A sweeping new study by Pew Research Center finds that the United States stands out for its high religious identity and spiritual beliefs compared to other wealthy nations, revealing patterns that illuminate both global diversity and unique features of American private faith.
For Thai readers keen to understand both their position in a changing world and evolving global values, this research sheds light on how different societies experience religion and spirituality in daily life. With the survey encompassing 36 countries representing nearly half the world’s population, Thailand gains insight into international religious and spiritual trends that may shape local views, policy, and social debate.
Among the key findings, the survey reports that about seven in ten Americans (roughly 70%) identify with a religion, ranging from Christianity to Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and more. The same proportion believes in some form of afterlife, and about half affirm that parts of nature—mountains, rivers, trees—may possess spiritual energies. This reflects an enduring vibrancy of spirituality and religion in American life, even as formal church attendance has waned in recent years. American religiosity far exceeds that of Western European peers: only 44% of adults in Japan and 46% in the Netherlands identify with any religion. Bucking the trend found in many high-income countries, the U.S. retains a strong spiritual orientation, especially regarding the afterlife and natural spirituality (Pew Research Center, 2025).
Placing the United States in global context, the report emphasizes that places such as Indonesia and Israel report even higher religious affiliation, nearly universal among surveyed adults. Yet belief in life after death is not necessarily guaranteed even in deeply religious societies; for example, only 61% of Israelis say there “definitely” or “probably” is an afterlife. Thailand, often recognized as one of the world’s most devout Buddhist nations, has typically seen strong religious identification and frequent ritual observance, though local surveys have documented rising interest in spiritual or “animistic” traditions and urbanization-related changes in faith practice (see Bangkok Post religion trends). This loosely mirrors American openness to multiple traditions and spiritual sources.
In terms of daily religious practices, the U.S. occupies a middle ground among the 35 other countries. While not as devout as believers in Nigeria or the Philippines, where large majorities pray daily, Americans pray more frequently than most Western Europeans or affluent Asians. Notably, only a minority of adults in Japan and France engage in daily prayer—a pattern also found in Thailand’s more secular professional classes, though strong generational divides remain.
On the question of beliefs about nature, nearly half of Americans believe that elements of the natural world can possess spirits or spiritual energy, an attitude strongly echoed in India and Peru. Such beliefs resonate with traditional Thai cosmology, where spirit houses, river rituals, and reverence for sacred mountains remain pervasive, even where mainstream Buddhist teachings dominate. Only 30% of adults in Poland share this view; contrast shows how “spiritual naturalism” is shaped by both history and local culture.
The Pew study also examined less common spiritual behaviors, such as consulting fortune tellers, reading horoscopes, or divining the future. While these practices were reported by fewer than 20% of adults in most surveyed countries, they remained remarkably popular in India (just under half), and retain a steady following in Thailand, where astrology, palmistry, and divination are often sought for business, love, or political advice—a phenomenon that continues to surface in Thai election seasons and annual cultural events (The Diplomat, Astrology in Thailand).
According to a Thai senior social researcher from a leading public university, the persistence of spiritual beliefs in both high-income and lower-income societies speaks to “deep, unmet needs for meaning and comfort amid the unpredictability of life,” noting parallels between American and Thai affinity for both traditional religions and more diffuse forms of spirituality. An American faith studies expert cited by Pew observes, “There’s a durability to religious habits and spiritual seeking that surprises those who predicted secularization would sweep all before it.”
What does this new research mean for Thais? Most directly, it demonstrates the resilience of spiritual identity and the enduring importance of sacred beliefs, even in highly developed or urbanized settings. For policymakers and educators, grasping these trends can inform approaches to mental health, social harmony, and multicultural dialogue. For faith communities, it signals both challenges and opportunities: the need to address changing forms of belief and practice, while nurturing inter-generational bonds and respecting multiple sources of meaning.
Historically, Thai society has negotiated a delicate balance between Buddhist orthodoxy, folk animism, and outside influences—adapting foreign traditions without losing core local ritual life. This flexibility remains vital as globalization, digital culture, and migration shift young people’s spiritual expectations. Thailand’s own religious landscape is diversifying, with surveys showing a marked rise in young adults identifying as “spiritual but not religious”—a trend closely paralleling findings in the United States and parts of Europe (BBC, Thailand’s changing faith).
Looking to the future, observers expect continued evolution. Urbanization, digital media, and cross-cultural contact may foster more individualized religiosity, with growing numbers turning to meditation apps, wellness retreats, and new interpretations of karma and fate—already evident in Bangkok’s bustling spiritual economy. The Pew data signal that spirituality will likely remain a cornerstone of both personal identity and community life, regardless of measured declines in formal religious adherence.
For Thai readers navigating these transitions, practical recommendations include fostering respectful interfaith dialogue in schools, supporting faith-based mental health programs, and encouraging young people to find meaningful rituals—whether traditional or new—that promote well-being. By recognizing both differences and commonalities with international societies, Thais can chart their own spiritual path in a fast-changing world.
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