. Jain philosophy teaches non-violence and prescribes vegetarianism for monks and laity alike; its adherents are a highly influential religious minority in Indian society.
Judaism - One of the first known monotheistic religions, likely dating to between 2000-1500 B.C., Judaism is the native faith of the Jewish people, based upon the belief in a covenant of responsibility between a sole omnipotent creator God and Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism's Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Divine revelation of principles and prohibitions in the Hebrew Scriptures form the basis of Jewish law, or halakhah, which is a key component of the faith. While there are extensive traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological discourse, there is no final dogmatic authority in the tradition. Local communities have their own religious leadership. Modern Judaism has three basic categories of faith: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform/Liberal. These differ in their views and observance of Jewish law, with the Orthodox representing the most traditional practice, and Reform/Liberal communities the most accommodating of individualized interpretations of Jewish identity and faith.
Shintoism - A native animist tradition of Japan, Shinto practice is based upon the premise that every being and object has its own spirit or kami. Shinto practitioners worship several particular kamis, including the kamis of nature, and families often have shrines to their ancestors' kamis. Shintoism has no fixed tradition of prayers or prescribed dogma, but is characterized by individual ritual. Respect for the kamis in nature is a key Shinto value. Prior to the end of World War II, Shinto was the state religion of Japan, and bolstered the cult of the Japanese emperor.
Sikhism - Founded by the Guru Nanak (born 1469), Sikhism believes in a non-anthropomorphic, supreme, eternal, creator God; centering one's devotion to God is seen as a means of escaping the cycle of rebirth. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak and nine subsequent gurus. Their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib - also known as the Adi Granth - is considered the living Guru, or final authority of Sikh faith and theology. Sikhism emphasizes equality of humankind and disavows caste, class, or gender discrimination.
Taoism - Chinese philosophy or religion based upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which centers on belief in the Tao, or the way, as the flow of the universe and the nature of things. Taoism encourages a principle of non-force, or wu-wei, as the means to live harmoniously with the Tao. Taoists believe the esoteric world is made up of a perfect harmonious balance and nature, while in the manifest world - particularly in the body - balance is distorted. The Three Jewels of the Tao - compassion, simplicity, and humility - serve as the basis for Taoist ethics.
Zoroastrianism - Originating from the teachings of Zoroaster in about the 9th or 10th century B.C., Zoroastrianism may be the oldest continuing creedal religion. Its key beliefs center on a transcendent creator God, Ahura Mazda, and the concept of free will. The key ethical tenets of Zoroastrianism expressed in its scripture, the Avesta, are based on a dualistic worldview where one may prevent chaos if one chooses to serve God and exercises good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents. Prior to the spread of Islam, Zoroastrianism dominated greater Iran. Today, though a minority, Zoroastrians remain primarily in Iran, India, and Pakistan.
Download Data
Rank
country (%) Date of Information
1 Mauritania
100.00
NA
2 Pitcairn Islands
100.00
NA
3 Saudi Arabia
100.00
NA
4 Turkey
99.80
NA
5 Gaza Strip
99.30
NA
6 Algeria
99.00
NA
7 Saint Pierre and Miquelon
99.00
NA
8 Wallis and Futuna
99.00
NA
9 Morocco
98.70
NA
10 Comoros
98.00
NA
11 Greece
98.00
NA
12 Timor-Leste
98.00
2005
13 Tunisia
98.00
NA
14 Iran
98.00
NA
15 Malta
98.00
NA
16 Moldova
98.00
NA
17 Honduras
97.00
NA
18 Libya
97.00
NA
19 Mayotte
97.00
NA
20 Tuvalu
97.00
NA
21 Iraq
97.00
NA
22 Cambodia
96.40
1998 census
23 United Arab Emirates
96.00
NA
24 Venezuela
96.00
NA
25 Bolivia
95.00
NA
26 Ecuador
95.00
NA
27 Dominican Republic
95.00
NA
28 Pakistan
95.00
NA
29 Denmark
95.00
NA
30 Armenia
94.70
NA
31 Thailand
94.60
2000 census
32 Djibouti
94.00
NA
33 Spain
94.00
NA
34 Senegal
94.00
NA
35 Azerbaijan
93.40
NA
36 Taiwan
93.00
NA
37 Argentina
92.00
NA
38 Jordan
92.00
NA
39 Colombia
90.00
NA
40 Egypt
90.00
NA
41 Hong Kong
90.00
NA
42 Gambia, The
90.00
NA
43 Mali
90.00
NA
44 Monaco
90.00
NA
45 Italy
90.00
NA
46 Poland
89.80
2002
47 Paraguay
89.60
2002 census
48 Burma
89.00
NA
49 Turkmenistan
89.00
NA
50 Uzbekistan
88.00
NA
51 Croatia
87.80
2001 census
52 Ireland
87.40
2006 census
53 Luxembourg
87.00
2000
54 Sweden
87.00
NA
55 Romania
86.80
2002 census
56 Indonesia
86.10
2000 census
57 British Virgin Islands
86.00
1991
58 Norway
85.70
2004
59 Guinea
85.00
NA
60 Tajikistan
85.00
2003 est.
