{"id":290561,"date":"2026-03-05T09:54:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=290561"},"modified":"2026-03-25T17:47:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:47:22","slug":"in-the-us-and-other-countries-fewer-people-now-say-its-necessary-to-believe-in-god-to-be-moral","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/03\/05\/in-the-us-and-other-countries-fewer-people-now-say-its-necessary-to-believe-in-god-to-be-moral\/","title":{"rendered":"In the U.S. and other countries, fewer people now say it\u2019s necessary to believe in God to be moral"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
(doidam10 via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you need to believe in God to be moral and have good values? Views on this question vary widely around the world, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey of 25 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This analysis explores whether adults in 25 surveyed countries think belief in God is necessary to be moral and how those views have changed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center conducts high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and leaders. Studying religion and related topics, such as morality, has long been part of the Center\u2019s research around the world. Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a> and our other research on religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For data outside the United States, this analysis draws on nationally representative surveys of 28,333 adults conducted from Jan. 8 to April 26, 2025. We conducted these surveys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n