Statista published the list of nationalities that consider religion most important. Interestingly, 7 out of the top 10 countries with the highest ranking are in Africa. Ethiopia ranked 1st with 98% and Nigeria grabbed the 9th position with 88%. No African country made the bottom 10 list. China has just 3% of her population considering religion important in their lives.

Key insights.
1. China is the LEAST religious country yet its corruption perception level is lower than 7 of the most religious countries.
2. Ethiopia is the MOST religious country yet it is the ‘poorest’ within this pool which is counter intuitive.
3. Ukraine which has the lowest GDP/Capita amongst the least religious countries is richer than 90% of the most religious countries.
4. 70% of the least religious countries are less corrupt than the most religious countries.
5. Japan, the 2nd least religious country ranks 18th on corruption perception index ahead of EVERY top 10 religious country.
From this, it shows the religious dependency in Africa hasn’t translated to lower corruption nor improved economic conditions. Does this mean Africans should become less religious?
I believe some of these actions will go a long way to help.
1. Focus more on Salvation versus Religion. There will be fewer wars if personal salvation is the focus versus religious intolerance or advocacy.
2. Practice the GOLDEN rule. ‘Do unto others as you want them to do unto you’. Do this EVERYDAY no matter your title or hierarchy.
3. Show Love. These days, LOVE is becoming one of the world’s scarcest resources, ahead of precious stones and Energy. If we all truly loved our neighbors, we will think of common good versus personal greed. There will be better leadership , less public funds looting, fewer traffic offences, less hate campaigns, less fake drugs in circulation, less pollution, less oil pipelines damages, less sabotage, less social media bullying. The list is endless
4. Do what God has placed in your abilities already. This is a sensitive one as it can come across as being less God dependent but the truth is God has given us brains already. Creation is already done; it is not work in progress. We have been given health, amazing arable land, great weather, natural resources and more. We are 1.1 billion Africans; we are 15% of the worlds’ population. It is up to us to turn Africa around.
Why are some of the most religious countries the poorest corrupt countries whilst some of the least religious are the richest and least corrupt? Your thoughts please…

I PERSONALLY HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE HIDE BEHIND RELIGION AND EXPECT ME TO RELATE WITH THEM USING THEIR RELIGIOUS LIFE AS A YARD STICK.......

the funny one is people not introducing themselves to you by their names, they say things like ''i am Pastor''...etc

where are the Arab countries....i thought they should be up there too...abi no be religion be their problem?

The Arab countries that are extremely religious are not represented in the statistics ..

Well while there are many factors that plays roles to the economic down turns of countries it cannot be blamed sorely on religion neither is religion innocent but one of the numerous causes.

-One thing that baffles me is Religions claims moral superiority than irreligious state at the same a look at the most religious countries send shivers down the spine.

Violence, corruption, chauvinism and hypocritic double standards..

An official goes everyday to bow to God in the mosque while wearing a self induced deceptive state of "holy i am" comes out to embezzle public funds.

The other blows down the heaven in Church shaking the heavens with fervent praises goes back to embezzle public funds.

All the while claiming superior moral basis driven by "God"

If you understand how most religious countries are the most corrupt and in the cse of Africa, violence and poverty bound you'll learn that Human morality is basically independent of any religious affiliation.

There are good and bad people irrespective of their religion or non-religious ideologies.

-Misplaced priority and disturbing superstitions also plays key roles in the ways religions contribute to economic down fall of a nation or community.

Go to every village in Nigeria, no matter how poor this communities might be you must see a magnificent Church or mosque building worth millions if not billions of Naira.

This fund is contributed by the poor masses living in these vicinities most unable to feed 3times daily.

Yet thus Churches built off the sweat of the poor is also used to rob them of the little they have every sunday no wonder the most lucrative business these days are Religious enterprises.

If these billions, millions contributed by these poor masses are used for community projects that can actually be of help and of humongous positive effect to these communities like

-Good hospitals
-Water
-Roads
-Schools
-Housing

You will notice most communities wouldn't be dependent on incompetent failed African leaders to develop themselves and their communities.

If God actually care for the well being of the masses he wouldn't mind if the money for magnificent mosque/church edifies are channelled towards projects that are of basic necessity to these masses.

If "God" wants a house before the well being of the masses then there is no need wasting "your" time over what doesn't care about your well being.

Africans should stop falling preys to religious con-men who get rich from the contribution of the poor, gather funds from the meager contributions of the poor to buy private jets and build schools the poor cannot even afford.

Fela Kuti once sang : I wake many village and we are in Africa, Pastor's house na im deh fine pass, my people them deh stay for poor surroundings.

Pastors dress na im deh clean pass e hard for my people for them to buy soap..


Really it is the Opiate of the poor and a tool of the rich

Because religion and corruption are first cousins

The god of hypocrites and of the very corrupt will always be a hypocritical and corrupt entity.