Secularism and Fertility Worldwide

This study proposes and explores a new fertility determinant: societal secularism. Using country-level data from multiple sources ( n = 181) multilevel 58 countries in the World Values Survey 83,301), author documents strong negative relationship between secularism both rates individual-level behavior. Secularism, even small amounts, is associated with population stagnation or decline absent substantial immigration, whereas highly religious have higher that promote growth. pattern driven by more than aggregate lower of secular individuals. In fact, better predictor individuals’ behavior individuals, this largely function cultural values related to gender, reproduction, autonomy societies. Beyond their importance for composition world population, patterns presented are relevant key theories could help account below-replacement fertility.