Main content

Do 85% of the world’s population practice a religion?

Counting religions across the globe – is the world getting more religious or less?

We don’t usually do god on More or Less, but one listener got in touch to ask us to investigate a stat used by an Anglican priest on a BBC radio programme.

Speaking on the “Thought for the Day” slot, Reverend Lucy Winkett said that around 85% of the world's population practice a religion.

Is this true? We speak to Conrad Hackett, from the Pew Research Center, and the person whose research is the source for the claim.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Natasha Fernandes
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound mix: Nigel Appleton
Editor: Richard Vadon

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Sep 202423:50GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

More episodes

Previous

Nate Silver: Do risk-takers run the world?

Next

The puzzles you’re meant to get wrong

See all episodes from More or Less

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Sep 202404:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sat 21 Sep 202410:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Sat 21 Sep 202415:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sun 22 Sep 202408:50GMT
    BBC World Service West and Central Africa
  • Sun 22 Sep 202410:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 22 Sep 202422:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Sun 22 Sep 202423:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

Download this programme

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.