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{{short description|State or country without a state religion}}
{{Original research|date=November 2008}}
{{Synthesis|date=September 2009}}
A '''secular state''' is a concept of [[secularism]], whereby a [[Sovereign state|state]] or [[country]] purports to be officially neutral in matters of [[religion]], supporting neither religion nor irreligion.<ref>Madeley, John T. S. and Zsolt Enyedi, [http://books.google.com/books?id=n5Brda6FmswC&dq Church and state in contemporary Europe: the chimera of neutrality], p. , 2003 Routledge</ref> A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen from a particular religion/nonreligion over other religions/nonreligion. Most often it has no [[state religion]] or equivalent.


[[File:Map of secular states.svg|thumb|500x500px|{{legend|#0093AF|States with no state religion}}{{legend|#EB151C|States with [[state religion]]}}{{legend|#dedede|Ambiguous states or no data}}]]
A secular state is defined as protecting ''[[freedom of religion]]'' as pursued in [[secularism|state secularism]]. It is also described to be a state that prevents religion from interfering with state affairs, and prevents religion from controlling government or exercising political power. Laws protect each individual including religious minorities from discrimination on the basis of religion.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Status of religious freedom|expanded=concept}}


{{nowrap|A '''secular state'''}} is an idea pertaining to [[secularity]], whereby a [[State (polity)|state]] is or purports to be officially [[Separation of church and state|neutral in matters of religion]], supporting neither religion nor [[irreligion]].<ref name="MadeleyEnyedi2003">{{cite book|author-first1=John T. S.|author-last1=Madeley|author-first2=Zsolt|author-last2=Enyedi|title=Church and State in Contemporary Europe: The Chimera of Neutrality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5Brda6FmswC|year=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-7146-5394-5|page=14}}</ref> A secular state claims to [[Social equality|treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion]], and claims to avoid [[Religious discrimination|preferential treatment for a citizen based on their religious beliefs, affiliation or lack of either over those with other profiles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Secularism? |url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/what-is-secularism.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.secularism.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
A secular state is not an [[State atheism|atheistic state]] (e.g. [[Albania]] under [[Enver Hoxha]]), in which the state officially opposes all religious beliefs and practices.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} In some secular states, there can be a huge majority religion in the population (e.g. [[Thailand]], [[Turkey]], [[United States]], etc.) and in others there may be great religious diversity (e.g. [[India]], [[Lebanon]], etc). {{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} Some may have ''de facto'' official religions, in which even though a government doesn't support or deny religion, it may require some members of its government to be a certain religion (e.g. [[Philippines]], [[Indonesia]], [[Peru]]).


Although secular states have no [[state religion]], the absence of an established state religion does not mean that a state is completely secular or [[Egalitarianism|egalitarian]]. For example, some states that describe themselves as secular have [[Religion in national symbols|religious references in their national anthems and flags]], [[Equality before the law|laws that benefit one religion or another]], or are [[Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] and of the [[International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance]].
Secular states become secular either upon establishment of the state (e.g. [[United States]]) or upon [[secularization]] of the state (e.g. [[France]]). Movements for [[laïcité]] in France and for the [[separation of church and state]] in the United States began the evolution of the present secular states. Historically, the process of secularizing states typically involves granting religious freedom, disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds to be used for a religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, opening up the education system, tolerating citizens who change religion, and allowing political leadership to come to power regardless of religious beliefs.<ref>Jean Baubérot [http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/secular.asp The secular principle]</ref> Public holidays that were originally religious holidays and other traditions are not necessarily affected, and public institutions become safe from being used and abused by religion.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}}


==Origin and practice==
Not all legally secular states are completely secular in practice. In France for example, many Christian [[holy day]]s are official holidays for the public administration, and teachers in [[Catholic school]]s are salaried by the state <ref> Richard Teese, [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010-4086(198605)30%3A2%3C247%3APSIFEO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y Private Schools in France: Evolution of a System], ''[[Comparative Education Review]]'', Vol. 30, No. 2 (May, 1986), pp. 247-259 {{en icon}}</ref>. In [[India]], the government gives subsidy in airfare for [[Muslims]] going on [[Haj]] pilgrimage(See [[Haj subsidy]]).In 2007, the government had to spend Rs. 47,454 per passenger<ref>http://www.financialexpress.com/news/haj-subsidy-has-air-india-fuming/360651/0</ref>.
Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g., the [[Soviet Union]], the [[United States]]) or by it later [[Secularization|secularizing]] (e.g., [[France]] or [[Nepal]]). Movements for [[Secularism in France|''laïcité'' in France]] and [[Freedom of religion in the United States|separation of church and state in the United States]] have defined modern concepts of secularism, the United States of America being the first explicitly secular government in history. Historically, the process of secularisation typically involves granting [[religious freedom]], disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds being used for religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, [[Secular education|freeing up the education system]], tolerating citizens [[Apostasy|who change religion]] or [[Irreligion|abstain from religion]], and allowing political leaders to come to power regardless of their religious beliefs.<ref>Jean Baubérot [http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/secular.asp The secular principle] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222013645/http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/secular.asp |date=22 February 2008 }}</ref>


