According to research, 74% of the Brazilian population associates morality with belief in God.

The relationship between religion and moral values It continues to be a topic of debate in different societies. A global survey conducted by Pew Research Center em 25 countries The study analyzed precisely this perception: to what extent is belief in God seen as necessary to guide ethical behavior and the formation of good values? The results show that this view varies considerably around the world, reflecting cultural, historical, and religious differences that influence how each society understands the origin of morality.

What do the data say about Brazil?

The data from Pew Research Center Studies show that Brazil remains among the countries where the relationship between religion and morality is strongest. In 2025, 74% of Brazilians stated that believing in God is necessary to be moral and have good values.This percentage places the country alongside other societies with high levels of religiosity, such as India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nigeria, where the majority of the population also directly associates faith with the formation of ethical values.

Despite this high level, the research reveals a significant decline over the yearsWhen the topic was previously measured in Brazil, the numbers were even higher: 86% of respondents held this opinion in 2011 and 2013, and 84% in 2019.The reduction to 74% in 2025 indicates a significant decrease in the proportion of the population that sees belief in God as a necessary condition for morality.

Even with this drop, the Brazil It still remains far above countries in Europe or North America. In nations such as Sweden, Spain, France and GermanyFor example, only a minority of the population believes that faith in God is indispensable for guiding moral behavior. This contrast highlights profound cultural differences between more secularized societies and countries where religion still exerts a strong social influence.

Another point highlighted by the research is that the association between God and morality tends to be stronger in countries where religious belief is more widespread. Brazil fits this pattern: The majority of the population claims to believe in God. and considers religion important in his lifeIn this context, faith continues to be seen by many Brazilians as one of the main reference points for defining values, ethics, and behavior in society.

Trends in associating God with morality in other countries

The research data also indicates that, in many parts of the world, the association between belief in God and morality has been declining over the last two decades. This trend is becoming increasingly evident. in countries in Europe, North America and OceaniaA growing segment of the population asserts that moral values ​​can exist independently of religion. This trend reflects cultural shifts, increased secularization, and transformations in the social role of religious institutions.

Our United StatesFor example, this change is quite clear over time. In 2002, 58% A significant percentage of Americans claimed that believing in God was necessary for being moral. By 2025, that percentage had fallen to... 31%The country has therefore moved from a society that was relatively divided on the issue to a scenario in which the majority considers that morality does not necessarily depend on religious faith.

Similar trends are appearing in several European countries. In GermanyThe percentage of people who associate belief in God with morality has fallen by... 37% in 2022 for 21% in 2025. In Polandthe decline was even more pronounced over time: from 38% in 2002 for only 16% in 2025. Spain e The Netherlands They also present relatively low percentages, reinforcing the trend of less dependence on religion as a moral reference in these societies.

In traditionally more secularized countries, the levels are even lower. Sweden, for example, registers one of the lowest rates in the survey: only 10% A portion of the population believes that it is necessary to believe in God in order to be moral. Australia follows a similar trajectory, with a progressive decline of 23% in 2013 for 11% in 2025. These numbers illustrate how ethics, in these societies, tend to be seen as a result of social, cultural, or humanistic principles, and not necessarily religious ones.

On the other hand, some regions of the world maintain very high levels of association between faith and morality. Countries such as Indonesia, Kenya and India present rates above 85%, getting at 99% in the case of Indonesia.These results show that, while the global trend points to a greater separation between religion and morality in some regions, in other parts of the world belief in God continues to be widely perceived as a central foundation for moral values.

The relationship between religiosity and values ​​in society.

The relationship between religiosity and moral values Religion is a recurring theme in studies of sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Several studies indicate that people who consider religion important in their lives tend to associate morality more frequently with belief in God. The research itself... Pew Research Center Studies show this correlation: in several countries, individuals who say that religion is "very important" to them are significantly more likely to say that believing in God is necessary to have good values. This pattern appears in both highly religious countries and more secularized societies.

From a sociological point of view, one of the classic explanations comes from the ideas of Emile Durkheim, who viewed religion as a system capable of strengthening social cohesion. For the French sociologist, Religious beliefs help create shared norms that guide behavior within a community.In this sense, religion would not only be a matter of individual faith, but also a cultural mechanism that helps societies define what is right, wrong, acceptable, or condemnable.

In moral psychology, different theories also analyze how people construct their values. One example is the model of moral development proposed by... Lawrence KohlbergThis suggests that morality evolves throughout life in different stages. According to this theory, individuals can develop ethical principles based on social rules, laws, or universal values, regardless of religious beliefs. This helps explain why, in many contemporary societies, there is a growing perception that morality can exist outside of a religious context.

Another important approach comes from social psychology and what is called... theory of moral foundations, developed by the researcher Jonathan HaidtThis model proposes that human moral values ​​are built upon different pillars, such as care, justice, loyalty, authority, and purity. In many cultures, religion especially reinforces the foundations linked to authority and purity, which can strengthen the association between faith and morality in more religious communities.

Overall, academic studies and international research suggest that the relationship between religion and morality is neither universal nor fixed. In societies with strong religious traditions, faith tends to be seen as an important basis for ethical values ​​and behaviors. In more secularized contexts, moral principles may be grounded in social norms, human rights, empathy, or collective responsibility. This diversity of views helps explain why different countries have such distinct perceptions of the role of belief in God in the construction of morality.

What are your thoughts on this correlation between morality and belief in God? Tell us in the comments! Comment below.

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Source: Pew Research Center.

reviewed by Luis Antonio Costa in 10 / 03 / 26