61 Puerto Rico
85.00
NA
62 Serbia
85.00
2002 census
63 Panama
85.00
NA
64 Kuwait
85.00
NA
65 Portugal
84.50
2001 census
66 Georgia
83.90
2002 census
67 Japan
83.90
2005
68 Faroe Islands
83.80
2006 administrative data
69 Bangladesh
83.00
1998
70 Bulgaria
82.60
2001 census
71 Finland
82.50
2006
72 Seychelles
82.30
2002 census
73 Peru
81.30
2007 Census
74 Bahrain
81.20
2001 census
75 Philippines
80.90
2000 census
76 Aruba
80.80
NA
77 Vietnam
80.80
1999 census
78 Iceland
80.70
2006 est.
79 Nepal
80.60
NA
80 India
80.50
2001 census
81 Afghanistan
80.00
NA
82 Niger
80.00
NA
83 Haiti
80.00
NA
84 Cocos (Keeling) Islands
80.00
2002 est.
85 Belarus
80.00
NA
86 Malawi
79.90
1998 census
87 Lithuania
79.00
2001 census
88 Gibraltar
78.10
2001 census
89 Cyprus
78.00
NA
90 Qatar
77.50
2004 census
91 Mexico
76.50
2000 census
92 Israel
76.40
2004
93 Costa Rica
76.30
NA
94 Liechtenstein
76.20
June 2002
95 Belgium
75.00
NA
96 Oman
75.00
NA
97 West Bank
75.00
NA
98 Kyrgyzstan
75.00
NA
99 Bhutan
75.00
NA
100 Montenegro
74.20
2003 census
101 Syria
74.00
NA
102 Austria
73.60
2001 census
103 Brazil
73.60
2000 census
104 Netherlands Antilles
72.00
2001 census
105 Botswana
71.60
2001 census
106 United Kingdom
71.60
2001 census
107 Japan
71.40
2005
108 Sao Tome and Principe
70.30
2001 census
109 Albania
70.00
NA
110 Chile
70.00
2002 census
111 Tokelau
70.00
NA
112 Sudan
70.00
NA
113 Sri Lanka
69.10
NA
114 Slovakia
68.90
2001 census
115 Ghana
68.80
2000 census
116 Saint Lucia
67.50
2001 census
117 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
67.20
2006 census
118 Brunei
67.00
NA
119 Laos
67.00
2005 census
120 Burundi
67.00
NA
121 Macedonia
64.70
2002 census
122 Fiji
64.50
2007 census
123 Latvia
63.70
2006
124 Barbados
63.40
2008 est.
125 Jamaica
62.50
2001 census
126 Dominica
61.40
2001 census
127 Niue
61.10
2001 census
128 Ethiopia
60.80
1994 census
129 Malaysia
60.40
2000 census
130 New Caledonia
60.00
NA
131 Sierra Leone
60.00
NA
132 Lebanon
59.70
NA
133 Czech Republic
59.00
2001 census
134 Nicaragua
58.50
2005 census
135 Slovenia
57.80
2002 census
136 El Salvador
57.10
2003 est.
137 Rwanda
56.50
NA
138 Cook Islands
55.90
2001 census
139 Marshall Islands
54.80
1999 census
140 French Polynesia
54.00
NA
141 Chad
53.10
1993 census
142 Grenada
53.00
NA
143 Kiribati
52.00
1999
144 Madagascar
52.00
NA
145 Hungary
51.90
2001 census
146 United States
51.30
2007 est.
147 Togo
51.00
NA
148 Ukraine
50.40
2006 est.
149 American Samoa
50.00
NA
150 Zimbabwe
50.00
NA
151 Burkina Faso
50.00
NA
152 Guinea-Bissau
50.00
NA
153 Micronesia, Federated States of
50.00
NA
154 Macau
50.00
NA
155 Mongolia
50.00
2004
156 Nigeria
50.00
NA
157 Congo, Republic of the
50.00
NA
158 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
50.00
NA
159 Belize
49.60
NA
160 Korea, South
49.30
1995 census
161 Congo, Republic of the
48.00
NA
162 Mauritius
48.00
2000 census
163 Uruguay
47.10
2006
164 Angola
47.00
NA
165 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
47.00
NA
166 Kazakhstan
47.00
NA
167 Micronesia, Federated States of
47.00
NA
168 Kenya
45.00
NA
169 Kazakhstan
44.00
NA
170 Benin
42.80
2002 census
171 Canada
42.60
2001 census
172 Singapore
42.50
2000 census
173 Netherlands
42.00
2006
174 Virgin Islands
42.00
NA
175 Uganda
42.00
2002 census
176 Uganda
41.90
2002 census
177 Switzerland
41.80
2000 census
178 Palau
41.60
2000 census
179 Madagascar
41.00
NA
180 Bosnia and Herzegovina
40.00
NA
181 Cameroon
40.00
NA
182 Kiribati
40.00
1999
183 Guinea-Bissau
40.00
NA
184 Swaziland
40.00
NA
185 Burkina Faso
40.00
NA
186 Turks and Caicos Islands
40.00
NA
187 Mongolia
40.00
2004
188 Nigeria
40.00
NA
189 Liberia
40.00
NA
190 Liberia
40.00
NA
191 Cameroon
40.00
NA
192 Lebanon
39.00
NA
193 Cote d'Ivoire
38.60
NA
194 Angola
38.00
NA
195 Christmas Island
36.00
1997
