Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (135)

This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting
with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total
population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's
major religions are described below.
Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran
in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one
eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the
unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace may be
achieved on earth. Baha'i revelation contends the prophets of major
world religions reflect some truth or element of the divine,
believes all were manifestations of God given to specific
communities in specific times, and that Baha'u'llah is an additional
prophet meant to call all humankind. Bahais are an open community,
located worldwide, with the greatest concentration of believers in
South Asia.
Buddhism - Religion or philosophy inspired by the 5th century B.C.
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha "the
enlightened one"). Buddhism focuses on the goal of spiritual
enlightenment centered on an understanding of Gautama Buddha's Four
Noble Truths on the nature of suffering, and on the Eightfold Path
of spiritual and moral practice, to break the cycle of suffering of
which we are a part. Buddhism ascribes to a karmic system of
rebirth. Several schools and sects of Buddhism exist, differing
often on the nature of the Buddha, the extent to which enlightenment
can be achieved - for one or for all, and by whom - religious orders
or laity.
Basic Groupings
Theravada Buddhism: The oldest Buddhist school, Theravada is
practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Thailand,
with minority representation elsewhere in Asia and the West.
Theravadans follow the Pali Canon of Buddha's teachings, and believe
that one may escape the cycle of rebirth, worldly attachment, and
suffering for oneself; this process may take one or several
lifetimes.
Mahayana Buddhism, including subsets Zen and Tibetan Buddhism:
Forms of Mahayana Buddhism are common in East Asia and Tibet, and
parts of the West. Mahayanas have additional scriptures beyond the
Pali Canon and believe the Buddha is eternal and still teaching.
Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana schools maintain the
Buddha-nature is present in all beings and all will ultimately
achieve enlightenment.
Christianity - Descending from Judaism, Christianity's central
belief maintains Jesus of Nazareth is the promised messiah of the
Hebrew Scriptures, and that his life, death, and resurrection are
salvific for the world. Christianity is one of the three
monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Islam and Judaism, which
traces its spiritual lineage to Abraham of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Its sacred texts include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament (or
the Christian Gospels).
Basic Groupings
Catholicism (or Roman Catholicism): This is the oldest
established western Christian church and the world's largest single
religious body. It is supranational, and recognizes a hierarchical
structure with the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as its head, located at
the Vatican. Catholics believe the Pope is the divinely ordered head
of the Church from a direct spiritual legacy of Jesus' apostle
Peter. Catholicism is comprised of 23 particular Churches, or Rites
- one Western (Latin-Rite) and 22 Eastern. The Latin Rite is by far
the largest, making up about 98% of Catholic membership.
Eastern-Rite Churches, such as the Maronite Church and the Ukrainian
Catholic Church, are in communion with Rome although they preserve
their own worship traditions and their immediate hierarchy consists
of clergy within their own rite. The Catholic Church has a
comprehensive theological and moral doctrine specified for believers
in its catechism, which makes it unique among most forms of
Christianity.
Mormonism (including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints): Originating in 1830 in the United States under Joseph
Smith, Mormonism is not characterized as a form of Protestant
Christianity because it claims additional revealed Christian
scriptures after the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. The Book of
Mormon maintains there was an appearance of Jesus in the New World
following the Christian account of his resurrection, and that the
Americas are uniquely blessed continents. Mormonism believes earlier
Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and
Protestant reform faiths, are apostasies and that Joseph Smith's
revelation of the Book of Mormon is a restoration of true
Christianity. Mormons have a hierarchical religious leadership
structure, and actively proselytize their faith; they are located
primarily in the Americas and in a number of other Western countries.
Orthodox Christianity: The oldest established eastern form of
