In 2021, 40 nations had an official religion, and an additional 38 “either explicitly or implicitly favored one religion or a small group of religions,” according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

“Contrary to popular misconception, there is no inevitable contradiction between freedom of religion or belief and a country’s adoption of an official or favored religion,” the Commission found. “Conversely, the absence of an official or favored religion is no guarantee of a country’s protection or promotion of FoRB [freedom of religion or belief].”