Study: Most people in the world believe in life after death
64% of adults are confident in the existence of an afterlife. Photo: religionnews
According to the first international survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted across 36 countries with 50,000 respondents, 64% of adults believe in the existence of an afterlife, religionnews.com reports.
The highest levels of belief in life after death were recorded in Indonesia (85%), Turkey (84%), and Kenya (80%), while in the United States, 70% of those surveyed shared this view. The lowest percentage of believers in life after death was found in Sweden (38%).
In addition to questions about the afterlife, respondents were asked about the use of ritual objects, communication with ancestral spirits, consulting seers, magic, and the "ability" of animals and natural objects to possess spiritual energy.
Notably, 62% of respondents believe that animals have spirits or spiritual energy, and 56% think that spirits inhabit mountains, rivers, and trees.
It is important to note that this survey was the first in a series of global Pew studies covering all six continents in a single round, including questions about Asian folk religions, Buddhism, and New Age spiritual movements.
Earlier, it was reported that scientists in the United States found that religious people live longer than their atheist and agnostic peers.
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