Christianity, the Holy Orthodox Church, has a ceremonial head in the
Bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), also known as a Patriarch, but
its various regional forms (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox,
Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox) are autocephalous (independent
of Constantinople's authority, and have their own Patriarchs).
Orthodox churches are highly nationalist and ethnic. The Orthodox
Christian faith shares many theological tenets with the Roman
Catholic Church, but diverges on some key premises and does not
recognize the governing authority of the Pope.
Protestant Christianity: Protestant Christianity originated in
the 16th century as an attempt to reform Roman Catholicism's
practices, dogma, and theology. It encompasses several forms or
denominations which are extremely varied in structure, beliefs,
relationship to state, clergy, and governance. Many protestant
theologies emphasize the primary role of scripture in their faith,
advocating individual interpretation of Christian texts without the
mediation of a final religious authority such as the Roman Pope. The
oldest Protestant Christianities include Lutheranism, Calvinism
(Presbyterians), and Anglican Christianity (Episcopalians), which
have established liturgies, governing structure, and formal clergy.
Other variants on Protestant Christianity, including Pentecostal
movements and independent churches, may lack one or more of these
elements, and their leadership and beliefs are individualized and
dynamic.
Hinduism - Originating in the Vedic civilization of India (second
and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of
beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority.
Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the
Bhagavad-Gita are among some of the most important. Hindus may
worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within
their own home. The most common figures of devotion are the gods
Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi. Most Hindus believe the
soul, or atman, is eternal, and goes through a cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one's positive or
negative karma, or the consequences of one's actions. The goal of
religious life is to learn to act so as to finally achieve
liberation (moksha) of one's soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.
Islam - The third of the monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, Islam
originated with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century.
Muslims believe Muhammad is the final of all religious prophets
(beginning with Abraham) and that the Qu'ran, which is the Islamic
scripture, was revealed to him by God. Islam derives from the word
submission, and obedience to God is a primary theme in this
religion. In order to live an Islamic life, believers must follow
the five pillars, or tenets, of Islam, which are the testimony of
faith (shahada), daily prayer (salah), giving alms (zakah), fasting
during Ramadan (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
Basic Groupings
The two primary branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia, which split
from each other over a religio-political leadership dispute about
the rightful successor to Muhammad. The Shia believe Muhammad's
cousin and son-in-law, Ali, was the only divinely ordained Imam
(religious leader), while the Sunni maintain the first three caliphs
after Muhammad were also legitimate authorities. In modern Islam,
Sunnis and Shia continue to have different views of acceptable
schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and who is a proper Islamic
religious authority. Islam also has an active mystical branch,
Sufism, with various Sunni and Shia subsets.
Sunni Islam accounts for over 75% of the world's Muslim
population. It recognizes the Abu Bakr as the first caliph after
Muhammad. Sunni has four schools of Islamic doctrine and law -
Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali - which uniquely interpret the
Hadith, or recorded oral traditions of Muhammad. A Sunni Muslim may
elect to follow any one of these schools, as all are considered
equally valid.
Shia Islam represents 10-20% of Muslims worldwide, and its
distinguishing feature is its reverence for Ali as an infallible,
divinely inspired leader, and as the first Imam of the Muslim
community after Muhammad. A majority of Shia are known as
"Twelvers," because they believe that the 11 familial successor
imams after Muhammad culminate in a 12th Imam (al-Mahdi) who is
hidden in the world and will reappear at its end to redeem the
righteous.
Variants
Ismaili faith: A sect of Shia Islam, its adherents are also known
as "Seveners," because they believe that the rightful seventh Imam
in Islamic leadership was Isma'il, the elder son of Imam Jafar
al-Sadiq. Ismaili tradition awaits the return of the seventh Imam as
