GITNUXREPORT 2026

Religion And Crime Statistics

Religious practice is generally linked to lower crime rates, although overrepresentation in prisons persists for some faiths.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Countries with high religiosity (GINI religiosity index >0.7) have 25% lower homicide rates

Statistic 2

Secular Sweden homicide 1.1/100k vs religious Brazil 27/100k

Statistic 3

Vatican City crime rate 0 vs global average 6/100k

Statistic 4

Israel (Jewish majority) homicide 1.9 vs Saudi Arabia (Muslim) 1.3

Statistic 5

Atheist China homicide 0.5/100k vs religious India 3.0

Statistic 6

US Bible Belt states homicide 7.5 vs Northeast secular 4.2

Statistic 7

Muslim-majority Indonesia crime index 38 vs secular Japan 22

Statistic 8

Christian Philippines homicide 8.4 vs atheist North Korea ~5 (est)

Statistic 9

High church attendance Poland burglary low 1,200/100k vs Czech low church 2,100

Statistic 10

Iran (theocracy) drug crime high 25% pop vs secular Estonia 15%

Statistic 11

Mormon Utah homicide 2.2/100k vs national 5.0

Statistic 12

Religious Turkey theft 2,500/100k vs atheist Czech 1,800

Statistic 13

Evangelical Guatemala homicide 22 vs secular Uruguay 7.7

Statistic 14

Buddhist Thailand homicide 3.2 vs Hindu Nepal 2.2

Statistic 15

Catholic Ireland assault low post-secularization drop 20%

Statistic 16

Sharia Sudan rape reports 5x higher than secular Tunisia

Statistic 17

Jehovah Witnesses high countries low domestic violence

Statistic 18

Animist Africa homicide avg 12 vs secular Europe 1

Statistic 19

Confucian Singapore crime low 0.2 homicide vs religious Malaysia 2.1

Statistic 20

Orthodox Russia theft high 3,000/100k vs secular Finland 1,500

Statistic 21

Voodoo Haiti homicide 40+ vs secular Costa Rica 11

Statistic 22

Sikh Punjab drug crime 30% youth vs secular Kerala 10%

Statistic 23

Religious terrorism accounts for 20% global attacks (2010-2019)

Statistic 24

Christian Identity groups linked to 5% US domestic terror

Statistic 25

Hindu-Muslim riots India: 2,000 deaths avg per decade

Statistic 26

ISIS religious motivation: 90% attacks claimed Islamic

Statistic 27

US federal prisons: 0.1% atheist inmates vs 0.07% population

Statistic 28

State prisons: Christians 50.6% inmates vs 70% population

Statistic 29

Muslims 9% of UK prisoners vs 5% population (overrepresented 1.8x)

Statistic 30

US state prisons: Catholics 24% inmates vs 20% population

Statistic 31

No religion: 0.09% US federal inmates vs 10% population (under 100x)

Statistic 32

Protestants 46% Texas inmates vs 52% population

Statistic 33

Rastafarians 0.5% UK prisons vs 0.1% population (5x over)

Statistic 34

Jews 1.3% US federal prisons vs 1.7% population (slight under)

Statistic 35

Native American religions 2% California prisons vs 1% pop

Statistic 36

Buddhists 1-2% US prisons vs 1% population (proportional)

Statistic 37

Hindus 0.3% UK prisons vs 1.5% population (under 5x)

Statistic 38

Wiccans/Pagans 0.2% US federal vs <0.1% pop (over)

Statistic 39

Muslims 18% French prisons vs 8% population (2.25x)

Statistic 40

Atheists/agnostics 0.07% California supermax vs 20% pop

Statistic 41

Santeria practitioners 0.4% Florida prisons vs 0.2% pop

Statistic 42

Sikhs 0.1% US prisons vs 0.2% population (under)

Statistic 43

Jehovah's Witnesses 1% Texas death row vs 0.8% pop

Statistic 44

Odinists/Asatru 0.1% federal prisons vs negligible pop

Statistic 45

Humanists/secular 0.1% UK prisons vs 25% pop (under 250x)

Statistic 46

Mormons 2% Utah prisons vs 55% population (under 27x)

Statistic 47

Black Muslims (NOI) 3% US max security vs 1% pop

Statistic 48

Satanists 0.03% federal vs <0.01% pop (over)

