New demographic data highlights just how concentrated religious identity is in some parts of the world. According to figures compiled by World Population Review and the Pew Research Centre, a small number of countries have populations that are overwhelmingly Christian or Muslim, often exceeding 97–99% adherence to a single faith.

Of the 266 popes elected throughout the history of the Catholic Church, a staggering 217 were born in Italy, according to the Vatican Archives. This means over 81% of popes have hailed from a single country—an astonishing statistic that underscores Italy’s enduring influence over the Vatican and the broader Roman Catholic institution.