Pew Study: Governments and Societies Continue to Restrict Religious Freedom

A new report from the Pew Research Center finds that religious hostility increased in more countries during 2023, driven in part by harassment of religious minorities and the impact of the Israel-Hamas war. At the same time, governments around the world have continued a long-term trend of imposing greater restrictions on religious belief and practice.

The report, released June 15, examined 198 countries and territories using data from 19 sources, including the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International. Researchers measured both government restrictions on religion and social hostilities carried out by individuals and groups. Data from 2023 is the most recent available.

The report stated:

"Pew Research Center’s annual study of religious freedom shows that the number of countries with high or very high levels of social hostilities involving religion rose sharply in 2023. Among the reasons are increases in the harassment of religious minorities and worldwide reverberations of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza. Fifty-five countries had elevated (high or very high) levels of social hostilities involving religion in 2023. This is up from 45 the previous year, though still below the highest number (65) recorded since the study began in 2007. The peak came in 2012 after the Arab Spring protests erupted across the Middle East and North Africa in 2010 and 2011."

According to Pew, 55 countries experienced high or very high levels of religious social hostility in 2023, up from 45 the previous year. Belgium, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Sudan, Thailand, and several African nations moved into the high category.

The study cited harassment of Muslims, Jews, and Jehovah's Witnesses in Spain, increased anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate speech in Norway following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and mob violence against Jews and Muslims in Russia.

Government harassment of religious groups remained widespread, occurring in 185 of the 198 countries studied. Interference with religious worship reached a record high, affecting 175 countries.

Among the world's 25 most populous nations, China, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, and Russia had the highest levels of government restrictions on religion. Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt recorded the highest levels of social hostility involving religion.

Pew concluded that government restrictions on religion have risen steadily since it began the study in 2007, while social hostilities tend to fluctuate in response to current events and conflicts.