Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan
Japan: Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations was 7.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan, 1984–2022
Source: Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan is 7.9%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan peaked at 15.1% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2014.
Japan ranks 38th of 38 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 15.1% | — |
| 1993 | 10.9% | -28.2% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | +15.1% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | -27.9% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 7.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 46.0%, 17% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.1% | 15.1% | 15.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.9% | 8.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan?
- Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in Japan was 7.9% in 2022, according to Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people who trust churches and religious organizations recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.1% in 1984.
- What is the lowest share of people who trust churches and religious organizations recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2014.
- How does Japan rank for share of people who trust churches and religious organizations?
- Japan ranks 38th out of 38 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of people who trust churches and religious organizations rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
% of respondents replying that they "trust completely" or "trust somewhat" when asked "I am going to name a number of organizations. For each one, could you tell me how much confidence you have in them: is it a great deal of confidence, quite a lot of confidence, not very much confidence or none at all?" in the organization "The Churches (mosque, temple, etc.)".