In [[France]], [[Italy]], and [[Spain]], for example, [[Public holiday|official holidays]] for the [[public administration]] tend to be [[Calendar of saints|Christian feast days]]. Any private school in France that contracts with [[Ministry of National Education (France)|''Éducation nationale'']] means its [[teacher]]s are salaried by the state—most of the [[Catholic school]]s are in this situation and, because of history, they are the majority; however, any other religious or non-religious schools also contract this way.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Teese |first1=Richard |title=Private Schools in France: Evolution of a System |journal=Comparative Education Review |date=1986 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=247–259 |doi=10.1086/446591 |jstor=1188531 |s2cid=144698211 }}</ref> In some [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe|European states]] where secularism confronts [[Monoculturalism|monoculturalist]] [[philanthropy]], some of the main [[Christian denomination]]s and [[List of religions and spiritual traditions|sects of other religions]] depend on the state for some of the financial resources for their religious [[Charitable organization|charities]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Twinch|first=Emily|title=Religious charities: Faith, funding and the state|url=http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/914534/religious-charities-faith-funding-state/|work=Article dated 22 June 2009|publisher=Third Sector – a UK Charity Periodical|access-date=3 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510221443/http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/914534/religious-charities-faith-funding-state/|archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> It is common in [[corporate law]] and [[charity law]] to prohibit [[organized religion]] from using those funds to organize religious worship in a separate [[place of worship]] or for [[Religious conversion|conversion]]; the religious body itself must provide the religious content, educated [[clergy]] and [[Lay preacher|laypersons]] to exercise its own functions and may choose to devote part of their time to the separate charities. To that effect, some of those charities establish secular organizations that manage part of or all of the donations from the main religious bodies.
Many states that nowadays are secular in practice may have legal vestiges of an earlier [[established religion]]. Secularism also has various guises which may coincide with some degree of official religiosity. Thus, in the [[Commonwealth Realms]], the head of state is required to take the [[Coronation Oath Act 1688|Coronation Oath]]<ref> [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4105.asp Coronation Oath] </ref> swearing to [[defender of the faith|uphold the Protestant faith]]. The United Kingdom also maintains positions in its upper house for 26 senior clergymen of the established Church of England known as the [[Lords Spiritual]] (spiritual peers).<ref> [http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/members/lords_types.cfm Different types of Lords] </ref> The reverse progression can also occur, a state can go from being secular to a [[state religion|religious state]] as in the case of [[Iran]] where the secularized state of the [[Pahlavi dynasty|Pahlavi dynasts]] was replaced by the [[Islamic Republic]] (list below). Since at one time all states had official religions{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} and the situation has essentially been reversed over the last 250 years, it may be concluded that the global [[secular trend]] is toward secularism in the modern period.<ref>[http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 Harris Interactive | News Room - Religious views and beliefs vary greatly by country, according to the latest Financial Times/Harris poll<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300 Summary of Findings: A Portrait of "Generation Next"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://science.jrank.org/pages/11240/Secularization-Secularism-History-Nature-Secularization-Secularism-1914.html Secularization and Secularism - History and nature of secularization and secularism till 1914 ]</ref>


Many states that are nowadays secular in practice may have legal vestiges of an earlier [[State religion|established religion]]. Secularism also has various guises that may coincide with some degree of official [[religiosity]]. In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[head of state]] is still required to take the [[Coronation Oath Act 1688|Coronation Oath enacted in 1688]], swearing to maintain the [[Reformed Christianity|Protestant Reformed religion]] and to preserve the established [[Church of England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/royaleventsandceremonies/coronation/coronation.aspx|title=Coronation Oath|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> The UK also maintains seats in the [[House of Lords]] for 26 senior clergymen of the Church of England, known as the [[Lords Spiritual]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/whos-in-the-house-of-lords/members-and-their-roles/how-members-are-appointed/#jump-link-3|title=How members are appointed|work=UK Parliament|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> In [[Canada]] the ''[[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]'' affords secular freedoms of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression, including communication, assembly and association yet the [[Preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|Charter's preamble]] maintains the concept of "the supremacy of God" which would appear to disadvantage those who hold [[Nontheism|nontheistic]] or [[Polytheism|polytheistic]] beliefs, including [[Atheism]] and [[Buddhism]].<ref name="Hogg, Peter W. 1982">Hogg, Peter W. ''Canada Act 1982 Annotated''. Toronto, Canada: The Carswell Company Limited, 1982.</ref><ref name="Paul Russell">[http://www.academia.edu/16378297/_The_supremacy_of_God_does_not_belong_in_the_Constitution_ ''Paul Russell''], "The supremacy of God" does not belong in the Constitution": The Globe & Mail, June 11, 1999</ref> Italy has been a secular state since the enactment of the [[Constitution of Italy|Constitution]] in 1948 (stressed by a [[Constitutional Court of Italy|Constitutional court]]'s decision in 1989),<ref>Articles 3, 7, 8, 19, 20 of the Constitution of Italy; Constitutional Court's Decision n. 203/1989</ref> but still recognizes a special status for the [[Catholic Church]]. The reverse progression can also occur, however; a state can go from being secular to being a [[State religion|religious state]], as in the case of [[Iran]] where the secularized [[Pahlavi dynasty|Imperial State of Iran]] was replaced by an [[Islamic Republic]]. Nonetheless, the last 250 years has seen a trend towards secularism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 |title=Harris Interactive: Resource Not Found |access-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723125147/http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 |archive-date=23 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300|title=A Portrait of "Generation Next"|date=9 January 2007|work=Pew Research Center for the People and the Press|access-date=18 March 2015|archive-date=24 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524055917/http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=300|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==List by continent==
{{Refimprovesect|date=November 2008}}
The following is an incomplete list of officially secular states as of 2007-2009:


==List of secular states by continent==
===Africa===
{{See also|Constitutional references to God}}
{{col-begin}} {{col-1-of-2}}
This is the list of countries that are explicitly described as secular in their [[constitution]]s or other official state documents.


