Decline of Christianity in the Western world

A decline of Christian affiliation in the Western world has been observed in the decades since the end of World War II. While most countries in the Western world were historically almost exclusively Christian, the post-World War II era has seen developed countries with modern, secular educational facilities shifting towards post-Christian, secular, globalized, multicultural and multifaith societies.

While Christianity is currently the predominant religion in Latin America,^[1] Europe,^[2] Canada^[3][4] and the United States,^[5] the religion is declining in many of these areas, particularly in Western Europe,^[6][7] North America,^[8] and Australia and New Zealand. A decline in Christianity among countries in Latin America's Southern Cone has also contributed to a rise in irreligion in Latin America.^[9]

In the West, since at least the mid-twentieth century there has been a gradual decline in adherence to established Christianity. In a process described as secularization, "unchurched spirituality" is gaining more prominence over organized religion.^[a]

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