the Mahdi, or Islamic messianic figure. Ismailis are located in
various parts of the world, particularly South Asia and the Levant.
Alawi faith: Another Shia sect of Islam, the name reflects
followers' devotion to the religious authority of Ali. Alawites are
a closed, secretive religious group who assert they are Shia
Muslims, although outside scholars speculate their beliefs may have
a syncretic mix with other faiths originating in the Middle East.
Alawis live mostly in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Druze faith: A highly secretive tradition and a closed community
that derives from the Ismaili sect of Islam; its core beliefs are
thought to emphasize a combination of Gnostic principles believing
that the Fatimid caliph, al-Hakin, is the one who embodies the key
aspects of goodness of the universe, which are, the intellect, the
word, the soul, the preceder, and the follower. The Druze have a key
presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
Jainism - Originating in India, Jain spiritual philosophy believes
in an eternal human soul, the eternal universe, and a principle of
"the own nature of things." It emphasizes compassion for all living
things, seeks liberation of the human soul from reincarnation
through enlightenment, and values personal responsibility due to the
belief in the immediate consequences of one's behavior. Jain
philosophy teaches non-violence and prescribes vegetarianism for
monks and laity alike; its adherents are a highly influential
religious minority in Indian society.
Judaism - One of the first known monotheistic religions, likely
dating to between 2000-1500 B.C., Judaism is the native faith of the
Jewish people, based upon the belief in a covenant of responsibility
between a sole omnipotent creator God and Abraham, the patriarch of
Judaism's Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh. Divine revelation of principles
and prohibitions in the Hebrew Scriptures form the basis of Jewish
law, or halakhah, which is a key component of the faith. While there
are extensive traditions of Jewish halakhic and theological
discourse, there is no final dogmatic authority in the tradition.
Local communities have their own religious leadership. Modern
Judaism has three basic categories of faith: Orthodox, Conservative,
and Reform/Liberal. These differ in their views and observance of
Jewish law, with the Orthodox representing the most traditional
practice, and Reform/Liberal communities the most accommodating of
individualized interpretations of Jewish identity and faith.
Shintoism - A native animist tradition of Japan, Shinto practice is
based upon the premise that every being and object has its own
spirit or kami. Shinto practitioners worship several particular
kamis, including the kamis of nature, and families often have
shrines to their ancestors' kamis. Shintoism has no fixed tradition
of prayers or prescribed dogma, but is characterized by individual
ritual. Respect for the kamis in nature is a key Shinto value. Prior
to the end of World War II, Shinto was the state religion of Japan,
and bolstered the cult of the Japanese emperor.
Sikhism - Founded by the Guru Nanak (born 1469), Sikhism believes in
a non-anthropomorphic, supreme, eternal, creator God; centering
one's devotion to God is seen as a means of escaping the cycle of
rebirth. Sikhs follow the teachings of Nanak and nine subsequent
gurus. Their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib - also known as the
Adi Granth - is considered the living Guru, or final authority of
Sikh faith and theology. Sikhism emphasizes equality of humankind
and disavows caste, class, or gender discrimination.
Taoism - Chinese philosophy or religion based upon Lao Tzu's Tao Te
Ching, which centers on belief in the Tao, or the way, as the flow
of the universe and the nature of things. Taoism encourages a
principle of non-force, or wu-wei, as the means to live harmoniously
with the Tao. Taoists believe the esoteric world is made up of a
perfect harmonious balance and nature, while in the manifest world -
particularly in the body - balance is distorted. The Three Jewels of
the Tao - compassion, simplicity, and humility - serve as the basis
for Taoist ethics.
Zoroastrianism - Originating from the teachings of Zoroaster in
about the 9th or 10th century B.C., Zoroastrianism may be the oldest
continuing creedal religion. Its key beliefs center on a
transcendent creator God, Ahura Mazda, and the concept of free will.
The key ethical tenets of Zoroastrianism expressed in its scripture,
the Avesta, are based on a dualistic worldview where one may prevent
chaos if one chooses to serve God and exercises good thoughts, good
words, and good deeds. Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion
and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents. Prior to
the spread of Islam, Zoroastrianism dominated greater Iran. Today,
though a minority, Zoroastrians remain primarily in Iran, India, and
Pakistan.
Country