===Africa===
*{{flag|Angola}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ao00000_.html#A008_ Article 8 of Constitution]</ref>
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flag|Benin}}<ref>[http://www.trazibule.fr/anglais/BENIN.txt Article 2 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Angola|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ao00000_.html#A008_|title=ICL - Angola Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}, Article 8: "The Republic of Angola shall be a secular State..."</ref>
*{{flag|Botswana}}<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90083.htm Botswana - International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.mmegi.bw/2004/July/Tuesday13/404641223950.html Leaders say Botswana is a secular state]</ref>
* {{flag|Benin|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trazibule.fr/anglais/BENIN.txt|title=Article 2 of Constitution}}: "The Republic of Benin shall be one - indivisible, secular, and democratic."</ref>
*{{flag|Burkina Faso}}<ref>[http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:IIR9yrUaMFwJ:www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/Burkina%2520FasoC%2520(englishsummary)(rev).doc+constitution+burkina+faso&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us Article 31 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Botswana|size=23px}}<ref>[http://www.mmegi.bw/2004/July/Tuesday13/404641223950.html Leaders say Botswana is a secular state] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210190537/http://www.mmegi.bw/2004/July/Tuesday13/404641223950.html |date=10 February 2005 }}</ref>
*{{flag|Burundi}}<ref>[http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CAFRAD/UNPAN004624.pdf Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Burkina Faso|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/Burkina%20FasoC%20(englishsummary)(rev).doc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009112408/http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/Burkina%20FasoC%20(englishsummary)(rev).doc|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2006|title=Article 31 of Constitution}}: "Burkina Faso is a democratic, unitary and secular state."</ref>
*{{flag|Cameroon}}<ref>[http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Cameroon.pdf Preamble of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Burundi|size=23px}}<ref>[http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CAFRAD/UNPAN004624.pdf Article 4 of Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007195330/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CAFRAD/UNPAN004624.pdf |date=7 October 2006 }}: "Le Burundi est une République unitaire, indépendante et souveraine, laïque et démocratique."</ref>
*{{flag|Cape Verde}}<ref>[http://capeverde-islands.com/cvconstitution.html Article 48 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Cameroon|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Cameroon.pdf|title=Preamble of Constitution|access-date=1 March 2007|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215062653/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Cameroon.pdf|url-status=dead}}: "... the State shall be secular."</ref>
*{{flag|Chad}}<ref>[http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:4pEtb9MYlp0J:www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ChadC%2520(english%2520summary)(rev).doc&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Central African Republic|size=23px}}<ref>Article 24 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Central_African_Republic_2016.pdf?lang=en Central African Republic's Constitution of 2016], constituteproject.org: "The Central African Republic is a State of law, unitary, sovereign, indivisible, secular and democratic."</ref>
*{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}<ref>[http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_d%C3%A9mocratique_du_Congo#Article_1er Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Chad|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ChadC%20(english%20summary)(rev).doc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009114533/http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/ChadC%20(english%20summary)(rev).doc|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2006|title=Article 1 of Constitution}}: "Chad is a sovereign, independent, secular, social, and indivisible ..."</ref>
*{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/cf00000_.html#A001_ Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
*{{flag|Ethiopia}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/et00000_.html#A011_ Article 11 of Constitution]</ref>
*{{flag|Comoros|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Comoros_2018 | title=Comoros 2018 Constitution - Constitute }}</ref>
* {{flag|Côte d'Ivoire|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cote_DIvoire_2000.pdf?lang=en|title=Côte d'Ivoire's Constitution of 2000}}, Article 30: "The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is one and indivisible, secular, democratic and social."</ref>
*{{flag|Gabon}}<ref>[http://droit.francophonie.org/doc/html/ga/con/fr/2000/2000dfgacofr1.html Article 2 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Congo DR|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_de_la_R%C3%A9publique_d%C3%A9mocratique_du_Congo#Article_1er|title=Constitution de la République démocratique du Congo|access-date=18 March 2015}}, article 1er: "République Démocratique du Congo est, dans ses frontières du 30 juin 1960, un État de droit, indépendant, souverain, uni et indivisible, social, démocratique et laïc."</ref>
*{{flag|The Gambia}}<ref>[http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:DFzfUsPbHcgJ:www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/constitutions/docs/The%2520GambiaC(english%2520summary)(rev).doc&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Congo|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/cf00000_.html#A001_|title=ICL - Congo-Brazzaville - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}, Article 1: "The Republic of the Congo is a sovereign and independent State, decentralized, indivisible, secular, democratic, and social."</ref>
*{{flag|Guinea}}<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:naprnam1pWMJ:unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/cafrad/unpan002994.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Equatorial Guinea|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/equatorial-guinea/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Equatorial Guinea|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:k6-qv_1C2KUJ:www.cicr.org/ihl-nat.nsf/162d151af444ded44125673e00508141/8ff8cad34667b579c1257083002a6fa8/%24FILE/Constitution%2520Guinea%2520Bissau.doc&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Eritrea|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eritre/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eritrea|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Liberia}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/li00000_.html#A014_ Article 14 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Eswatini|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eswatini/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eswatini|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mali}}<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:mZO36FQn_mcJ:confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Mali.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Preamble of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Ethiopia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ethiopia/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ethiopia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Namibia}}<ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/wa00000_.html Articles 10, 14, 19 and 21 of Constitution]</ref>
*{{flag|Senegal}}<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90117.htm Senegal - International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>
* {{flag|Gabon|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/gabon/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Gabon|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Gambia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/gambia/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Gambia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Somalia}}<ref>[http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/somalia/1995/reunification/appendix_1.htm Appendix 1: Draft Constitution for the Republic of Somalia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*{{flag|South Africa}}<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90121.htm South Africa - International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>
* {{flag|Ghana|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ghana/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ghana|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Guinea|size=23px}}<ref>[http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/cafrad/unpan002994.pdf Article 1 of Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040913180737/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/cafrad/unpan002994.pdf |date=13 September 2004 }}: "La Guinée est une République unitaire, indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale."</ref>
* {{flag|Guinea-Bissau|size=23px}}<ref>[http://www.cicr.org/ihl-nat.nsf/162d151af444ded44125673e00508141/8ff8cad34667b579c1257083002a6fa8/$FILE/Constitution%20Guinea%20Bissau.doc Article 1 of Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105121916/http://www.cicr.org/ihl-nat.nsf/162d151af444ded44125673e00508141/8ff8cad34667b579c1257083002a6fa8/$FILE/Constitution%20Guinea%20Bissau.doc |date=5 November 2013 }}: "Guinea-Bissau is a sovereign, democratic, secular and unitary republic."</ref>
* {{flag|Kenya}}<ref name="constKenya">{{cite web | url=http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/rest//db/kenyalex/Kenya/The%20Constitution%20of%20Kenya/docs/ConstitutionofKenya%202010.pdf | title=The Constitution of Kenya | access-date=14 March 2022 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221100933/http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/rest//db/kenyalex/Kenya/The%20Constitution%20of%20Kenya/docs/ConstitutionofKenya%202010.pdf | archivedate=21 December 2013 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Lesotho|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lesotho/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lesotho|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Liberia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/liberia/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Liberia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Madagascar|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Madagascar_2010.pdf?lang=en|title=Madagascar's Constitution of 2010}}, Article 1: "The Malagasy People constitute a nation organized as a sovereign, unitary, republican and secular State."</ref>
* {{flag|Malawi|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/malawi/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Malawi|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Mali|size=23px}}<ref>[http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Mali.pdf Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912141413/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Mali.pdf |date=12 September 2012 }}, Article 25: "Mali is an independent, sovereign, indivisible, democratic, secular, social Republic."</ref>
* {{flag|Mozambique|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mozambique/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mozambique|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Namibia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/wa00000_.html|title=ICL - Namibia - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}, Article 1: "The Republic of Namibia is hereby established as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State ..."</ref>
* {{flag|Niger|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/niger/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Niger|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Nigeria|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nigeria/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nigeria|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Rwanda|size=23px}}<ref>Article 4 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Rwanda_2015.pdf?lang=en Rwanda's Constitution of 2003 with Amendments through 2015], constituteproject.org, Article 4: "The Rwandan State is an independent, sovereign, democratic, social and secular Republic."</ref>
* {{flag|Sao Tome and Principe|size=23px}}<ref>Article 154 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Sao_Tome_and_Principe_2003.pdf?lang=en Sao Tome and Principe's Constitution of 1975 with Amendments through 2003], constituteproject.org, "The following may not be the subject of a revision to the Constitution: [...] b. The secular status of the State;"</ref>
* {{flag|Senegal|size=23px}}<ref>Article 1 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Senegal_2016.pdf?lang=en Senegal's Constitution of 2001 with Amendments through 2016], constituteproject.org, "The Republic of Senegal is secular, democratic, and social."</ref>
* {{flag|Sierra Leone|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sierra-leone/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sierra Leone|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|South Africa|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-africa/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Africa|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|South Sudan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-sudan/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Sudan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sudan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sudan/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Sudan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Tanzania|size=23px}}<ref>Article 3 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Tanzania_2005.pdf?lang=en Tanzania (United Republic of)'s Constitution of 1977 with Amendments through 2005], constituteproject.org, "The United Republic is a democratic, secular and socialist state which adheres to multi-party democracy"</ref>
* {{flag|Togo|size=23px}}<ref>Article 1 of the [https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Togo_2007.pdf?lang=en Togo's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2007], constituteproject.org, "The Togolese Republic is a State of law, secular, democratic and social."</ref>
* {{flag|Tunisia|size=23px}}<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://groundreport.in/why-tunisia-abandoning-islam-as-a-state-religion/|title=Why Tunisia abandoning Islam as a state religion?|website=GR}}</ref>
* {{flag|Uganda|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uganda/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uganda|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Zimbabwe|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/zimbabwe/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Zimbabwe|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
{{colend}}


