As a scholar deeply engaged at the intersection of religion, society, and policy, I recognize that religion remains a powerful force shaping not only individual identities and worldviews but also influencing social dynamics and global affairs. A major global study, “How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020,” published last week by the Pew Research Center, shows that nearly 76% of the world’s population has some religious affiliation. In other words, almost 6 billion people worldwide perceive themselves through the lens of a specific religious tradition.
At the same time, 1.9 billion people have no religious affiliation, accounting for approximately 24% of the global population, becoming the third largest group in this study, after Christians and Muslims. This proportion has remained virtually unchanged over the past decade, as the number of religiously unaffiliated individuals grew by less than 1 percentage point amid overall global population growth.
Christians remained the world’s largest religious group, although their growth has not kept pace with the global population increase. Although the number of Christians has reached 2.3 billion, their share of the global population has declined to nearly 29%. More than any other religious group, Christians experienced a substantial change in 41 countries. Most countries seeing declines were in the Americas and Europe, with the most significant drops occurring in the United States and Australia.
Muslims were the fastest-growing religious group over the decade, increasing more than all other religious groups combined. The number of Muslims reached 2 billion, accounting for nearly 26% of the world’s population. In every region, Muslims grew at a faster rate than the non-Muslim population — except in the Latin America–Caribbean region. This was largely because of overall population growth in the countries where Muslims are concentrated.
Most Christians (60%) live in countries where they are in the majority—in 120 countries. However, 40% of Christians live as a religious minority. Muslims are a majority in 53 countries, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa—accounting for just over 26% of the global Muslim population, while the remaining nearly 74% of Muslims live as religious minorities. Religiously unaffiliated people became a majority in the Netherlands (54%), Uruguay (52%), and New Zealand (51%), increasing the number of countries with a religiously unaffiliated majority from seven to ten.
Kazakhstan is one of the few countries where the Muslim share of the population has changed the most. The Muslim share of the population is estimated to have risen by 8.2 percentage points to 78% of the country population, while the Christian share declined by 8 percentage points to 19%. At the same time, the number of religiously unaffiliated people in Kazakhstan has decreased slightly. In addition, the country is home to smaller religious minorities such as Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus.
This is a brief and condensed overview of the Pew Research Center’s comprehensive study, which spans 200 pages. However, the main takeaway is clear: religion continues to play a significant role in the lives of the vast majority of people on our planet. Shifts in the religious landscape are occurring due to economic migration, environmental crises, and armed conflicts, which drive population movements, accelerate the cultural and religious diversification of societies, and rapidly reshape their cultural and religious makeup. As people resettle—whether as migrants, refugees, or internally displaced individuals—they bring with them diverse religious beliefs and practices that may differ significantly from those of the host communities. This dynamic creates both challenges and opportunities for social cohesion.
One meaningful response to the changes in the religious landscape of any country is the implementation of Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL)[1] initiatives. These efforts reduce prejudice and help lay a shared foundation for mutual understanding among people of different faiths or non-believers, equipping societies to navigate religious diversity with respect and cooperation. It is more than tolerance, but means covenantal pluralism—the idea that individuals from various national, cultural, and religious backgrounds can work together for the common good while maintaining their distinct identities.
The key to building a society where religious pluralism is transformed from a perceived threat into a shared strength lies in respecting each individual’s right to religious freedom and fostering holistic religious literacy. This includes understanding one’s own identity, gaining knowledge about the religious and cultural traditions of others, and working together toward the common goal of strengthening one’s community and country. Such an approach paves the way for lasting religious peace, security, and social cohesion.
Recent LYN Community’s efforts in developing cross-cultural religious literacy training programs have been particularly successful in Kazakhstan, thanks to a partnership with Caspian University and the Committee on Religious Affairs. Over the past year, with the support of both national and local authorities, LYNC conducted a training event in Almaty for government officials working on religious affairs (December 2024), as well as a training event in Shymkent for prosecutors and law enforcement officers (May 2025). According to post-event surveys, participants rated the LYNC curriculum—certified by Caspian University—as highly valuable for their professional development. Several key stakeholders expressed interest in expanding these educational initiatives to other cities and law enforcement educational institutions across Kazakhstan. The local religious communities from several regions of Kazakhstan reported positive changes in policy implementation after our December training.
As religion continues to shape the lives of billions, it is vital that we strengthen our ability to understand and engage with diverse beliefs. Promoting policies that support religious pluralism—together with broad-based cross-cultural religious literacy—is essential for building peaceful and cohesive societies. Respect and knowledge across faith lines are not only defenses against extremism but also the foundation for lasting peace and mutual flourishing.
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About the Author
Dr. Maksym Vasin is a seasoned expert in religious freedom and human rights advocacy, contributing to LYNC projects since September 2023. He brings over 16 years of leadership experience as Executive Director of the Institute for Religious Freedom (Ukraine). Specializing in religious legislation, multi-faith dialogue, and church-state cooperation, he has led training sessions on human rights and religious freedom for the United Nations, OSCE, and the Council of Europe. Dr. Vasin holds a Ph.D. in law and completed the Religion and the Rule of Law program at the University of Oxford (UK). His current research focuses on developing positive indices and metrics to assess religious freedom and advancing multi-faith engagement globally.
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