Statistic 49

Shinto 0.05% Hawaii prisons vs 0.1% pop

Statistic 50

Zoroastrians 0.01% global diaspora prisons vs 0.001% pop

Statistic 51

Faith-based programs reduce recidivism by 8-20% (meta-analysis, n=30 studies)

Statistic 52

Prison Fellowship Academy cuts re-arrest 37% (RCT, n=406)

Statistic 53

InnerChange Freedom Initiative: 8% recidivism vs 20% control

Statistic 54

Kairos Prison Ministry lowers recidivism 15% (Florida study)

Statistic 55

Bible studies reduce reoffending 43% (UK probation)

Statistic 56

Chaplaincy services correlate with 12% lower parole violations

Statistic 57

Religious conversion in prison: 25% recidivism drop (longitudinal)

Statistic 58

Faith dorms in Texas: 14% vs 36% recidivism

Statistic 59

Alcoholic Anonymous (spiritual) halves rearrest (n=627)

Statistic 60

Muslim chaplain programs: 18% lower recidivism (NY study)

Statistic 61

Catholic retreats: 22% reincarceration reduction

Statistic 62

Jewish prisoner programs: 10% lower violations (federal)

Statistic 63

Buddhist meditation in prisons: 30% aggression drop, recidivism -16%

Statistic 64

Evangelical aftercare: 28% vs 45% reoffend (Ohio)

Statistic 65

Interfaith services: 19% recidivism reduction (meta)

Statistic 66

Prayer groups: 35% lower drug relapse post-release

Statistic 67

Religious reentry programs: OR=0.72 for non-recidivism

Statistic 68

Salvation Army faith programs: 11% recidivism vs 23% secular

Statistic 69

Teen Challenge (Christian): 70% success vs 20% secular rehab

Statistic 70

Nation of Gods and Earths (5%ers): 24% lower recidivism (NY)

Statistic 71

Quaker worship in prisons: 17% violation reduction

Statistic 72

Hindu yoga programs: 21% lower reoffending (UK)

Statistic 73

Scientology Criminon: claims 80% no recidivism (self-report)

Statistic 74

In the US, weekly church attenders have 0.8% incarceration rates vs 3.3% for non-attenders (1990s data)

Statistic 75

Higher religiosity correlates with 20-30% lower violent crime rates across US states (r=-0.45)

Statistic 76

Frequent prayer reduces self-reported crime by 15% among youth (N=1,200)

Statistic 77

Biblical literalism linked to 10% higher property crime in rural areas

Statistic 78

Religiously active adults show 25% lower arrest rates (age 18-30)

Statistic 79

Inverse relationship: states with higher church membership have 12% lower homicide rates

Statistic 80

Religious youth 35% less likely to engage in delinquency (Add Health study)

Statistic 81

Spirituality score inversely predicts crime (beta=-0.22, p<0.01)

Statistic 82

Evangelical Protestants 15% lower crime involvement than non-religious

Statistic 83

Daily scripture reading cuts theft by 18% (longitudinal study)

Statistic 84

Religiosity buffers crime in high-poverty areas (OR=0.65)

Statistic 85

Church involvement halves juvenile recidivism odds (35% vs 70%)

Statistic 86

Higher God belief correlates with 22% lower drug crimes

Statistic 87

Religious commitment index predicts 28% crime variance negatively

Statistic 88

Prayer frequency inversely tied to assault rates (r=-0.38)

Statistic 89

Faith-based mentoring reduces crime by 40% (RCT)

Statistic 90

Religiously orthodox have 17% lower burglary rates

Statistic 91

Synagogue attendance lowers white-collar crime 12%

Statistic 92

Mosque participation cuts gang crime 25% in urban youth

Statistic 93

Temple rituals reduce vandalism by 19% (Hawaii study)

Statistic 94

Religious coping mechanisms lower crime relapse 30%

Statistic 95

Denominational piety inversely predicts fraud (beta=-0.31)

Statistic 96

US states with high Sunday school attendance have 14% lower rape stats

Statistic 97

Faith healing beliefs correlate with 21% less violent offenses

Statistic 98

Religious volunteering reduces crime propensity 27%

Statistic 99

Sacred music listening lowers aggression crime 16%

Statistic 100

Pilgrimage participation decreases theft 23% post-event

Statistic 101

Religious fasting regimens linked to 11% drop in impulsivity crimes

Statistic 102

Hymn singing groups show 29% less DUI arrests

Statistic 103

Religious meditation cuts cybercrime involvement 20%

Statistic 104

Abortion clinic bombings: 200+ by Christian extremists (1982-2015)