===Americas===
===Americas===
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flag|Bolivia}}
* {{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Antigua and Barbuda]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/antigua-and-barbuda/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Antigua and Barbuda|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Brazil}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/br00000_.html#A019_ Article 19 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentina]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/argentina/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Argentina|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Canada}}<ref>[[Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]</ref>
* {{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Bahamas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bahamas/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bahamas|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Chile}}
* {{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Barbados]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/barbados/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Barbados|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Colombia}}
* {{flagicon|Belize}} [[Belize]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/belize/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Belize|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Cuba}}<ref>[http://www.embacubalebanon.com/constite.html Article 8 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flagicon|Bolivia}} [[Bolivia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bolivia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bolivia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ecuador}}
* {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/brazil/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Brazil|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|El Salvador}}
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]]<ref>{{multiref2
*{{flag|Honduras}}<ref>[http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Honduras/hond05.html Article 77 of the Constitution]</ref><ref>[http://countrystudies.us/honduras/84.htm Summary Honduras Constitutions (English)]</ref>
| {{cite book |first1=Paul |last1=Bramadat |first2=David |last2=Seljak |title=Religion and Ethnicity in Canada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VymssyK1Hs0C&pg=PA3 |year=2009 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-1-4426-1018-7 |page=3}}
*{{flag|Mexico}}<ref>[http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist263/docs/1917const.html Article 130 of Constitution]</ref>
| {{cite book |first=Kurt |last=Bowen |title=Christians in a Secular World: The Canadian Experience |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=__38sGZLrvYC&pg=PA174 |year=2004 |publisher=McGill-Queen's Press |isbn=978-0-7735-7194-5 |page=174}}
*{{flag|Paraguay}}
| {{cite book |first1=Derek |last1=Gregory |first2=Ron |last2=Johnston |first3=Geraldine |last3=Pratt |first4=Michael |last4=Watts |first5=Sarah |last5=Whatmore |title=The Dictionary of Human Geography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5liCbG4J9LYC&pg=PT672 |year=2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-1056-6 |page=672}}
*{{flag|Peru}}
|{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/canada/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Canada|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}
*{{flag|Puerto Rico}}<ref>[http://www.lexjuris.com/lexprcont.htm Article II of Constitution Sección 3]</ref>
}}</ref>
*{{flag|Uruguay}}
* {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chile]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/chile/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Chile|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Venezuela}}
* {{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Colombia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/colombia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Colombia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|United States}}
* {{flagicon|Cuba}} [[Cuba]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cuba/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cuba|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Dominica}} [[Dominica]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/dominica/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Dominica|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} [[Dominican Republic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/dominican-republic/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Dominican Republic|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Ecuador]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ecuador/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ecuador|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|El Salvador}} [[El Salvador]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/el-salvador/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: El Salvador|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Grenada}} [[Grenada]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/grenada/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Grenada|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Guatemala}} [[Guatemala]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/guatemala/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Guatemala|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Guyana}} [[Guyana]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/guyana/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Guyana|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Haiti}} [[Haiti]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/haiti/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Haiti|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Honduras}} [[Honduras]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/honduras/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Honduras|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Jamaica|size=23px}} [[Jamaica]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/jamaica/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Jamaica|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mexico/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mexico|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} [[Nicaragua]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nicaragua/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nicaragua|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Paraguay}} [[Paraguay]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/paraguay/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Paraguay|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/panama/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Panama|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Peru}} [[Peru]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/peru/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Peru|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-kitts-and-nevis/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Kitts and Nevis|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Saint Lucia}} [[Saint Lucia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-lucia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Lucia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Suriname}} [[Suriname]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/suriname/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Suriname|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/trinidad-and-tobago/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Trinidad and Tobago|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/religion_and_the_constitution|title=Religion and the US Constitution: The First Amendment|publisher=[[Cornell Law School]]|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Uruguay]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uruguay/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uruguay|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Venezuela}} [[Venezuela]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/venezuela/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Venezuela|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
{{colend}}