196 South Africa
36.00
2001 census
197 Bahamas, The
35.40
2000 census
198 Nauru
35.40
2002 census
199 Switzerland
35.30
2000 census
200 Central African Republic
35.00
NA
201 Macau
35.00
NA
202 Tanzania
35.00
NA
203 Samoa
34.80
2001 census
204 Estonia
34.10
2000 census
205 Germany
34.00
NA
206 Germany
34.00
NA
207 Virgin Islands
34.00
NA
208 Macedonia
33.30
2002 census
209 Grenada
33.20
NA
210 Nauru
33.20
2002 census
211 Kenya
33.00
NA
212 Solomon Islands
32.80
1999 census
213 Ethiopia
32.80
1994 census
214 Cote d'Ivoire
32.80
NA
215 Estonia
32.00
2000 census
216 Norfolk Island
31.80
2006 census
217 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
31.50
2006 census
218 Laos
31.50
2005 census
219 Vanuatu
31.40
1999 Census
220 Bosnia and Herzegovina
31.00
NA
221 Anguilla
30.20
2001 census
222 American Samoa
30.00
NA
223 New Caledonia
30.00
NA
224 French Polynesia
30.00
NA
225 Netherlands
30.00
2006
226 Sierra Leone
30.00
NA
227 Tanzania
30.00
NA
228 Swaziland
30.00
NA
229 Anguilla
29.00
2001 census
230 Togo
29.00
NA
231 Guyana
28.40
2002 census
232 Germany
28.30
NA
233 Tokelau
28.00
NA
234 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
28.00
NA
235 Fiji
27.90
2007 census
236 Suriname
27.40
NA
237 Belize
27.00
NA
238 Papua New Guinea
27.00
2000 census
239 Czech Republic
26.80
2001 census
240 Korea, South
26.30
1995 census
241 Ukraine
26.10
2006 est.
242 Cayman Islands
26.00
1999 census
243 New Zealand
26.00
2001 census
244 Rwanda
26.00
NA
245 Trinidad and Tobago
26.00
2000 census
246 Australia
25.80
2006 Census
247 Marshall Islands
25.80
1999 census
248 Antigua and Barbuda
25.70
2001 census
249 Suriname
25.20
NA
250 Belgium
25.00
NA
251 Central African Republic
25.00
NA
252 Bhutan
25.00
NA
253 Zimbabwe
25.00
NA
254 Sudan
25.00
NA
255 Central African Republic
25.00
NA
256 Christmas Island
25.00
1997
257 Oman
25.00
NA
258 Benin
24.40
2002 census
259 Zimbabwe
24.00
NA
260 Anguilla
23.90
2001 census
261 United States
23.90
2007 est.
262 Mozambique
23.80
1997 census
263 Mauritius
23.60
2000 census
264 Canada
23.30
2001 census
265 Palau
23.30
2000 census
266 Korea, South
23.20
1995 census
267 Uruguay
23.20
2006
268 Mozambique
23.10
1997 census
269 United Kingdom
23.10
2001 census
270 Bermuda
23.00
2000 census
271 Slovenia
23.00
2002 census
272 Burundi
23.00
NA
273 Suriname
22.80
NA
274 Trinidad and Tobago
22.50
2000 census
275 Nicaragua
21.60
2005 census
276 El Salvador
21.20
2003 est.
277 Christmas Island
21.00
1997
278 Jamaica
20.90
2001 census
279 Barbados
20.60
2008 est.
280 Botswana
20.60
2001 census
281 Chad
20.10
1993 census
282 Albania
20.00
NA
283 American Samoa
20.00
NA
284 Swaziland
20.00
NA
285 Togo
20.00
NA
286 Niger
20.00
NA
287 Liberia
20.00
NA
288 Kyrgyzstan
20.00
NA
289 Cameroon
20.00
NA
290 Cocos (Keeling) Islands
20.00
2002 est.
291 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
20.00
NA
292 Belarus
20.00
NA
293 Norfolk Island
19.90
2006 census
294 Latvia
19.60
2006
295 Samoa
19.60
2001 census
296 Suriname
19.60
NA
297 Papua New Guinea
19.50
2000 census
298 Sao Tome and Principe
19.40
2001 census
299 Malaysia
19.20
2000 census
300 Afghanistan
19.00
NA
301 Solomon Islands
19.00
1999 census
302 Australia
18.70
2006 Census
303 Australia
18.70
2006 Census
304 Bermuda
18.00
2000 census
305 Turks and Caicos Islands
18.00
NA
306 Cyprus
18.00
NA
307 Christmas Island
18.00
1997
308 Mozambique
17.80
1997 census
309 Mozambique
17.80
1997 census
310 Guyana
17.70
2002 census
311 Montenegro
17.70
2003 census
312 Mozambique
17.50
1997 census
313 Benin
17.30
2002 census
314 New Zealand
17.20
2001 census
315 Uruguay
17.20
2006
316 Solomon Islands
17.00
1999 census
317 West Bank
17.00
NA
318 Virgin Islands
17.00
NA
319 Guyana
16.90
2002 census
320 Cook Islands
16.80
2001 census
321 El Salvador
16.80
2003 est.