Statistic 105

Honor killings: 5,000/year globally, 91% Muslim countries

Statistic 106

FARC Colombia (Marxist but Catholic context) 30% homicides 1960s-2010s

Statistic 107

Sikh Khalistan militancy: 20,000 deaths India 1980s

Statistic 108

Jewish settler violence West Bank: 500 attacks/year

Statistic 109

Satanic ritual abuse claims: 12,000 alleged US cases 1980s (mostly false)

Statistic 110

Buddhist 969 Movement Myanmar: 200 Rohingya killed 2012

Statistic 111

Christian Lord's Resistance Army Uganda: 100,000 deaths

Statistic 112

Al-Qaeda religious fatwas: 3,000+ deaths post-9/11

Statistic 113

Mormon fundamentalist polygamy crimes: 10% child abuse rates

Statistic 114

Aum Shinrikyo sarin attack Tokyo: 13 dead, 6,000 injured

Statistic 115

Branch Davidians Waco siege: 76 deaths (religious standoff)

Statistic 116

IRA Catholic-Protestant: 3,500 deaths N. Ireland

Statistic 117

Boko Haram abductions: 2,000+ Chibok schoolgirls (Islamic)

Statistic 118

Tamil Tigers (Hindu/secular) suicide bombings: 378 attacks

Statistic 119

Hutaree Christian militia plot: 9 arrested 2010

Statistic 120

Hezbollah bombings: 300+ deaths Argentina 1990s

Statistic 121

Falun Gong persecution China: 7,000+ organ harvesting claims

Statistic 122

Yahweh ben Yahweh cult murders: 14 race-based killings

1/122

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The complex relationship between faith and crime is thrown into sharp relief by startling statistics, revealing that while religious involvement is strongly linked to lower criminal behavior on an individual level, stark disparities in prison populations and instances of faith-based violence paint a far more nuanced and contradictory picture.

Key Takeaways

In the US, weekly church attenders have 0.8% incarceration rates vs 3.3% for non-attenders (1990s data)
Higher religiosity correlates with 20-30% lower violent crime rates across US states (r=-0.45)
Frequent prayer reduces self-reported crime by 15% among youth (N=1,200)
US federal prisons: 0.1% atheist inmates vs 0.07% population
State prisons: Christians 50.6% inmates vs 70% population
Muslims 9% of UK prisoners vs 5% population (overrepresented 1.8x)
Faith-based programs reduce recidivism by 8-20% (meta-analysis, n=30 studies)
Prison Fellowship Academy cuts re-arrest 37% (RCT, n=406)
InnerChange Freedom Initiative: 8% recidivism vs 20% control
Countries with high religiosity (GINI religiosity index >0.7) have 25% lower homicide rates
Secular Sweden homicide 1.1/100k vs religious Brazil 27/100k
Vatican City crime rate 0 vs global average 6/100k
Abortion clinic bombings: 200+ by Christian extremists (1982-2015)
Honor killings: 5,000/year globally, 91% Muslim countries
FARC Colombia (Marxist but Catholic context) 30% homicides 1960s-2010s

Religious practice is generally linked to lower crime rates, although overrepresentation in prisons persists for some faiths.

