In this article, we will look at the 5 most educated religions in the world. If you want to look at our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 8 Most Educated Religions in the World.
5. Hinduism
Average Year of Formal Schooling: 5.6
Gender Gap: 2.7 years
Hinduism is one of the most diverse religions, with no single founder or religious authority. Various Hindu scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. Moreover, Hindus worship many Gods, and the central belief rests upon the true worship of Gods to escape the cycle of rebirth and gain eternal peace. According to the Pew Research Center, Hindus have an average schooling of 5.6 and a gender gap in education of 2.7 years. It is a major religion practiced in India, forming approximately 79.8% of the total population, and has substantial followers in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
4. Islam
Average Year of Formal Schooling: 5.6
Gender Gap: 1.5 years
Islam is one of the three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths, along with Christianity and Judaism. Islam originated from the teachings of Muhammad, who Muslims believe is the last messenger of God. Muslims have only one scripture, the Quran, which is believed to be the message of God revealed to the last prophet. Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, with the majority of its followers in South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. Indonesia is one of the single largest Muslim population countries, with Muslims making up more than 87.2% of the total population. Moreover, Indonesia also ranks high, as per the World Bank data on literacy rate, with a literacy rate of 96% for people aged 15 and above.
3. Buddhism
Average Year of Formal Schooling: 7.9
Gender Gap: 1.1 years
Buddhism as a religion is based on the philosophy of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Gautama Buddha, the enlightened one. Buddhists believe that human life is a form of suffering and that spirituality, meditation, physical labor, and Good Behavior are ways to achieve enlightenment. Buddhism is widely practiced in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka, where approximately 92.5%, 91.7%, 64.7%, and 70.2% of the respective populations identify as Buddhist. These nations also boast high literacy rates. According to the World Bank, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka have literacy rates of 94%, 84%, 88%, and 92%, respectively, among individuals aged 15 and above.
2. Christianity
Average Year of Formal Schooling: 9.3
Gender Gap: 0.4 years
Christianity is the second most educated religion in the world. It is a religion descending from Judaism and believes in Jesus as a promised messiah. It is also one of the most commonly practiced religions in the world. The sacred texts followed by Christians include the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. The religion is divided into various groups: Roman Catholic, The Church of Jesus Christ, Orthodox, and Protestant. Followers of Christianity are commonly present in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a majority of the countries in these regions boasting high literacy rates of above 90% for people aged 15 and above.
1. Judaism
Average Year of Formal Schooling: 13.4
Gender Gap: 0 years
Judaism is the most educated religion in the world. It is one of the first known monotheistic Abrahamic faiths and is based on the belief in God as the sole creator, who revealed himself through the prophet Abraham and the ones before him. There are several sacred texts followed by Jews. However, the most prominent one is Torah. Currently, most of the Jewish population is concentrated in Israel and the United States of America. Jews have an average formal schooling of approximately 13.4 years with no gender gap in terms of education importance between men and women.
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