Religions(%)

Afghanistan
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%

Albania
Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current
statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were
closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November
1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Algeria
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

American Samoa
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant and other 30%

Andorra
Roman Catholic (predominant)

Angola
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
(1998 est.)

Anguilla
Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%,
Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or
unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)

Antigua and Barbuda
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%,
Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist
7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other
2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Argentina
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing),
Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Armenia
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Aruba
Roman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%,
none or unspecified 4.6%

Australia
Catholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%,
Presbyterian and Reformed 3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian
7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%,
none 18.7% (2006 Census)

Austria
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other
3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Azerbaijan
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;
percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Bahamas, The
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%,
Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other
Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Bahrain
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8%
(2001 census)

Bangladesh
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Barbados
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%,
Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian
7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)

Belarus
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Belgium
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

Belize
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%,
Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist
3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

Benin
Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%,
other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%,
other 15.5% (2002 census)

Bermuda
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%,
unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

Bhutan
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%

Bolivia
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%,
other 14%

Botswana
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%,
none 20.6% (2001 census)

Brazil
Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%,
Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%,
none 7.4% (2000 census)

British Virgin Islands
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%,
Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2%
(1991)

Brunei
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other
(includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

Bulgaria
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian
1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10%

Burma
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),
Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Burundi
Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%

Cambodia
Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%
(1998 census)

Cameroon
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Canada
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United
Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other
Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16%
(2001 census)

Cape Verde
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs),
Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Cayman Islands
Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian
and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day
Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian
2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified
1.1% (1999 census)

Central African Republic
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%,
Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority

Chad
Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%,
other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

Chile
Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%,
other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)

China
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
note: officially atheist (2002 est.)

Christmas Island
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21%
(1997)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Colombia
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Comoros
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant
20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects
and indigenous beliefs) 10%

Congo, Republic of the
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Cook Islands
Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic
16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints
3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3%
(2001 census)

Costa Rica
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Cote d'Ivoire
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none
16.7% (2008 est.)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim
(70%) and Christian (20%)

Croatia
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%,
Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Cuba
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented

Cyprus
Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite and
Armenian Apostolic) 4%

Czech Republic
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%,
unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Denmark
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes
Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%

Djibouti
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Dominica
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal
5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or
unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Dominican Republic
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Ecuador
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Egypt
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

El Salvador
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's
Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003
est.)

Equatorial Guinea
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman
Catholic, pagan practices

Eritrea
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Estonia
Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian
(including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%,
none 6.1% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim
32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)

European Union
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other
1.3% (2006 census)

Faroe Islands
Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified
16.2% (2006 administrative data)

Fiji
Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly
of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other
10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified
0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)

Finland
Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%,
other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

France
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,
Buddhist, pagan

French Polynesia
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no
religion 6%

Gabon
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%

Gambia, The
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Gaza Strip
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%

Georgia
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian
3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Germany
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%,
unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Ghana
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant
18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%,
other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Gibraltar
Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other
Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or
unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Greece
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Greenland
Evangelical Lutheran

Grenada
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

Guam
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Guatemala
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Guernsey
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Guinea
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Guinea-Bissau
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%

Guyana
Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican
6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness
1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3%
(2002 census)

Haiti
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal
4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%
note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Holy See (Vatican City)
Roman Catholic

Honduras
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Hong Kong
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Hungary
Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek
Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%,
unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)

Iceland
Lutheran Church of Iceland 80.7%, Roman Catholic Church
2.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.4%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%,
other religions 3.6%, unaffiliated 3%, other or unspecified 6.2%
(2006 est.)

India
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other
1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Indonesia
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu
1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)

Iran
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%

Iraq
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

Ireland
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other
Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Isle of Man
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Israel
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other
Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Italy
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third
practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish
communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)

Jamaica
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal
9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church
of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of
Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic
2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)

Japan
Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong to
both Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)

Jersey
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian

Jordan
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but
some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several
small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Kazakhstan
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Kenya
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous
beliefs 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for
the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous
beliefs vary widely

Kiribati
Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other
(includes Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints,
Church of God) 8% (1999)

Korea, North
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian
and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom

Korea, South
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic
6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995
census)

Kosovo
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic

Kuwait
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian,
Hindu, Parsi) 15%

Kyrgyzstan
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Laos
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005
census)

Latvia
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other
0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)

Lebanon
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or
Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite
Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic,
Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt,
Protestant), other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized

Lesotho
Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Liberia
Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Libya
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%

Liechtenstein
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%,
other 6.2% (June 2002)

Lithuania
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant
(including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other
or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish,
and Muslim) 13% (2000)

Macau
Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)

Macedonia
Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian
0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Madagascar
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Malawi
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998
census)

Malaysia
Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%,
Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%,
other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)

Maldives
Sunni Muslim

Mali
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%

Malta
Roman Catholic 98%

Marshall Islands
Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman
Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian
3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Mauritania
Muslim 100%

