A new global study by the Pew Research Center has found that while secularism continues to rise across the world, a large share of people who identify as nonreligious still hold spiritual beliefs — including belief in life after death, the existence of God, or unseen spiritual forces.

The survey, conducted among over 34,000 adults in 22 countries across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, revealed that many who identify as atheists, agnostics, or as having “no religion in particular” continue to express spiritual or moral convictions despite rejecting organized religion.

According to Pew’s findings, about one-fifth or more of the nonreligious in every surveyed country said they believe in an afterlife. The share was especially high in Latin America — reaching 65% in Peru, 61% in Mexico, and 92% in Brazil — while in Europe and Australia, only 10–20% said they believed in God or an afterlife. In South Africa, roughly three-quarters of nonreligious adults (77%) still reported belief in God.

Many respondents also said they believe in “something spiritual beyond the natural world.” In several Latin American countries, over half of nonreligious adults agreed with that statement. Meanwhile, some also held traditional or cultural beliefs, such as the idea that animals or nature have spiritual energy, particularly in Greece and parts of Latin America.

Despite such beliefs, the study found that most nonreligious people rarely engage in religious practices such as prayer, fasting, or lighting candles. However, a minority — particularly in Latin America and Africa — reported private forms of spirituality, including occasional prayer or meditation.

Pew’s data shows that secularism is most common among younger, educated men who tend to view religion’s role in society as negative or outdated. In countries like Japan, the Netherlands, and Australia, more than half of adults under 40 identify as nonreligious.

Even so, the line between disbelief and spirituality remains blurred. Pew notes that being unaffiliated with religion does not necessarily equate to complete secularism. In many cases, individuals described themselves as spiritual but not religious — finding moral guidance or meaning in life beyond religious institutions.

In some nations, such as Brazil, Colombia, and South Africa, roughly half of the nonreligious still say religion plays at least a “somewhat important” role in their lives — reflecting the enduring influence of cultural and indigenous traditions.

Pew’s analysis also highlights stark regional differences in attitudes toward religion’s impact on society. Across all 22 countries, a median of 53% of the nonreligious said religion “mostly hurts society,” while 38% said it “mostly helps.” In Germany, nearly three-quarters of the nonreligious said religion encourages intolerance — compared to only a quarter who said it promotes tolerance.

When asked about political leadership, the overwhelming majority of secular respondents said it was not important for national leaders to be religious. In the UK, for instance, 86% of nonreligious adults said a prime minister’s faith is irrelevant.

The study concludes that secularism worldwide is diverse rather than uniform — blending disbelief with enduring spirituality. As Pew summarized, “Nonreligious does not always mean nonbelieving.”