322 Cote d'Ivoire
16.70
NA
323 Mauritius
16.60
2000 census
324 Norfolk Island
16.60
2006 census
325 Palau
16.40
2000 census
326 Faroe Islands
16.20
2006 administrative data
327 Bangladesh
16.00
1998
328 Haiti
16.00
NA
329 Syria
16.00
NA
330 Turks and Caicos Islands
16.00
NA
331 Israel
16.00
2004
332 Canada
16.00
2001 census
333 Ghana
15.90
2000 census
334 Hungary
15.90
2001 census
335 Nicaragua
15.70
2005 census
336 Benin
15.50
2002 census
337 Brazil
15.40
2000 census
338 Latvia
15.30
2006
339 Bahamas, The
15.20
2000 census
340 Bahamas, The
15.10
2000 census
341 Finland
15.10
2006
342 South Africa
15.10
2001 census
343 Chile
15.10
2002 census
344 Angola
15.00
NA
345 Bermuda
15.00
2000 census
346 Samoa
15.00
2001 census
347 Puerto Rico
15.00
NA
348 Panama
15.00
NA
349 Macau
15.00
NA
350 Kuwait
15.00
NA
351 Central African Republic
15.00
NA
352 Bosnia and Herzegovina
15.00
NA
353 New Zealand
14.90
2001 census
354 Singapore
14.90
2000 census
355 Singapore
14.80
2000 census
356 Hungary
14.50
2001 census
357 Chad
14.20
1993 census
358 Jamaica
14.20
2001 census
359 Nauru
14.10
2002 census
360 Bermuda
14.00
2000 census
361 Belize
14.00
NA
362 Bosnia and Herzegovina
14.00
NA
363 Turks and Caicos Islands
14.00
NA
364 Qatar
14.00
2004 census
365 Grenada
13.80
NA
366 Vanuatu
13.80
1999 Census
367 Mexico
13.80
2000 census
368 Costa Rica
13.70
NA
369 Estonia
13.60
2000 census
370 Bahamas, The
13.50
2000 census
371 India
13.40
2001 census
372 Vanuatu
13.40
1999 Census
373 Vanuatu
13.10
1999 Census
374 Brunei
13.00
NA
375 Slovakia
13.00
2001 census
376 Luxembourg
13.00
2000
377 Sweden
13.00
NA
378 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
13.00
NA
379 Estonia
12.80
2000 census
380 Malawi
12.80
1998 census
381 Samoa
12.70
2001 census
382 Peru
12.50
2007 Census
383 New Zealand
12.40
2001 census
384 Antigua and Barbuda
12.30
2001 census
385 Bulgaria
12.20
2001 census
386 Uganda
12.10
2002 census
387 United States
12.10
2007 est.
388 Austria
12.00
2001 census
389 Turks and Caicos Islands
12.00
NA
390 Bermuda
12.00
2000 census
391 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
12.00
NA
392 Cote d'Ivoire
11.90
NA
393 Canada
11.80
2001 census
394 Cayman Islands
11.80
1999 census
395 Norfolk Island
11.50
2006 census
396 Papua New Guinea
11.50
2000 census
397 Australia
11.30
2006 Census
398 Solomon Islands
11.20
1999 census
399 Hungary
11.10
2001 census
400 South Africa
11.10
2001 census
401 Uruguay
11.10
2006
402 Switzerland
11.10
2000 census
403 Rwanda
11.10
NA
404 Bermuda
11.00
2000 census
405 Netherlands
11.00
2006
406 Cayman Islands
11.00
1999 census
407 New Zealand
10.90
2001 census
408 Slovakia
10.80
2001 census
409 Trinidad and Tobago
10.80
2000 census
410 Vanuatu
10.80
1999 Census
411 Nepal
10.70
NA
412 Antigua and Barbuda
10.60
2001 census
413 Norfolk Island
10.60
2006 census
414 Liechtenstein
10.60
June 2002
415 Antigua and Barbuda
10.50
2001 census
416 Antigua and Barbuda
10.40
2001 census
417 Nauru
10.40
2002 census
418 Solomon Islands
10.30
1999 census
419 Slovenia
10.10
2002 census
420 Albania
10.00
NA
421 Burundi
10.00
NA
422 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
10.00
NA
423 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
10.00
NA
424 Colombia
10.00
NA
425 Monaco
10.00
NA
426 Kenya
10.00
NA
427 Kenya
10.00
NA
428 Italy
10.00
NA
429 Hong Kong
10.00
NA
430 French Polynesia
10.00
NA
431 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
10.00
NA
432 Sri Lanka
10.00
NA
433 Swaziland
10.00
NA
434 British Virgin Islands
10.00
1991
435 Burkina Faso
10.00
NA
436 Tajikistan
10.00
2003 est.