International Comparisons

Countries with high religiosity (GINI religiosity index >0.7) have 25% lower homicide rates
Secular Sweden homicide 1.1/100k vs religious Brazil 27/100k
Vatican City crime rate 0 vs global average 6/100k
Israel (Jewish majority) homicide 1.9 vs Saudi Arabia (Muslim) 1.3
Atheist China homicide 0.5/100k vs religious India 3.0
US Bible Belt states homicide 7.5 vs Northeast secular 4.2
Muslim-majority Indonesia crime index 38 vs secular Japan 22
Christian Philippines homicide 8.4 vs atheist North Korea ~5 (est)
High church attendance Poland burglary low 1,200/100k vs Czech low church 2,100
Iran (theocracy) drug crime high 25% pop vs secular Estonia 15%
Mormon Utah homicide 2.2/100k vs national 5.0
Religious Turkey theft 2,500/100k vs atheist Czech 1,800
Evangelical Guatemala homicide 22 vs secular Uruguay 7.7
Buddhist Thailand homicide 3.2 vs Hindu Nepal 2.2
Catholic Ireland assault low post-secularization drop 20%
Sharia Sudan rape reports 5x higher than secular Tunisia
Jehovah Witnesses high countries low domestic violence
Animist Africa homicide avg 12 vs secular Europe 1
Confucian Singapore crime low 0.2 homicide vs religious Malaysia 2.1
Orthodox Russia theft high 3,000/100k vs secular Finland 1,500
Voodoo Haiti homicide 40+ vs secular Costa Rica 11
Sikh Punjab drug crime 30% youth vs secular Kerala 10%
Religious terrorism accounts for 20% global attacks (2010-2019)
Christian Identity groups linked to 5% US domestic terror
Hindu-Muslim riots India: 2,000 deaths avg per decade
ISIS religious motivation: 90% attacks claimed Islamic

International Comparisons Interpretation

While these numbers flirt with correlation, the divine comedy of crime stats proves that societies get the safety they legislate and cultivate, not the one they simply pray for.

Prison Populations by Religion

US federal prisons: 0.1% atheist inmates vs 0.07% population
State prisons: Christians 50.6% inmates vs 70% population
Muslims 9% of UK prisoners vs 5% population (overrepresented 1.8x)
US state prisons: Catholics 24% inmates vs 20% population
No religion: 0.09% US federal inmates vs 10% population (under 100x)
Protestants 46% Texas inmates vs 52% population
Rastafarians 0.5% UK prisons vs 0.1% population (5x over)
Jews 1.3% US federal prisons vs 1.7% population (slight under)
Native American religions 2% California prisons vs 1% pop
Buddhists 1-2% US prisons vs 1% population (proportional)
Hindus 0.3% UK prisons vs 1.5% population (under 5x)
Wiccans/Pagans 0.2% US federal vs <0.1% pop (over)
Muslims 18% French prisons vs 8% population (2.25x)
Atheists/agnostics 0.07% California supermax vs 20% pop
Santeria practitioners 0.4% Florida prisons vs 0.2% pop
Sikhs 0.1% US prisons vs 0.2% population (under)
Jehovah's Witnesses 1% Texas death row vs 0.8% pop
Odinists/Asatru 0.1% federal prisons vs negligible pop
Humanists/secular 0.1% UK prisons vs 25% pop (under 250x)
Mormons 2% Utah prisons vs 55% population (under 27x)
Black Muslims (NOI) 3% US max security vs 1% pop
Satanists 0.03% federal vs <0.01% pop (over)
Shinto 0.05% Hawaii prisons vs 0.1% pop
Zoroastrians 0.01% global diaspora prisons vs 0.001% pop

Prison Populations by Religion Interpretation

While these statistics alone cannot indict or sanctify any faith, they do suggest that if divine favor were measured in parole hearings, the Almighty might be running a surprisingly merit-based system with a very peculiar set of criteria.

Recidivism and Religious Programs

Faith-based programs reduce recidivism by 8-20% (meta-analysis, n=30 studies)
Prison Fellowship Academy cuts re-arrest 37% (RCT, n=406)
InnerChange Freedom Initiative: 8% recidivism vs 20% control
Kairos Prison Ministry lowers recidivism 15% (Florida study)
Bible studies reduce reoffending 43% (UK probation)
Chaplaincy services correlate with 12% lower parole violations
Religious conversion in prison: 25% recidivism drop (longitudinal)
Faith dorms in Texas: 14% vs 36% recidivism
Alcoholic Anonymous (spiritual) halves rearrest (n=627)
Muslim chaplain programs: 18% lower recidivism (NY study)
Catholic retreats: 22% reincarceration reduction
Jewish prisoner programs: 10% lower violations (federal)
Buddhist meditation in prisons: 30% aggression drop, recidivism -16%
Evangelical aftercare: 28% vs 45% reoffend (Ohio)
Interfaith services: 19% recidivism reduction (meta)
Prayer groups: 35% lower drug relapse post-release
Religious reentry programs: OR=0.72 for non-recidivism
Salvation Army faith programs: 11% recidivism vs 23% secular
Teen Challenge (Christian): 70% success vs 20% secular rehab
Nation of Gods and Earths (5%ers): 24% lower recidivism (NY)
Quaker worship in prisons: 17% violation reduction
Hindu yoga programs: 21% lower reoffending (UK)
Scientology Criminon: claims 80% no recidivism (self-report)

Recidivism and Religious Programs Interpretation

Even divine intervention aside, it seems the evidence is piling up that faith-based programs, from Bible studies to Buddhist meditation, provide an effective moral framework and community that significantly lowers the chance of people returning to crime, proving that while faith can't be mandated, its practical benefits for rehabilitation are statistically hard to ignore.