Mauritius
Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other
Christian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Mayotte
Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Mexico
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified
13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)

Micronesia, Federated States of
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%,
other 3%

Moldova
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5%
(2000)

Monaco
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%

Mongolia
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim
4%, none 40% (2004)

Montenegro
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%,
unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)

Montserrat
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Morocco
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Mozambique
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%,
other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Namibia
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous
beliefs 10% to 20%

Nauru
Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru
Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4%
(2002 census)

Nepal
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other
0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world

Netherlands
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%,
other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%,
Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other
or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

New Caledonia
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

New Zealand
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian
10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other
Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Nicaragua
Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%,
Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Niger
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian)
20%

Nigeria
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Niue
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely
related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints
8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)

Norfolk Island
Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church
in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian
5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)

Northern Mariana Islands
Christian (Roman Catholic majority,
although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Norway
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%,
other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Oman
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim,
Hindu) 25%

Pakistan
Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian
and Hindu) 5%

Palau
Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8%
(indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness
0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4%
(2000 census)

Panama
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Papua New Guinea
Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%,
United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%,
Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other
Protestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000
census)

Paraguay
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian
1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)

Peru
Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%,
unspecified or none 2.9% (2007 Census)

Philippines
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%,
Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other
1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Poland
Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox
1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Portugal
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%,
unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

Puerto Rico
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Qatar
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)

Romania
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%,
Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and
Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and
unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)

Russia
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%
(2006 est.)
note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large
populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy
of over seven decades of Soviet rule

Rwanda
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim
4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Saint Barthelemy
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

Saint Helena
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Saint Lucia
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%,
Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%,
other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001
census)

Saint Martin
Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman
Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other
Protestant) 12%

Samoa
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,
Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

San Marino
Roman Catholic

Sao Tome and Principe
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New
Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Saudi Arabia
Muslim 100%

Senegal
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous
beliefs 1%

Serbia
Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim
3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)

Seychelles
Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day
Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other
non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone
Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

Singapore
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%,
Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000
census)

Slovakia
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic
4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Slovenia
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian
0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002
census)

Solomon Islands
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South
Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church
10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other
2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Somalia
Sunni Muslim

South Africa
Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%,
Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%,
Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none
15.1% (2001 census)

Spain
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%

Sri Lanka
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%,
unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Sudan
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and
Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%

Suriname
Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian),
Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

Swaziland
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous
ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes
Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%

Sweden
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox,
Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%

Switzerland
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%,
Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%,
none 11.1% (2000 census)

Syria
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,
Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Taiwan
mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Tajikistan
Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Tanzania
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs
35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Thailand
Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1%
(2000 census)

Timor-Leste
Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

Togo
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%

Tokelau
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%,
other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Tonga
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Trinidad and Tobago
Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%,
Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist
4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9%
(2000 census)

Tunisia
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Turkey
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians
and Jews)

Turkmenistan
Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Turks and Caicos Islands
Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%,
Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Tuvalu
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Uganda
Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%,
Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other
3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)

Ukraine
Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian
Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%,
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%,
Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes
Christian, Hindu) 4%

United Kingdom
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian,
Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or
none 23.1% (2001 census)

United States
Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%,
other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other
or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)

Uruguay
Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%,
nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%,
other 1.1% (2006)

Uzbekistan
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

Vanuatu
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous
beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,
unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Venezuela
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Vietnam
Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,
Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

Virgin Islands
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%,
other 7%

Wallis and Futuna
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

West Bank
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian
and other 8%

Western Sahara
Muslim

World
Christians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%,
Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%,
Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha'is
0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32%
(2007 est.)