437 Syria
10.00
NA
438 Sierra Leone
10.00
NA
439 Guinea-Bissau
10.00
NA
440 Papua New Guinea
10.00
2000 census
441 Nigeria
10.00
NA
442 New Caledonia
10.00
NA
443 Brunei
10.00
NA
444 Brunei
10.00
NA
445 Georgia
9.90
2002 census
446 Bahrain
9.80
2001 census
447 Cayman Islands
9.80
1999 census
448 Singapore
9.80
2000 census
449 Vanuatu
9.60
1999 Census
450 Lithuania
9.50
2001 census
451 Belize
9.40
NA
452 New Zealand
9.40
2001 census
453 Vietnam
9.30
1999 census
454 Malaysia
9.10
2000 census
455 Bahrain
9.00
2001 census
456 Uzbekistan
9.00
NA
457 Turkmenistan
9.00
NA
458 Portugal
9.00
2001 census
459 Mali
9.00
NA
460 Egypt
9.00
NA
461 Papua New Guinea
8.90
2000 census
462 Czech Republic
8.80
2001 census
463 Niue
8.80
2001 census
464 Palau
8.80
2000 census
465 Cayman Islands
8.70
1999 census
466 Niue
8.70
2001 census
467 Mauritius
8.60
2000 census
468 Papua New Guinea
8.60
2000 census
469 Ghana
8.50
2000 census
470 Saint Lucia
8.50
2001 census
471 Singapore
8.50
2000 census
472 Qatar
8.50
2004 census
473 Niue
8.40
2001 census
474 Marshall Islands
8.40
1999 census
475 Chile
8.30
2002 census
476 Poland
8.30
2002
477 Cayman Islands
8.20
1999 census
478 South Africa
8.20
2001 census
479 Bahamas, The
8.10
2000 census
480 Guyana
8.10
2002 census
481 Norway
8.10
2004
482 Gambia, The
8.00
NA
483 Ukraine
8.00
2006 est.
484 West Bank
8.00
NA
485 Guinea
8.00
NA
486 Kiribati
8.00
1999
487 Antigua and Barbuda
7.90
2001 census
488 Cook Islands
7.90
2001 census
489 Australia
7.90
2006 Census
490 Japan
7.80
2005
491 Trinidad and Tobago
7.80
2000 census
492 Dominica
7.70
2001 census
493 Sri Lanka
7.60
NA
494 Romania
7.50
2002 census
495 Brazil
7.40
2000 census
496 Chad
7.30
1993 census
497 Guyana
7.20
2002 census
498 Niue
7.20
2001 census
499 Trinidad and Tobago
7.20
2000 census
500 Ukraine
7.20
2006 est.
501 Sri Lanka
7.10
NA
502 South Africa
7.10
2001 census
503 Barbados
7.00
2008 est.
504 Guinea
7.00
NA
505 Kazakhstan
7.00
NA
506 Madagascar
7.00
NA
507 Virgin Islands
7.00
NA
508 Liechtenstein
7.00
June 2002
509 Gibraltar
7.00
2001 census
510 Guyana
6.90
2002 census
511 South Africa
6.80
2001 census
512 Trinidad and Tobago
6.80
2000 census
513 South Africa
6.70
2001 census
514 Vietnam
6.70
1999 census
515 Samoa
6.60
2001 census
516 Seychelles
6.40
2002 census
517 Fiji
6.30
2007 census
518 Malaysia
6.30
2000 census
519 Mexico
6.30
2000 census
520 Sri Lanka
6.20
NA
521 Iceland
6.20
2006 est.
522 Paraguay
6.20
2002 census
523 Liechtenstein
6.20
June 2002
524 Dominica
6.10
2001 census
525 Ghana
6.10
2000 census
526 Estonia
6.10
2000 census
527 Botswana
6.00
2001 census
528 Djibouti
6.00
NA
529 Mongolia
6.00
2004
530 Spain
6.00
NA
531 Netherlands
6.00
2006
532 Jordan
6.00
NA
533 French Polynesia
6.00
NA
534 Dominica
6.00
2001 census
535 Bermuda
6.00
2000 census
536 Antigua and Barbuda
5.80
2001 census
537 Trinidad and Tobago
5.80
2000 census
538 Trinidad and Tobago
5.80
2000 census
539 Netherlands
5.80
2006
540 Cook Islands
5.80
2001 census
541 Cayman Islands
5.80
1999 census
542 Australia
5.70
2006 Census
543 Saint Lucia
5.70
2001 census
544 Anguilla
5.70
2001 census
545 Indonesia
5.70
2000 census
546 Cayman Islands
5.70
1999 census
547 Dominica
5.60
2001 census
548 Norfolk Island
5.60
2006 census
549 Vanuatu
5.60
1999 Census
550 Lithuania
5.50
2001 census
551 Serbia
5.50
2002 census
552 Antigua and Barbuda
5.40
2001 census
553 Cayman Islands
5.30
1999 census
554 Palau
5.30
2000 census
555 Anguilla
5.20
2001 census
556 Papua New Guinea
5.20
2000 census
557 Netherlands Antilles
5.20
2001 census
558 Croatia
5.20
2001 census
559 Aruba
5.10
NA
560 Saint Lucia
5.10
2001 census
561 Bolivia
5.00
NA
562 Guyana
5.00
2002 census
563 Ecuador
5.00
NA
564 Dominican Republic
5.00
NA
565 Suriname
5.00
NA
566 Tajikistan
5.00
2003 est.
