Public belief that religion plays a positive role in society remains strongest in emerging economies, with Indonesia, Thailand and Kenya topping global rankings, according to findings from the Pew Research Centre’s 2025 global attitudes survey.

A recent analysis of the World Values Survey (2017–2022) has revealed significant differences in beliefs about the afterlife across the globe, with religious traditions playing a major role in shaping public views. According to the findings, countries with strong Islamic and Christian traditions show notably high levels of belief in life after death, while secular nations report much lower belief rates.

A global survey spanning 36 countries and over 24,000 respondents has revealed a striking statistic: 43% of Indians think it’s likely that aliens have visited Earth. But what drives this belief?