===Asia===
===Asia===
{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}

* {{Flag|China|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/china/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: China|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|People's Republic of China}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ch00000_.html#A036_ Article 36 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|India|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend42.htm|title=The Constitution (Amendment)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328040620/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend42.htm|archive-date=28 March 2015}}, "We, The People of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its..."</ref>
**{{Flag|Hong Kong}}
*{{flag|Indonesia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/indonesia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Indonesia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>
**{{Flag|Macau}}
* {{Flag|Japan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/japan/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Japan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Republic of China}} (Taiwan)
* {{Flag|Kazakhstan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kazakhstan/|title=2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|India}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/in00000_.html Preamble of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Kyrgyzstan|size=23px}}<ref>[http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Legal_co-operation/Foreigners_and_citizens/Nationality/Documents/National_legislation/Kyrgyzstan%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Kyrghyz%20Republic.asp Article 1 of Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204064819/http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Legal_co-operation/Foreigners_and_citizens/Nationality/Documents/National_legislation/Kyrgyzstan%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Kyrghyz%20Republic.asp |date=4 February 2007 }}, Article 1: "The Kyrghyz Republic (Kyrghyzstan) shall be a sovereign unitary democratic republic created on the basis of a legal secular state."</ref>
*{{Flag|Japan}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ja00000_.html#A020_ Article 20 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Laos|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/laos/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Laos|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}<ref>[http://www.kazakhstanembassy.org.uk/cgi-bin/index/225 Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Lebanon|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lebanon/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lebanon|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
*{{Flag|North Korea}}
* {{Flag|Mongolia|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mongolia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Mongolia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|South Korea}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ks00000_.html#A020_ Article 20 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Nepal|size=23px}}<ref>{{harvnb|Dodd|2003|p=571|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=wImNYmmgcA0C&pg=PT571 The rough guide to Nepal]}}: "After 2005, the Marxist-Leninist government of reunified Nepal declared the state atheist while theoretically allowing people the right to practice their religion under the constitution."</ref>
*{{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}}<ref>[http://www.coe.int/T/E/Legal_Affairs/Legal_co-operation/Foreigners_and_citizens/Nationality/Documents/National_legislation/Kyrgyzstan%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Kyrghyz%20Republic.asp Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|North Korea|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/democraticpeople'srepublicofkorea/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: North Korea|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Laos}}
* {{Flag|Philippines|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/|title=Article II Section 6 of the Constitution of the Philippines|access-date=12 March 2021|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105085906/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/|url-status=dead}}, "The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable."</ref>
*{{Flag|Mongolia}}
*{{Flag|Nepal}}<ref>[http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1471 Religious Intelligence - News - Nepal moves to become a secular republic<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* {{Flag|Singapore|size=23px}}<ref>See [[Declaration of Religious Harmony]], which explicitly states the secular nature of society</ref>
* {{Flag|Republic of Korea|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-korea/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: South Korea|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Philippines}}<ref>[http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a2.asp Article 2, Section 6 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Syria|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/syria/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Syria|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Singapore}}
* {{flag|Taiwan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/taiwan/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Taiwan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn1|State with limited recognition.<ref name="autogenerated2011">{{Citation |title=Introduction: Secular State and Pious Muslims |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9781137010643.0003 |work=Secular State and Religious Society |year=2011 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |doi=10.1057/9781137010643.0003 |isbn=9781137010643 |access-date=2022-04-11}}</ref>}}
*{{Flag|Tajikistan}}
* {{Flag|Tajikistan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Tajikistan_2003.pdf?lang=en|title=Tajikistan's Constitution of 1994 with Amendments through 2003}}, Article 1: "The Republic of Tajikistan is a sovereign, democratic, law-governed, secular, and unitary State."</ref>
*{{Flag|Thailand}}<ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/th00000_.html Section 38 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Timor-Leste|size=23px}}<ref>[https://constituteproject.org/constitution/East_Timor_2002.pdf?lang=en Preamble to the Constitution], "The elaboration and adoption of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor is the culmination of the secular resistance of the Timorese People ..."</ref>
*{{Flag|Turkmenistan}}<ref>[http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/countri/c&konst.html Статья 11]</ref><ref>[http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/TURKCON.htm Article 11 of the Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Thailand|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/thailand/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Thailand|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
* {{Flag|Turkmenistan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/TURKCON.htm|title=Constitution of Turkmenistan|access-date=18 March 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414030847/http://www.uta.edu/cpsees/TURKCON.htm|url-status=dead}}, Article 1: "Turkmenistan is a democratic secular state ..."</ref>
*{{Flag|Vietnam}}<ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/vm00000_.html Article 70 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Uzbekistan|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/uzbekistan/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Uzbekistan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>