567 Sudan
5.00
NA
568 Senegal
5.00
NA
569 Philippines
5.00
2000 census
570 Pakistan
5.00
NA
571 Kyrgyzstan
5.00
NA
572 Antigua and Barbuda
4.90
2001 census
573 Netherlands Antilles
4.90
2001 census
574 Barbados
4.80
2008 est.
575 Costa Rica
4.80
NA
576 Bahamas, The
4.80
2000 census
577 Singapore
4.80
2000 census
578 Austria
4.70
2001 census
579 Romania
4.70
2002 census
580 Aruba
4.60
NA
581 Thailand
4.60
2000 census
582 Rwanda
4.60
NA
583 Ethiopia
4.60
1994 census
584 Chile
4.60
2002 census
585 Antigua and Barbuda
4.50
2001 census
586 Samoa
4.50
2001 census
587 Taiwan
4.50
NA
588 Saint Lucia
4.50
2001 census
589 Philippines
4.50
2000 census
590 Nauru
4.50
2002 census
591 Solomon Islands
4.40
1999 census
592 Canada
4.40
2001 census
593 Croatia
4.40
2001 census
594 Anguilla
4.30
2001 census
595 Guyana
4.30
2002 census
596 Guyana
4.30
2002 census
597 Switzerland
4.30
2000 census
598 Switzerland
4.30
2000 census
599 Malawi
4.30
1998 census
600 Austria
4.20
2001 census
601 Barbados
4.20
2008 est.
602 Bahamas, The
4.20
2000 census
603 Netherlands Antilles
4.20
2001 census
604 Nepal
4.20
NA
605 Ireland
4.20
2006 census
606 Cook Islands
4.20
2001 census
607 Aruba
4.10
NA
608 Dominica
4.10
2001 census
609 Slovakia
4.10
2001 census
610 Lithuania
4.10
2001 census
611 United Arab Emirates
4.00
NA
612 Armenia
4.00
NA
613 Burma
4.00
NA
614 France
4.00
NA
615 United States
4.00
2007 est.
616 Trinidad and Tobago
4.00
2000 census
617 Singapore
4.00
2000 census
618 Mongolia
4.00
2004
619 Gibraltar
4.00
2001 census
620 Cyprus
4.00
NA
621 Bulgaria
4.00
2001 census
622 Burma
4.00
NA
623 Argentina
4.00
NA
624 Georgia
3.90
2002 census
625 Portugal
3.90
2001 census
626 Israel
3.90
2004
627 Cayman Islands
3.80
1999 census
628 South Africa
3.80
2001 census
629 Cook Islands
3.80
2001 census
630 Dominica
3.70
2001 census
631 Germany
3.70
NA
632 Iceland
3.60
2006 est.
633 Marshall Islands
3.60
1999 census
634 Nepal
3.60
NA
635 Austria
3.50
2001 census
636 Samoa
3.50
2001 census
637 Slovenia
3.50
2002 census
638 Netherlands Antilles
3.50
2001 census
639 Montenegro
3.50
2003 census
640 Indonesia
3.40
2000 census
641 Seychelles
3.40
2002 census
642 Sao Tome and Principe
3.40
2001 census
643 Czech Republic
3.30
2001 census
644 Papua New Guinea
3.30
2000 census
645 Peru
3.30
2007 Census
646 New Zealand
3.30
2001 census
647 Costa Rica
3.20
NA
648 Gibraltar
3.20
2001 census
649 Slovakia
3.20
2001 census
650 Ukraine
3.20
2006 est.
651 Serbia
3.20
2002 census
652 Papua New Guinea
3.20
2000 census
653 Norfolk Island
3.20
2006 census
654 Chad
3.10
1993 census
655 Netherlands Antilles
3.10
2001 census
656 Sao Tome and Principe
3.10
2001 census
657 Uganda
3.10
2002 census
658 Palau
3.10
2000 census
659 Mexico
3.10
2000 census
660 Australia
3.00
2006 Census
661 Cook Islands
3.00
2001 census
662 Denmark
3.00
NA
663 Haiti
3.00
NA
664 Uzbekistan
3.00
NA
665 Netherlands
3.00
2006
666 Montenegro
3.00
2003 census
667 Malawi
3.00
1998 census
668 Mayotte
3.00
NA
669 Libya
3.00
NA
670 Iraq
3.00
NA
671 Indonesia
3.00
2000 census
672 Iceland
3.00
2006 est.
