Irreligion

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Irreligion or irreligiousness is an umbrella term which, depending on context, may be understood as referring to atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, freethought, secular humanism or heresy.

Irreligion has at least three related yet distinct meanings:

lack of religion (either due to a lack of information or to disbelief)
hostility to religion
behaving in such a way that fails to live up to one's religious tenets

Although people classified as irreligious might not follow any religion, they do not necessarily lack belief in the supernatural or in deities; such a person may be a non-religious or non-practicing theist. In particular, those who associate organized religion with negative qualities are likely to hold spiritual beliefs but describe themselves as irreligious.

Statistics by country

Country Percentage stating they have no religion Source
Germany

32.7%

fowid (German Worldview Research Group) (2004) [link]
New Zealand

32.0% (of the 85.9% who answered an optional question)

Statistics New Zealand (2001 census) [link]
France

27.2% (23.9% of women, 30.6% of men)

INSEE (2004 survey) [link]
Australia

17.5% (of the 88.3% who answered an optional question)

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001 census) [link]
United Kingdom

16.8% (of the 92.7% who answered an optional question)

UK National Statistics (2001 census) [link]
Canada

16.2%

Canada 2001 Census [link]
South Africa

15.1%

Statistics South Africa Census 2001[link]
United States

15.0% (of the 94.6% who answered an optional question, out of a sample of 50,281 households in the 48 contiguous states)

American Religious Identification Survey (2001), as reported by US Census Bureau [link]
Ireland

3.53%

Central Statistics Office Ireland Census 2002 [link]

Country	Percentage stating they have no religion	Source
Germany	32.7%	fowid (German Worldview Research Group) (2004) [link]
New Zealand	32.0% (of the 85.9% who answered an optional question)	Statistics New Zealand (2001 census) [link]
France	27.2% (23.9% of women, 30.6% of men)	INSEE (2004 survey) [link]
Australia	17.5% (of the 88.3% who answered an optional question)	Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001 census) [link]
United Kingdom	16.8% (of the 92.7% who answered an optional question)	UK National Statistics (2001 census) [link]
Canada	16.2%	Canada 2001 Census [link]
South Africa	15.1%	Statistics South Africa Census 2001[link]
United States	15.0% (of the 94.6% who answered an optional question, out of a sample of 50,281 households in the 48 contiguous states)	American Religious Identification Survey (2001), as reported by US Census Bureau [link]
Ireland	3.53%	Central Statistics Office Ireland Census 2002 [link]

Irreligion

Statistics by country

See also