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Frequent prayer
What this indicator measures
Share of respondents who say they pray at least several times a week (excluding weddings and funerals), based on the World Values Surveys. The data come from opinion surveys conducted in a limited number of countries (about 80 to 120 depending on the question); absent countries were not surveyed. The year shown is that of the latest survey wave available for the country. The question has only been asked since 2014.
How to read this?
A value of 50 means half of respondents pray at least several times a week.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
Frequent prayer: across 80 countries and territories, values range from 0.8 % (China) to 98.4 % (Nigeria), with a world median of 67.9 %. Data: 2014–2022. The top 10% of countries exceed 94.2 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 18.6 %. By continent, the median is highest in Africa (93.7 %) and lowest in Europe (27.4 %).
Median by continent
- Africa 93.7 % (12)
- North America 74.7 % (8)
- South America 71.2 % (9)
- Asia 68.3 % (31)
- Europe 27.4 % (17)
Why this indicator matters
This indicator gives the share of inhabitants who pray often. It describes a personal practice, which can exist without going to a place of worship.
What makes this indicator vary
It depends on the religion, family and cultural habits, age and the place of faith in society.
Reading precautions
The question has only been asked since 2014 and in about 80 countries. Answers are self-reported. Forms of prayer differ between religions, which limits comparisons.
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 98.4 % | 2022 |
| 2e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 97.6 % | 2022 |
| 3e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 96.8 % | 2014 |
| 4e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 96.6 % | 2022 |
| 5e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 95.5 % | 2014 |
| 6e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 95.4 % | 2014 |
| 7e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 95.3 % | 2022 |
| 8e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 94.9 % | 2022 |
| 9e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 94.2 % | 2022 |
| 10e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 93.6 % | 2022 |
| 11e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 93.3 % | 2022 |
| 12e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 92.4 % | 2022 |
| 13e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 89.8 % | 2022 |
| 14e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 87.9 % | 2022 |
| 15e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 87 % | 2022 |
| 16e | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 85.7 % | 2022 |
| 17e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 84.1 % | 2022 |
| 18e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 83.3 % | 2022 |
| 19e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 82.9 % | 2022 |
| 20e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 82.7 % | 2022 |
| 21e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 81.8 % | 2014 |
| 22e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 80.9 % | 2022 |
| 22e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 80.9 % | 2022 |
| 22e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 80.9 % | 2022 |
| 25e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 79.7 % | 2022 |
| 26e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 78 % | 2022 |
| 27e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 77.4 % | 2022 |
| 28e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 76.5 % | 2022 |
| 29e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 76.3 % | 2022 |
| 30e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 73.7 % | 2014 |
| 31e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 73.6 % | 2014 |
| 32e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 73.2 % | 2022 |
| 33e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 72.6 % | 2022 |
| 34e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 71.9 % | 2022 |
| 35e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 71.7 % | 2022 |
| 36e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 71.2 % | 2022 |
| 37e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 71 % | 2022 |
| 38e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 69.4 % | 2022 |
| 39e | 🇮🇳 India | 68.4 % | 2022 |
| 40e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 68.3 % | 2022 |
| 41e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 67.6 % | 2022 |
| 42e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 66.6 % | 2022 |
| 43e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 66.4 % | 2022 |
| 44e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 65.2 % | 2022 |
| 45e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 63.2 % | 2014 |
| 46e | 🇺🇸 United States | 62.3 % | 2022 |
| 47e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 60.7 % | 2014 |
| 48e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 54 % | 2022 |
| 49e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 53.1 % | 2022 |
| 50e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 48.3 % | 2014 |
| 51e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 41.5 % | 2022 |
| 52e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 41.4 % | 2022 |
| 53e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 40.6 % | 2022 |
| 54e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 39 % | 2022 |
| 55e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 37.4 % | 2022 |
| 56e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 35.5 % | 2022 |
| 57e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 35.2 % | 2022 |
| 58e | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 34.8 % | 2022 |
| 59e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 30.2 % | 2022 |
| 60e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 29.6 % | 2022 |
| 61e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 28.7 % | 2022 |
| 62e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 28.6 % | 2022 |
| 63e | 🇦🇩 Andorra | 27.5 % | 2022 |
| 64e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 27.4 % | 2014 |
| 65e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 27 % | 2022 |
| 66e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 25 % | 2022 |
| 67e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 24.1 % | 2022 |
| 68e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 23 % | 2022 |
| 69e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 22.5 % | 2014 |
| 70e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 20.2 % | 2014 |
| 71e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 19 % | 2022 |
| 72e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 18.6 % | 2022 |
| 73e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 18.3 % | 2014 |
| 74e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 18 % | 2014 |
| 75e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 17.8 % | 2022 |
| 76e | 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China | 15.8 % | 2022 |
| 77e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 13.8 % | 2022 |
| 78e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 12.4 % | 2014 |
| 79e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 11.6 % | 2022 |
| 80e | 🇨🇳 China | 0.8 % | 2022 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Frequent prayer"?
The highest value is in Nigeria, at 98.4 % (2022).
Which country has the lowest value for "Frequent prayer"?
The lowest value is in China, at 0.8 % (2022).
What is the world median value of "Frequent prayer"?
The world median is 67.9 %, calculated across 80 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
Where does the "Frequent prayer" data come from?
It comes from Integrated Values Surveys (World Values Survey et European Values Study, 2024), via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
What counts as frequent prayer?
Praying at least several times a week, excluding weddings and funerals.
Do you have to be a believer to be counted?
The person answers according to their own practice of prayer, regardless of their religion or beliefs.
Source and update
Source : Integrated Values Surveys (World Values Survey et European Values Study, 2024), via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
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