673 Hungary
3.00
2001 census
674 Honduras
3.00
NA
675 Micronesia, Federated States of
3.00
NA
676 Bahamas, The
2.90
2000 census
677 Peru
2.90
2007 Census
678 New Zealand
2.90
2001 census
679 Netherlands Antilles
2.90
2001 census
680 Gibraltar
2.90
2001 census
681 Ireland
2.90
2006 census
682 Marshall Islands
2.80
1999 census
683 Philippines
2.80
2000 census
684 Australia
2.70
2006 Census
685 United Kingdom
2.70
2001 census
686 Cayman Islands
2.70
1999 census
687 Cook Islands
2.60
2001 census
688 Hungary
2.60
2001 census
689 Serbia
2.60
2002 census
690 Serbia
2.60
2002 census
691 Malaysia
2.60
2000 census
692 Jamaica
2.60
2001 census
693 Aruba
2.50
NA
694 United States
2.50
2007 est.
695 Taiwan
2.50
NA
696 Papua New Guinea
2.50
2000 census
697 Mauritius
2.50
2000 census
698 Iceland
2.50
2006 est.
699 Azerbaijan
2.50
NA
700 Australia
2.40
2006 Census
701 Norway
2.40
2004
702 Slovenia
2.40
2002 census
703 Nauru
2.40
2002 census
704 Niue
2.40
2001 census
705 Solomon Islands
2.40
1999 census
706 Iceland
2.40
2006 est.
707 Solomon Islands
2.40
1999 census
708 Azerbaijan
2.30
NA
709 Slovenia
2.30
2002 census
710 South Africa
2.30
2001 census
711 Philippines
2.30
2000 census
712 India
2.30
2001 census
713 El Salvador
2.30
2003 est.
714 Netherlands
2.20
2006
715 Ukraine
2.20
2006 est.
716 Ukraine
2.20
2006 est.
717 Portugal
2.20
2001 census
718 Australia
2.10
2006 Census
719 Seychelles
2.10
2002 census
720 Marshall Islands
2.10
1999 census
721 Ireland
2.10
2006 census
722 Saint Lucia
2.10
2001 census
723 Gibraltar
2.10
2001 census
724 Czech Republic
2.10
2001 census
725 Cambodia
2.10
1998 census
726 Antigua and Barbuda
2.00
2001 census
727 Turkmenistan
2.00
NA
728 Sao Tome and Principe
2.00
2001 census
729 Tokelau
2.00
NA
730 Saint Lucia
2.00
2001 census
731 Saint Lucia
2.00
2001 census
732 Philippines
2.00
2000 census
733 Kazakhstan
2.00
NA
734 Kenya
2.00
NA
735 Jordan
2.00
NA
736 Japan
2.00
2005
737 Iran
2.00
NA
738 Gambia, The
2.00
NA
739 France
2.00
NA
740 British Virgin Islands
2.00
1991
741 British Virgin Islands
2.00
1991
742 Venezuela
2.00
NA
743 Venezuela
2.00
NA
744 Denmark
2.00
NA
745 Comoros
2.00
NA
746 Congo, Republic of the
2.00
NA
747 Burma
2.00
NA
748 Austria
2.00
2001 census
749 Argentina
2.00
NA
750 Argentina
2.00
NA
751 Canada
1.90
2001 census
752 Samoa
1.90
2001 census
753 Trinidad and Tobago
1.90
2000 census
754 Paraguay
1.90
2002 census
755 Niue
1.90
2001 census
756 Lithuania
1.90
2001 census
757 India
1.90
2001 census
758 El Salvador
1.90
2003 est.
759 Ireland
1.90
2006 census
760 Azerbaijan
1.80
NA
761 Switzerland
1.80
2000 census
762 Sao Tome and Principe
1.80
2001 census
763 Philippines
1.80
2000 census
764 Norway
1.80
2004
765 Indonesia
1.80
2000 census
766 India
1.80
2001 census
767 Gibraltar
1.80
2001 census
768 Brazil
1.80
2000 census
769 Ethiopia
1.80
1994 census
770 Australia
1.70
2006 Census
771 United States
1.70
2007 est.
772 United States
1.70
2007 est.
773 Rwanda
1.70
NA
774 New Zealand
1.70
2001 census
775 Nicaragua
1.70
2005 census
776 Netherlands Antilles
1.70
2001 census
777 Israel
1.70
2004
778 Chad
1.70
1993 census
779 Guyana
1.70
2002 census
780 Anguilla
1.70
2001 census
781 Macedonia
1.63
2002 census
782 Dominica
1.60
2001 census
783 United States
1.60
2007 est.
784 United Kingdom
1.60
2001 census
785 Nicaragua
1.60
2005 census
786 Israel
1.60
2004
787 Iceland
1.60
2006 est.
