Internet diffusion and religious decline?
Using a panel of 81 countries across six World Values Survey waves (1990–2022), we examine whether growth in internet diffusion is associated with religious decline. We construct a six-item composite religiosity index, align annual macro series to wave periods, and estimate country fixed-effects models with one-wave lags and a broad set of modernization, demographic, welfare-state, […] The post…
A recent study examines the relationship between the spread of the internet and declining religious affiliation in various countries. Utilizing data from 81 countries across six waves of the World Values Survey, researchers constructed a composite index measuring religiosity. The analysis involved estimating country fixed-effects models incorporating various modernization, demographic, welfare-state, and cultural factors.
A key finding is that lagged internet penetration is negatively associated with religiosity within countries over time. This pattern remained consistent even when accounting for period dummies and in models not incorporating lagged variables. However, reverse-ordering tests suggest that prior religiosity may also predict later internet adoption.
The strongest associations were observed for denominational belonging and self-identification as a religious person. Overall, the study concludes that internet diffusion emerges as a robust macro-level correlate of within-country religious decline.
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