World Religion Map by National Subdivision

[Dr. RI]

I made this recently. It's not perfect as it comes from a multitude of sources stitched together over many different years with different measurement procedures, and I had to adjust some numbers to match sources, but I think overall it is a pretty accurate reflection of reality. I started with the most recent census data for different countries and found other sources to fill in the gaps.

[2,868,691]

That's a really awesome and fascinating map.  Great work.

[Snowstalker's Last Stand]

If you split Christianity into Protestant/Catholic/Orthodox, I'd have done the same thing with Islam and Buddhism (the latter might be more difficult though). Still, amazing work.

[Dr. RI]

If you split Christianity into Protestant/Catholic/Orthodox, I'd have done the same thing with Islam and Buddhism (the latter might be more difficult though). Still, amazing work.

I would like to, but the data really isn't there unfortunately.

[Snowstalker's Last Stand]

If you split Christianity into Protestant/Catholic/Orthodox, I'd have done the same thing with Islam and Buddhism (the latter might be more difficult though). Still, amazing work.

I would like to, but the data really isn't there unfortunately.

I've seen it on country maps, but if there's nothing subnational that's fine.

Also, love the irony of the Italian province which holds Rome (Lazio) being the least Catholic.

[National Progressive]

Some of the patterns are quite interesting such as the Protestant belt in Central America or the more Buddhist vs. more secular areas of Japan.

[⛄]

Freedom map!!

Is Switzerland really predominatly Catholic?
I thought Calvinists formed the majority.

[National Progressive]

Freedom map!!

Is Switzerland really predominatly Catholic?
I thought Calvinists formed the majority.

Well some parts of Switzerland were historically Protestant and others were Catholic. However with increasing secularization, Protestants tended to leave the church more than Catholics. The case is the same with other countries such as the Netherlands.

[DC Al Fine]

Freedom map!!

Is Switzerland really predominatly Catholic?
I thought Calvinists formed the majority.

Well some parts of Switzerland were historically Protestant and others were Catholic. However with increasing secularization, Protestants tended to leave the church more than Catholics. The case is the same with other countries such as the Netherlands.

Yes, especially when it comes to nominal affiliation. Protestants have a habit of either lovign or hating the church of their birth.

[The scissors of false economy]

Some of the patterns are quite interesting such as the Protestant belt in Central America or the more Buddhist vs. more secular areas of Japan.

But are the non-yellow areas in Japan light browns or light greys? If the latter, realisticidealist, how on earth did your sources distinguish between Buddhist and Shinto practice in Japan to that degree?

[Hatman 🍁]

Great map!

I thought the UK was plurality Catholic now? (Speaking of the UK, why did you only divide them up by the Home Countries- I would have at least used the regional level)

[Miles]

Great job!

[afleitch]

Loving Scotland.

[afleitch]

Great map!

I thought the UK was plurality Catholic now? (Speaking of the UK, why did you only divide them up by the Home Countries- I would have at least used the regional level)

England is nowhere near being plurality Catholic (not that the Census records this information) The most reliable indicator of denominationalism is the British Social Attitudes Survey which in 2013 suggested Britain as a whole was plurality Non-Religious (48%) Anglicans account for 20% and Catholics for 9%. Certainly at current trends Anglican might end up at 15% or so with Catholicism at around 10% (adherence to Catholicism, suggesting a cultural rather than religious association has flatlined since the survey began in 1983) with the Non-Religious breaking 55-60% (Nones are already at 60% amongst the under 30’s and about 42% in the formal Census) but England will not be plurality Catholic any time soon.

[Tender Branson]

Freedom map!!

Is Switzerland really predominatly Catholic?
I thought Calvinists formed the majority.

Switzerland had more Protestants than Catholics until the Mid-1970s:

In the 1970 Census, the Protestant share was 48.8% and the Catholic share was 46.7%

In the 1980 Census, the Protestant share was 45.3% and the Catholic share was 46.2%

In the 2000 Census, the Protestant share was 33.9% and the Catholic share was 42.3%

And finally, during the 2012 Structural Survey the Protestant share was 26.9% and the Catholic share was 38.2%

...

Basically, Switzerland today is 70% Christian, 5% Muslim, 2% Others and 23% without religion.

http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Great work.

The Sub-Saharan African part of the map - with its divisions between denominations - is, well, *interesting*.

EDIT: Speaking of which, where did you get the data? And Furthermore, do you have a blank National subdivision World map to use as a template?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

All very pretty and all that, but as you aren't (and this is certainly not your fault) comparing like with like, it's practical use is... er... small.

[ZuWo]

Freedom map!!

Is Switzerland really predominatly Catholic?
I thought Calvinists formed the majority.

Switzerland had more Protestants than Catholics until the Mid-1970s:

In the 1970 Census, the Protestant share was 48.8% and the Catholic share was 46.7%

In the 1980 Census, the Protestant share was 45.3% and the Catholic share was 46.2%

In the 2000 Census, the Protestant share was 33.9% and the Catholic share was 42.3%

And finally, during the 2012 Structural Survey the Protestant share was 26.9% and the Catholic share was 38.2%

...

Basically, Switzerland today is 70% Christian, 5% Muslim, 2% Others and 23% without religion.

http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html

Great stats, thanks!

The trend towards Catholicism is partly due to the reasons other posters have mentioned already and because of immigration; the high number of Italian, Spanish and Portuguese immigrants, for example, has boosted Catholic strength in Switzerland.

[Dr. RI]

Great work.

The Sub-Saharan African part of the map - with its divisions between denominations - is, well, *interesting*.

EDIT: Speaking of which, where did you get the data? And Furthermore, do you have a blank National subdivision World map to use as a template?

The world map is a modified version of this one. Most of my data sources are listed on the map. If you have a specific country in mind, I can probably find my source again.

Some of the patterns are quite interesting such as the Protestant belt in Central America or the more Buddhist vs. more secular areas of Japan.

But are the non-yellow areas in Japan light browns or light greys? If the latter, realisticidealist, how on earth did your sources distinguish between Buddhist and Shinto practice in Japan to that degree?

I used data from Japan's Statistics Bureau. It appears they counted some people as practicing both Shinto and Buddhism. I'm not sure what their methodology beyond that is, though.

[Dr. RI]

More detailed maps I finally finished:

[homelycooking]

Hats off, gentlemen! A genius!

[Clamdick McClaw]

I wanna snuggle wuggle with the Czech Republic. 

[Joe Republic]

Amazing.

I wanna snuggle wuggle with the Czech Republic. 

British Columbia is where it's at!

[retromike22]

It's so beautiful!

[afleitch]

Very detailed. One of the most informative maps posted on the forum

Just a few points on my home turf. If you are calculating 'No Religion' for Scotland then census guidance suggests that should include those who not only actively declare 'No Religion' on their Census box, but also don't fill it in ('Religion not stated') as faith is a declaration yadda yadda. That boosts the grey somewhat.