788 Aruba
1.50
NA
789 Marshall Islands
1.50
1999 census
790 Seychelles
1.50
2002 census
791 Vietnam
1.50
1999 census
792 Saint Lucia
1.50
2001 census
793 South Africa
1.50
2001 census
794 Seychelles
1.50
2002 census
795 Moldova
1.50
NA
796 Malaysia
1.50
2000 census
797 Laos
1.50
2005 census
798 Ireland
1.50
2006 census
799 Botswana
1.40
2001 census
800 Tuvalu
1.40
NA
801 Trinidad and Tobago
1.40
2000 census
802 South Africa
1.40
2001 census
803 Niue
1.40
2001 census
804 Estonia
1.40
2000 census
805 Armenia
1.30
NA
806 Brazil
1.30
2000 census
807 Cambodia
1.30
1998 census
808 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1.30
2006 census
809 Croatia
1.30
2001 census
810 Vanuatu
1.30
1999 Census
811 Samoa
1.30
2001 census
812 Poland
1.30
2002
813 New Zealand
1.30
2001 census
814 Netherlands Antilles
1.30
2001 census
815 Lebanon
1.30
NA
816 Korea, South
1.30
1995 census
817 Greece
1.30
NA
818 Dominica
1.30
2001 census
819 Costa Rica
1.30
NA
820 Aruba
1.20
NA
821 Bulgaria
1.20
2001 census
822 Dominica
1.20
2001 census
823 Netherlands Antilles
1.20
2001 census
824 Dominica
1.20
2001 census
825 Chile
1.10
2002 census
826 Finland
1.10
2006
827 Cayman Islands
1.10
1999 census
828 Finland
1.10
2006
829 Paraguay
1.10
2002 census
830 Serbia
1.10
2002 census
831 Vietnam
1.10
1999 census
832 Uruguay
1.10
2006
833 Saint Lucia
1.10
2001 census
834 Seychelles
1.10
2002 census
835 Seychelles
1.10
2002 census
836 Paraguay
1.10
2002 census
837 Morocco
1.10
NA
838 Guyana
1.10
2002 census
839 Afghanistan
1.00
NA
840 Bermuda
1.00
2000 census
841 Bangladesh
1.00
1998
842 Burma
1.00
NA
843 Algeria
1.00
NA
844 Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.00
NA
845 Norway
1.00
2004
846 Norway
1.00
2004
847 Vanuatu
1.00
1999 Census
848 Mali
1.00
NA
849 Montenegro
1.00
2003 census
850 Latvia
1.00
2006
851 Hungary
1.00
2001 census
852 Haiti
1.00
NA
853 France
1.00
NA
854 Egypt
1.00
NA
855 Zimbabwe
1.00
NA
856 Zambia
1.00
NA
857 Wallis and Futuna
1.00
NA
858 United Kingdom
1.00
2001 census
859 Tuvalu
1.00
NA
860 Timor-Leste
1.00
2005
861 Timor-Leste
1.00
2005
862 Tunisia
1.00
NA
863 Tunisia
1.00
NA
864 Switzerland
1.00
2000 census
865 Senegal
1.00
NA
866 Marshall Islands
1.00
1999 census
867 Chile
1.00
2002 census
868 Gibraltar
0.90
2001 census
869 Nepal
0.90
NA
870 Croatia
0.90
2001 census
871 Nicaragua
0.90
2005 census
872 Uganda
0.90
2002 census
873 Slovenia
0.90
2002 census
874 Romania
0.90
2002 census
875 Palau
0.90
2000 census
876 Bahamas, The
0.80
2000 census
877 Malaysia
0.80
2000 census
878 Georgia
0.80
2002 census
879 Georgia
0.80
2002 census
880 Costa Rica
0.70
NA
881 Thailand
0.70
2000 census
882 Singapore
0.70
2000 census
883 El Salvador
0.70
2003 est.
884 Fiji
0.70
2007 census
885 Ghana
0.70
2000 census
886 Gaza Strip
0.70
NA
887 Greece
0.70
NA
888 Georgia
0.70
2002 census
889 United States
0.70
2007 est.
890 Montenegro
0.60
2003 census
891 Palau
0.60
2000 census
892 Philippines
0.60
2000 census
893 Tuvalu
0.60
NA
894 United States
0.60
2007 est.
895 Ukraine
0.60
2006 est.
896 Seychelles
0.60
2002 census
897 Chad
0.50
1993 census
898 Moldova
0.50
NA
899 Vietnam
0.50
1999 census
900 Botswana
0.40
2001 census
901 Switzerland
0.40
2000 census
902 Mauritius
0.40
2000 census
903 Latvia
0.40
2006
904 Israel
0.40
2004
905 Croatia
0.40
2001 census
906 Macedonia
0.37
2002 census
907 Solomon Islands
0.30
1999 census
908 Brazil
0.30
2000 census
909 Fiji
0.30
2007 census
910 Fiji
0.30
2007 census
911 Uruguay
0.30
2006
912 Papua New Guinea
0.30
2000 census
913 Portugal
0.30
2001 census
914 Poland
0.30
2002
915 Poland
0.30
2002
916 Mexico
0.30
2000 census
917 Mauritius
0.30
2000 census
918 Aruba
0.20
NA
919 Solomon Islands
0.20
1999 census
920 Turkey
0.20
NA
921 Cambodia
0.20
1998 census
922 Morocco
0.20
NA
923 Brazil
0.20
2000 census
924 Finland
0.10
2006
925 Vietnam
0.10
1999 census
926 Samoa
0.10
2001 census
927 Thailand
0.10
2000 census
928 Rwanda
0.10
NA
929 India
0.10
2001 census
930 Philippines
0.10
2000 census
931 Romania
0.10
2002 census