53% of Bulgarians claim to be religious. Nearly a third (29%) do not perceive themselves as religious people, and a tenth are atheists (9%). Another 10 percent can't decide how to answer.
Bulgaria is rather in the middle (or even slightly below it) of the "ranking" of declared religiosity - below the average levels on a global scale, but far from the extremely low levels observed in other countries. Bulgaria is close in attitudes to the other eastern EU countries.
In our country, as well as in most countries of the world, those who believe in the existence of God (58%) seem to be more than those who define themselves as believers in general. Nearly a quarter believe there is no God, and 15% are not quite sure.
The answers of the Bulgarians are again approaching the average registered for the EU - closer to those of the respondents from the eastern countries of the Union.
Bulgarians seem to be skeptical about life after death. 34% in our country believe that there is, but 39% do not believe that something happens after our life ends. 20 percent are not sure.
Our society is rather skeptical about the existence of heaven (32% say there is, but 42% say there is none) and hell (29% believe, and 43% do not).
Around the world
Two-thirds of the world's population claim to be religious. There are slightly more people who say they believe in God. According to the majority of the world, there is life after death. The majority also agree that there is a hell and a heaven.
Religious affiliation around the world
Two-thirds (62%) of respondents worldwide say they are religious, and one in four say they are not religious. Declared atheists are 10%. The rest are not sure of their answer.
Most people believe there is a God after all. While 62% self-identify as religious, 72% say there is a God. 16 percent do not believe that God exists. 10% are not sure.
Most respondents worldwide (57%) believe there is life after death. However, almost one in four (23%) do not believe that anything happens after our lives are over. 15% cannot say.
59% of people in the world believe that there is a paradise, and one in four denies its existence. Fewer people (but still a majority – 53%) believe that hell also exists.
People in the EU and East Asia and Oceania appear to be the least religious, with shares of around 40% affirming that they are religious.
People in the EU and East Asia and Oceania appear to be the least religious, with shares of around 40% affirming that they are religious.
The most religious countries in the world in the survey are now Kenya, Senegal, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Kosovo.
The least self-reported religious are people in Japan, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Vietnam.