* {{Flag|Vietnam|size=23px}}<ref>{{harvnb|Dodd|2003|p=571|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=wImNYmmgcA0C&pg=PT571 The rough guide to Vietnam]}}: "After 1975, the Marxist-Leninist government of reunified Vietnam declared the state atheist while theoretically allowing people the right to practice their religion under the constitution."</ref>
{{col-2-of-2}}
{{colend}}


===Europe===
===Europe===
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}

* {{flag|Albania}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/al00000_.html#A007_|title=ICL - Albania - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Secularmap.gif|thumb|305px|Secular states map]]
* {{flag|Andorra}}<ref>{{cite web | title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom:Andorra| website=United States Department of State | date=12 May 2021 | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/andorra/ | access-date=29 December 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Albania}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/al00000_.html#A007_ Article 7 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Armenia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/armenia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Armenia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Austria}}<ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/au00000_.html Articles 7 and 14 of Constitution]</ref>
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}<ref>[http://azerbaijan.az/portal/General/Constitution/constitution_e.html Articles 7.1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Austria}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/au00000_.html|title=ICL - Austria Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
* {{flag|Belarus}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ia5AAQAAQBAJ|title=Yearbook of Muslims in Europe|first1=Jørgen|last1=Nielsen|first2=Samim|last2=Akgönül|first3=Ahmet|last3=Alibašić|first4=Egdunas|last4=Racius|date=19 September 2013|publisher=BRILL|via=Google Books|isbn=9789004255869}}</ref>
*{{flag|Belgium}}<ref>[http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/be00000_.html Article 20 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Belgium}}<ref>In Belgium, Article 20 of the Constitution provides: No one can be obliged to contribute in any way whatsoever to the acts and ceremonies of religion, nor to observe the days of rest. {{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/be00000_.html|title=ICL - Belgium - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}<ref>[http://angl.concourt.cz/angl_verze/rights.php Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms]</ref>
* {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}<ref name="USDS B&H 2021">{{cite web | title=United States Department of State | website=United States Department of State | date=12 May 2021 | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bosnia-and-herzegovina/ | access-date=10 Feb 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Estonia}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/en00000_.html#A040_ Article 40 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.bg/?page=const&lng=en|title=National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015|archive-date=10 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110001510/http://www.parliament.bg/?page=const&lng=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flag|France}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/fr00000_.html#A002_ Article 2 of Constitution]</ref> (with the exception of [[Alsace-Moselle]])
* {{flag|Croatia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usud.hr/sites/default/files/dokumenti/The_consolidated_text_of_the_Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia_as_of_15_January_2014.pdf|title=The consolidated text of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia as of 15 January 2014|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Germany}}<ref>[http://www3.assembly.go.kr/file/10010002352000100504481.htm#A140_ Article 140 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Czechia}}<ref>[http://angl.concourt.cz/angl_verze/rights.php Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430034320/http://angl.concourt.cz/angl_verze/rights.php |date=30 April 2008 }}</ref>
*{{flag|Hungary}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/hu00000_.html#A060_ Article 60 of Constitution]</ref>
*{{flag|Latvia}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/lg00000_.html#A099_ Article 99 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Estonia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/en00000_.html#A040_|title=ICL - Estonia - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
* {{flag|Finland}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/finland/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Finland|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Lithuania}}
* {{flag|France}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/fr00000_.html#A002_|title=ICL - France Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
*{{flag|Montenegro}}
* {{Flag|Germany}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/germany/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Germany|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}}
* {{Flag|Greece}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/greece/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Greece|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{noflag|Northern Ireland}}
* {{Flag|Hungary}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/hungary/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Hungary|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Romania}}<ref>Article 29 of the Constitution, Article 9(1) of Law 489/2006 on Religious Freedom</ref>
*{{flag|Russian Federation}}<ref>Article 14 of Constitution</ref>
* {{flag|Ireland}}<ref>Fifth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972</ref>
*{{flag|Serbia}}<ref>[http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav_odredbe.php?id=217 Article 11 of the Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Italy}}<ref>Articles 3, 7, 8, 19, 20 of Constitution; Constitutional Court's Decision n. 203/1989</ref>
* {{flag|Kosovo}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R1vU9p9ftlsC&q=kosovo+constitution+article+7&pg=PA235|title=Legislating for Equality: A Multinational Collection of Non-Discrimination Norms. Volume I: Europe|first1=Talia|last1=Naamat|first2=Dina|last2=Porat|first3=Nina|last3=Osin|date=19 July 2012|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|via=Google Books|isbn=978-9004226128}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn1}}
*{{flag|Slovakia}}<ref>[http://www.concourt.sk/en/A_ustava/ustava_a.pdf Article 1 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Latvia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/lg00000_.html#A099_|title=ICL - Latvia - Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
*{{flag|Sweden}}<ref>The Swedish head of state must according to the [[Swedish Act of Succession]] adhere to the [[Augsburg Confession]]</ref>
* {{Flag|Lithuania}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lithuania/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lithuania|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Switzerland}}
* {{Flag|Luxembourg}}
*{{flag|Turkey}}<ref>[http://ookgm.meb.gov.tr/Mevzuat_htm/Anayasa.htm Article 2 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{Flag|Moldova}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/moldova/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Moldova|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands|name=Netherlands|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/netherlands/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Netherlands|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Norway}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/norway/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Norway|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Poland}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/poland/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Poland|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Portugal}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dre.pt/part-i|title=Constitution|access-date=30 November 2020}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Romania}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/romania/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Romania|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Serbia}}<ref>[http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav_odredbe.php?id=217 Article 11 of the Constitution] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616134133/http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav_odredbe.php?id=217 |date=16 June 2013 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Slovakia}}<ref name="concourt1">{{cite web|url=http://www.concourt.sk/en/A_ustava/ustava_a.pdf|title=Article 1 of Constitution}}</ref>
* {{flag|Slovenia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us-rs.si/en/about-the-court/legal-basis/constitution/|title=Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015|archive-date=21 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221092416/http://www.us-rs.si/en/about-the-court/legal-basis/constitution/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Spain}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Hist_Normas/Norm/const_espa_texto_ingles_0.pdf|title=Article 16 of Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sweden}}<ref>The Swedish head of state must according to the [[Swedish Act of Succession]] adhere to the [[Augsburg Confession]]</ref>
* {{Flag|Switzerland}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/switzerland/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Switzerland|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Ukraine}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Ukraine_2016.pdf?lang=en|title=Constitution|publisher=constituteproject.org|access-date=4 October 2020}}, article 35: "The Church and religious organisations in Ukraine are separated from the State, and
the school - from the Church."</ref>
{{colend}}