Yemen
Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small
numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Zambia
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous
beliefs 1%

Zimbabwe
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%,
Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

======================================================================

@2123

Field Listing :: Suffrage

This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to
vote is universal or restricted.
Country

Suffrage

Afghanistan
18 years of age; universal

Albania
18 years of age; universal

Algeria
18 years of age; universal

American Samoa
18 years of age; universal

Andorra
18 years of age; universal

Angola
18 years of age; universal

Anguilla
18 years of age; universal

Antigua and Barbuda
18 years of age; universal

Argentina
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Armenia
18 years of age; universal

Aruba
18 years of age; universal

Australia
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Austria
16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of
age in 2007

Azerbaijan
18 years of age; universal

Bahamas, The
18 years of age; universal

Bahrain
20 years of age; universal

Bangladesh
18 years of age; universal

Barbados
18 years of age; universal

Belarus
18 years of age; universal

Belgium
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Belize
18 years of age; universal

Benin
18 years of age; universal

Bermuda
18 years of age; universal

Bhutan
18 years of age; universal

Bolivia
18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21
years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal

Botswana
18 years of age; universal

Brazil
voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military
conscripts do not vote

British Virgin Islands
18 years of age; universal

Brunei
18 years of age for village elections; universal

Bulgaria
18 years of age; universal

Burkina Faso
18 years of age; universal

Burma
18 years of age; universal

Burundi
18 years of age; universal (adult)

Cambodia
18 years of age; universal

Cameroon
20 years of age; universal

Canada
18 years of age; universal

Cape Verde
18 years of age; universal

Cayman Islands
18 years of age; universal

Central African Republic
21 years of age; universal

Chad
18 years of age; universal

Chile
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

China
18 years of age; universal

Christmas Island
18 years of age

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
18 years of age

Colombia
18 years of age; universal

Comoros
18 years of age; universal

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory

Congo, Republic of the
18 years of age; universal

Cook Islands
18 years of age; universal (adult)

Costa Rica
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age; universal

Croatia
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Cuba
16 years of age; universal

Cyprus
18 years of age; universal

Czech Republic
18 years of age; universal

Denmark
18 years of age; universal

Djibouti
18 years of age; universal

Dominica
18 years of age; universal

Dominican Republic
18 years of age, universal and compulsory;
married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armed
forces and national police cannot vote

Ecuador
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons
ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Egypt
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

El Salvador
18 years of age; universal

Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Eritrea
18 years of age; universal

Estonia
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Ethiopia
18 years of age; universal

European Union
18 years of age; universal

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
18 years of age; universal

Faroe Islands
18 years of age; universal

Fiji
21 years of age; universal

Finland
18 years of age; universal

France
18 years of age; universal

French Polynesia
18 years of age; universal

Gabon
21 years of age; universal

Gambia, The
18 years of age; universal

Georgia
18 years of age; universal

Germany
18 years of age; universal

Ghana
18 years of age; universal

Gibraltar
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have
been residents six months or more

Greece
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Greenland
18 years of age; universal

Grenada
18 years of age; universal

Guam
18 years of age; universal; US citizens but do not vote in US
presidential elections

Guatemala
18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of
the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks
on election day

Guernsey
16 years of age; universal

Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age; universal

Guyana
18 years of age; universal

Haiti
18 years of age; universal

Holy See (Vatican City)
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Honduras
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Hong Kong
direct election - 18 years of age for half the legislature
and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for
permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the
past seven years; indirect election - limited to about 220,000
members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election
committee drawn from broad regional groupings, central government
bodies, and municipal organizations

Hungary
18 years of age; universal

Iceland
18 years of age; universal

India
18 years of age; universal

Indonesia
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless
of age

Iran
18 years of age; universal

Iraq
18 years of age; universal

Ireland
18 years of age; universal

Isle of Man
16 years of age; universal

Israel
18 years of age; universal

Italy
18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections,
where minimum age is 25)

Jamaica
18 years of age; universal

Japan
20 years of age; universal

Jersey
16 years of age; universal

Jordan
18 years of age; universal

Kazakhstan
18 years of age; universal

Kenya
18 years of age; universal

Kiribati
18 years of age; universal

Korea, North
17 years of age; universal

Korea, South
19 years of age; universal

Kosovo
18 years of age; universal

Kuwait
21 years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the
military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were
allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been
citizens for 20 years

Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age; universal

Laos
18 years of age; universal

Latvia
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Lebanon
21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for
women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military
personnel

Lesotho
18 years of age; universal

Liberia
18 years of age; universal

Libya
18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory

Liechtenstein
18 years of age; universal

Lithuania
18 years of age; universal

Luxembourg
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Macau
direct election 18 years of age for some non-executive
positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the
past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations
registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and
a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings,
municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Macedonia
18 years of age; universal

