Here are ten of the most religious countries in the world, based on the percentage of the population that identifies with a religion or actively practices their faith:
1. Afghanistan
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Islam dominates every aspect of life in Afghanistan, with nearly the entire population practicing the religion. Sharia law is often intertwined with the legal system.
2. Somalia
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Somalia is overwhelmingly Muslim, and religious practices are central to daily life. Islam plays a crucial role in cultural identity and law.
3. Yemen
- Religion: Islam (Sunni and Shia)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Yemen is deeply religious, with almost the entire population identifying as Muslim. Religious practices are integral to the country’s traditions and governance.
4. Mauritania
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Mauritania is a strictly Islamic country where Sharia law governs many aspects of life. Religion permeates social and political institutions.
5. Saudi Arabia
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority, with Shia minority)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Islam is the state religion in Saudi Arabia, and the country is home to two of Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. The legal system is based on Sharia law, and religious adherence is highly visible.
6. Iran
- Religion: Islam (Shia majority)
- Religious Population: Nearly 100%
- Details: Iran is a theocratic Islamic republic, where Shia Islam is the official religion. Religion is deeply embedded in its political and legal systems.
7. Tanzania
- Religion: Islam, Christianity, Indigenous beliefs
- Religious Population: Over 98%
- Details: Tanzania has a highly religious population, split between Islam and Christianity. Religion plays a major role in social life and the country’s cultural fabric.
8. Pakistan
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority)
- Religious Population: Around 98%
- Details: Islam is the state religion in Pakistan, and the country is highly devout. Religious practices, laws, and education are heavily influenced by Islamic teachings.
9. Ethiopia
- Religion: Christianity (Orthodox and Protestant), Islam
- Religious Population: Over 98%
- Details: Ethiopia has a rich religious history, with Christianity and Islam both playing major roles in its culture. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is especially prominent in the country’s religious landscape.
10. Maldives
- Religion: Islam (Sunni majority)
- Religious Population: 100%
- Details: The Maldives is an Islamic nation where practicing a religion other than Islam is prohibited. Islamic values are woven into the country’s laws and social practices.
These countries have deeply religious populations where faith plays a central role in daily life, governance, and culture. Many of them have legal systems that are heavily influenced by religious law.