===Oceania===
===Oceania===
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flag|Australia}}<ref>[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/as00000_.html#S116_ Section 116 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Australia|size=23px}}<ref name="f234">{{cite web | last=Barker | first=Renae | title=Is Australia a secular country? It depends what you mean | website=The Conversation | date=October 9, 2024 | url=https://theconversation.com/is-australia-a-secular-country-it-depends-what-you-mean-38222 | access-date=November 3, 2024}}</ref>{{efn|Section 116 of the [[Constitution of Australia]] provides, "the Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/as00000_.html#S116_|title=ICL - Australia Constitution|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> However, the states retain the power to pass religiously discriminatory laws.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/FedLRev/1998/6.pdf|journal=Federal Law Review|last=Puls|first=Joshua|year=1998|title=The Wall of Separation: Section 116, the First Amendment and Constitutional Religious Guarantees|page=160}}</ref>}}
*{{flag|Federated States of Micronesia}}<ref>[http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/constitution/constitution.htm Section IV Article 2 of Constitution]</ref>
* {{flag|Fiji|size=23px}}<ref>Article 4 of the [[2013 Constitution of Fiji]] explicitly provides that Fiji is a secular state. It guarantees religious liberty, while stating, "religious belief is personal", and, "[[Separation of church and state|religion and the State are separate]]." [http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx Constitution of the Republic of Fiji] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206063023/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx |date=6 February 2016 }}, 2013</ref>
*{{flag|New Zealand}}
* {{Flag|Kiribati|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kiribati/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kiribati|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Marshall Islands|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/marshall-islands/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Marshall Islands|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Micronesia|size=23px}}<ref>Section 2 of Article IV of the [[2002 Micronesian constitutional referendum|Micronesian constitution]] provides, "no law may be passed respecting an establishment of religion or impairing the free exercise of religion, except that assistance may be provided to parochial schools for non-religious purposes." {{cite web|url=http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/constitution/constitution.htm|title=Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Nauru|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nauru/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Nauru|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|New Zealand|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/new-zealand/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: New Zealand|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Palau|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/palau/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Palau|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Papua New Guinea|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/papua-new-guinea/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Papua New Guinea|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Solomon Islands|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/solomon-islands/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Solomon Islands|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Vanuatu|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/vanuatu/|title=2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vanuatu|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=4 March 2022}}</ref>
{{colend}}


===Transcontinental countries===
{{col-end}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flag|Azerbaijan}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/azerbaijan/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Azerbaijan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Cyprus}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/cyprus/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Cyprus|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Georgia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/georgia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Georgia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/kazakhstan/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Northern Cyprus}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ombudsman.gov.ct.tr/Portals/20/Constitution%20of%20TRNC.pdf|title=Northern Cyprus Constitution|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn1}}
* {{flag|Russia}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/russia/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Russia|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Turkey|size=23px}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/turkey/|title=2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Turkey|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>
{{colend}}