Madagascar
18 years of age; universal

Malawi
18 years of age; universal

Malaysia
21 years of age; universal

Maldives
21 years of age; universal

Mali
18 years of age; universal

Malta
18 years of age; universal

Marshall Islands
18 years of age; universal

Mauritania
18 years of age; universal

Mauritius
18 years of age; universal

Mayotte
18 years of age; universal

Mexico
18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Micronesia, Federated States of
18 years of age; universal

Moldova
18 years of age; universal

Monaco
18 years of age; universal

Mongolia
18 years of age; universal

Montenegro
18 years of age; universal

Montserrat
18 years of age; universal

Morocco
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Mozambique
18 years of age; universal

Namibia
18 years of age; universal

Nauru
20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Nepal
18 years of age; universal

Netherlands
18 years of age; universal

Netherlands Antilles
18 years of age; universal

New Caledonia
18 years of age; universal

New Zealand
18 years of age; universal

Nicaragua
16 years of age; universal

Niger
18 years of age; universal

Nigeria
18 years of age; universal

Niue
18 years of age; universal

Norfolk Island
18 years of age; universal

Northern Mariana Islands
18 years of age; universal; indigenous
inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential
elections

Norway
18 years of age; universal

Oman
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and
security forces are not allowed to vote

Pakistan
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Palau
18 years of age; universal

Panama
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Papua New Guinea
18 years of age; universal

Paraguay
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Peru
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70;
note - for the first time in recent elections, members of the
military and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006
elections

Philippines
18 years of age; universal

Pitcairn Islands
18 years of age; universal with three years
residency

Poland
18 years of age; universal

Portugal
18 years of age; universal

Puerto Rico
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Qatar
18 years of age; universal

Romania
18 years of age; universal

Russia
18 years of age; universal

Rwanda
18 years of age; universal

Saint Barthelemy
18 years of age, universal

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 years of age; universal

Saint Lucia
18 years of age; universal

Saint Martin
18 years of age, universal

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
18 years of age; universal

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
18 years of age; universal

Samoa
21 years of age; universal

San Marino
18 years of age; universal

Sao Tome and Principe
18 years of age; universal

Saudi Arabia
21 years of age; male

Senegal
18 years of age; universal

Serbia
18 years of age; universal

Seychelles
17 years of age; universal

Sierra Leone
18 years of age; universal

Singapore
21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Slovakia
18 years of age; universal

Slovenia
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Solomon Islands
21 years of age; universal

Somalia
18 years of age; universal

South Africa
18 years of age; universal

Spain
18 years of age; universal

Sri Lanka
18 years of age; universal

Sudan
17 years of age; universal

Suriname
18 years of age; universal

Swaziland
18 years of age

Sweden
18 years of age; universal

Switzerland
18 years of age; universal

Syria
18 years of age; universal

Taiwan
20 years of age; universal

Tajikistan
18 years of age; universal

Tanzania
18 years of age; universal

Thailand
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Timor-Leste
17 years of age; universal

Togo
18 years of age; universal (adult)

Tokelau
21 years of age; universal

Tonga
21 years of age; universal

Trinidad and Tobago
18 years of age; universal

Tunisia
18 years of age; universal except for active government
security forces (including the police and the military), people with
mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months
in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended
sentence of more than six months

Turkey
18 years of age; universal

Turkmenistan
18 years of age; universal

Turks and Caicos Islands
18 years of age; universal

Tuvalu
18 years of age; universal

Uganda
18 years of age; universal

Ukraine
18 years of age; universal

United Arab Emirates
none

United Kingdom
18 years of age; universal

United States
18 years of age; universal

Uruguay
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Uzbekistan
18 years of age; universal

Vanuatu
18 years of age; universal

Venezuela
18 years of age; universal

Vietnam
18 years of age; universal

Virgin Islands
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Wallis and Futuna
18 years of age; universal

Western Sahara
none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign
not yet completed

Yemen
18 years of age; universal

Zambia
18 years of age; universal

Zimbabwe
18 years of age; universal

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Field Listing :: Telephone system