Religiosity is on the decline worldwide, and Asia is no exception. A new study in Nature Communications finds that across generations, younger people in Asia are less likely to attend religious rituals, assign importance to religion in their lives, or claim affiliation with a faith.
The research, conducted by scholars from the University of Lausanne, the University of Oxford, and the Pew Research Center, analyzed survey data from more than 100 countries, including Asian nations with Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist majorities.
Three stages of decline
The authors describe secularization as unfolding in a consistent sequence: participation in public rituals falls first, followed by a drop in the personal importance of religion, and finally, a decline in formal religious belonging. They call this the Participation–Importance–Belonging (P-I-B) sequence.
This pattern, they argue, is evident across continents. “Religion seems to be declining in three stages worldwide,” the study notes.
Asia in middle stage
According to the findings, Asia and Oceania are situated in the middle stage of the secular transition. In countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, younger generations show significant gaps in both the importance of religion and belonging compared to older generations.
Meanwhile, in South and Southeast Asia, where religiosity remains high—such as in India, the Philippines, and Vietnam—declines are most visible in participation. People continue to identify strongly with their faith, but younger groups are less engaged in regular rituals.
The study also examined Buddhist and Hindu contexts. While worship practices differ from congregational religions, similar patterns were observed.
“When using data specifically designed to measure participation at Buddhist sites, we observe the same age-related patterns in attendance that are evident in religions emphasizing congregational worship,” the authors explained.
Regional contrasts
Globally, the study shows stark regional differences. Africa remains in the early stage, with high overall religiosity and only slight declines in participation. Europe is in a late stage, where religious belonging itself is in sharp decline.
The Americas, like Asia, are largely in the middle stage, with younger generations drifting away across all three measures.
Asia’s diversity, however, means trajectories vary. Central Asian post-communist states such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan do not neatly fit the pattern, showing weak or even reversed generational differences due to Soviet-era repression and subsequent religious revival.
Long-term outlook
The researchers estimate that the secular transition takes roughly 250 years to unfold. With survey data spanning only four decades, they caution against assuming uniform futures. Still, the evidence across multiple datasets points to a consistent path.
While religious adherence in Asia remains strong in absolute numbers—particularly in high-fertility countries like India and the Philippines—the long-term trend suggests gradual decline.
“In the short to medium term, religiosity could increase globally because more religious countries make up a growing share of the world’s population. However, if the secular transition continues, the world will see a decline in religious belief and practice in the long run,” the study concludes.
