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  • The majority of americans believe in god.

  • But it's a different story in Britain.

  • Where in 2009, people of no religion outnumbered christians for the first time.

  • And it's not the only country where religion is in decline.

  • In Israel only 39% of the population consider themselves a religious person.

  • In Norway, it's 30 percent.

  • In Japan just 13 percent.

  • But China surpasses them all.

  • Only 9 percent of Chinese people report themselves as being religious.

  • And the majority say they are committed atheists.

  • Making China the least religious country in the world. But how reliable are the polls in China?

  • The communist government is officially atheist and religious freedom is restricted in the country.

  • So it's likely that many Chinese people who hold religious beliefs do not report it.

  • But globally the picture is very different.

  • 84 percent of the world's population say they are affiliated to a religious group.

  • Around 7 percent are Buddhist.

  • 15 percent are Hindu.

  • 24 percent are Muslim.

  • But the largest religious group are Christian.

  • Making up nearly a third of the world's 7.5 billion people.

  • But this is set to change.

  • It's predicted there will be almost as many Muslims as Christians by 2050.

  • This is because Muslims on average are younger than members of other religions, and they have more children.

  • This has made Islam the fastest-growing religion in the world.

  • The religious profile of the world is changing.

  • But even in areas where religious affiliation is declining, spirituality is not. America has become less religious in recent years.

  • But the percentage of non-religious Americans, who say they often feel spiritual has risen.

  • Globally, 15 percent of atheists believe in life after death. So if faith deserts you here there's always the hereafter

The majority of americans believe in god.

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