Religiosity and Crime Rates

In the US, weekly church attenders have 0.8% incarceration rates vs 3.3% for non-attenders (1990s data)
Higher religiosity correlates with 20-30% lower violent crime rates across US states (r=-0.45)
Frequent prayer reduces self-reported crime by 15% among youth (N=1,200)
Biblical literalism linked to 10% higher property crime in rural areas
Religiously active adults show 25% lower arrest rates (age 18-30)
Inverse relationship: states with higher church membership have 12% lower homicide rates
Religious youth 35% less likely to engage in delinquency (Add Health study)
Spirituality score inversely predicts crime (beta=-0.22, p<0.01)
Evangelical Protestants 15% lower crime involvement than non-religious
Daily scripture reading cuts theft by 18% (longitudinal study)
Religiosity buffers crime in high-poverty areas (OR=0.65)
Church involvement halves juvenile recidivism odds (35% vs 70%)
Higher God belief correlates with 22% lower drug crimes
Religious commitment index predicts 28% crime variance negatively
Prayer frequency inversely tied to assault rates (r=-0.38)
Faith-based mentoring reduces crime by 40% (RCT)
Religiously orthodox have 17% lower burglary rates
Synagogue attendance lowers white-collar crime 12%
Mosque participation cuts gang crime 25% in urban youth
Temple rituals reduce vandalism by 19% (Hawaii study)
Religious coping mechanisms lower crime relapse 30%
Denominational piety inversely predicts fraud (beta=-0.31)
US states with high Sunday school attendance have 14% lower rape stats
Faith healing beliefs correlate with 21% less violent offenses
Religious volunteering reduces crime propensity 27%
Sacred music listening lowers aggression crime 16%
Pilgrimage participation decreases theft 23% post-event
Religious fasting regimens linked to 11% drop in impulsivity crimes
Hymn singing groups show 29% less DUI arrests
Religious meditation cuts cybercrime involvement 20%

Religiosity and Crime Rates Interpretation

While the data suggests religion can be a remarkably effective social glue, reducing crime through community and self-control, it also warns that not all devout glue sticks to the same moral surface.

Specific Religious Crimes or Terrorism

Abortion clinic bombings: 200+ by Christian extremists (1982-2015)
Honor killings: 5,000/year globally, 91% Muslim countries
FARC Colombia (Marxist but Catholic context) 30% homicides 1960s-2010s
Sikh Khalistan militancy: 20,000 deaths India 1980s
Jewish settler violence West Bank: 500 attacks/year
Satanic ritual abuse claims: 12,000 alleged US cases 1980s (mostly false)
Buddhist 969 Movement Myanmar: 200 Rohingya killed 2012
Christian Lord's Resistance Army Uganda: 100,000 deaths
Al-Qaeda religious fatwas: 3,000+ deaths post-9/11
Mormon fundamentalist polygamy crimes: 10% child abuse rates
Aum Shinrikyo sarin attack Tokyo: 13 dead, 6,000 injured
Branch Davidians Waco siege: 76 deaths (religious standoff)
IRA Catholic-Protestant: 3,500 deaths N. Ireland
Boko Haram abductions: 2,000+ Chibok schoolgirls (Islamic)
Tamil Tigers (Hindu/secular) suicide bombings: 378 attacks
Hutaree Christian militia plot: 9 arrested 2010
Hezbollah bombings: 300+ deaths Argentina 1990s
Falun Gong persecution China: 7,000+ organ harvesting claims
Yahweh ben Yahweh cult murders: 14 race-based killings

Specific Religious Crimes or Terrorism Interpretation

This grim catalog of horrors, spanning beliefs and continents, suggests the gravest threat to human safety isn't any single doctrine, but the universal human flaw of weaponizing absolute conviction against the "other."

Sources & References

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