Indonesia Tops Global Survey on Belief in the Afterlife

Life after death, or the afterlife, is a belief held by people across the world. Indonesia has emerged as the country where the highest proportion of citizens hold this belief. The finding comes from a report by Pew Research, which published its survey on belief in the afterlife on 6 May 2025. Based on a survey conducted across 35 countries, belief in the afterlife or life after death is very common in various parts of the globe. Indonesia ranks highest, with 85 per cent of its population believing in life after death. The United States recorded a figure of 70 per cent, while Sweden had the lowest level of belief at just 38 per cent. The survey also revealed that Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa are the regions with the highest levels of belief, whereas European populations consistently rank at the lowest end. Although many people believe in an afterlife, beliefs regarding the influence of ancestral spirits and reincarnation are more varied. Another finding shows that around 33 per cent of people worldwide believe in reincarnation, with the highest levels in India, Nigeria, and Thailand (48 per cent). Interestingly, in Indonesia, the rate of belief in reincarnation is relatively low, at below 20 per cent. The list of countries ranked by their citizens’ belief in the afterlife is as follows: 1. Indonesia 85%, 2. Turkey 84%, 3. Kenya 80%, 4. Philippines 78%, 5. Bangladesh 77%, 6. Ghana 74%, 7. Malaysia 74%, 8. Nigeria 71%, 9. United States 70%, 10. Mexico 69%.