==Former secular states==
==Formerly secular states==
* {{flag|Bangladesh|1972|size=23px}} (1972–1977)
*{{flag|Pakistan}} (1947-1956) After enforcement of 1956 constitution Islam was instituted as the state religion.
** Bangladesh was ''de facto'' a secular state from 1972 to 1977, when secularism was removed from the constitution by a Martial Law and the [[Parliament of Bangladesh]] declared [[Islam]] as the [[state religion]] in 1988.<ref name="Nair Kugelman Omrani 2021 p. 100">{{cite book | last1=Nair | first1=N. | last2=Kugelman | first2=M. | last3=Omrani | first3=B. | title=Ghosts From the Past?: Assessing Recent Developments in Religious Freedom in South Asia | publisher=Taylor & Francis | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-000-42873-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K8EyEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT100 | access-date=Sep 15, 2023 | page=100}}</ref> Its current status is ambiguous. See [[Secularism in Bangladesh]].
*{{flag|Bangladesh}} - Proclaimed a secular republic upon independence in 1971, President [[Hossain Mohammad Ershad|Hossain Ershad]] instituted Islam as state religion by the eighth amendment to the constitution (passed in June 1988), citing the need to do so to combat any rise in fundamentalist and/or extremist militant movements.
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of Afghanistan (1980–1987).svg|size=23px}} [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] (1978–1987)
*{{flag|Iran|1964}} - Became a secular state in 1925 after [[Reza Shah|Reza Pahlavi]] was installed as Shah. Islam was re-instituted as the state religion in December 1979 following the adoption of a new constitution.
** Afghanistan became a secular state following the [[Saur Revolution]] however [[Sunni Islam]] was briefly reinstated as the state religion under General Secretary [[Hafizullah Amin]] until his assassination in December 1979. President [[Mohammad Najibullah]] would reinstate [[Sunni Islam]] as the state religion in 1987.<ref name="Gurcan 2016 p. 76">{{cite book | last=Gurcan | first=M. | title=What Went Wrong in Afghanistan?: Understanding Counter-insurgency Efforts in Tribalized Rural and Muslim Environments | publisher=Helion Limited | series=Wolverhampton Military Studies | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-911096-84-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2TyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA76 | access-date=Sep 15, 2023 | page=76}}</ref>
*{{flag|Iraq}} ([http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-08-24-iraqi-constitution-draft_x.htm Chapter 1, Article 2 of the 2005 Constitution], constitution is subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum in 2007)
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.svg|size=23px}} [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]] (1979–1993)
*{{flag|Madagascar}} (1960-2007) [http://www.madagascar-presidency.gov.mg/index.php/view/news/item/584 Constitution with "laïc" removed]
** Kampuchea was a secular state from 1979 until the restoration of its monarchy in 1993.
*{{flag|Djibouti}} (1977–2010)
** Djibouti became a secular state after gaining independence from [[France]] in 1977. [[Islam]] was installed as the state religion in 2010.


* {{Flagicon image|State flag of Iran 1964-1980.svg|size=23px}} [[Imperial State of Iran]] (1925–1979)
==Secular states and religious freedom==
** Iran became a ''de facto'' secular state following the [[1921 Persian coup d'état]] with the establishment of the [[Pahlavi dynasty]] as the ruling house of the country in 1925, until the [[Iranian Revolution|Islamic Revolution]] in 1979.
A secular constitution does not ensure religious freedom.<ref>Marshall, Paul A. [http://books.google.com/books?id=PIq-whVzNxoC&dq Religious freedom in the world], p. 13, 2007 Rowman & Littlefield</ref> Religious states are "not the only or necessarily the worst violators of religious freedom".<ref name="Religious freedom in the world">Marshall, Paul A. [http://books.google.com/books?id=PIq-whVzNxoC&dq Religious freedom in the world], p. 16, 2007 Rowman & Littlefield</ref> Secular states can be as or more repressive than religious states.<ref name="Religious freedom in the world"/> Indeed, it is both the extremely religious and the extremely secular states which are the most oppressive, and because of this a "secular" state should not be presumed to entail religious freedom or tolerence.<ref name="Religious freedom in the world"/>
* {{flag|Iraq|1963|size=23px}} (1932–1993)
** Iraq became a secular state in 1932 after its independence. However, the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Ba'athist]] [[Ba'athist Iraq|regime]] led by [[Saddam Hussein]] launched the [[Faith campaign|Return to Faith campaign]] in 1993 and placed significant emphasis on [[Islam in Iraq|Islam]] within all sectors of state and public life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=2889|title=Americanchronicle.com|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141154/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=2889|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Monaco|size=23px}} (1999–2020)
** In 2020, Monaco government reestablished catholic christianity as state religion.
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of Myanmar (1974-2010).svg|size=23px}} [[Myanmar]] (formerly Burma) (1885–1961; 1962–2008)
** Myanmar was a secular state during the [[British Burma|colonial period]] and [[Post-independence Burma (1948–1962)|post-independence]] period until 1961 and again under the [[Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma|socialist regime]], and the [[State Peace and Development Council|military regime]] until 2008.
* {{Flag|Samoa|size=23px}} (1962–2017)
** In 2017, the Samoan legislative assembly approved a constitutional amendment that instituted [[Christianity]] as the state religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616153746/https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2017|title=Samoa Officially Becomes a Christian State - The Diplomat|date=16 June 2017}}</ref>


==Ambiguous countries==
It is not only the communist or former communist countries which engage in the secular repression of religion.<ref name="Religious freedom in the world"/> Turkey, a secular state which purports to guarantee freedom of conscience, agressively promotes secularism, favoring secular views over religion and controlling all aspects of religious practice.<ref name="books.google.com">Marshall, Paul A. [http://books.google.com/books?id=PIq-whVzNxoC&dq Religious freedom in the world], p. 14, 2007 Rowman & Littlefield</ref> Mexico, also a secular state, has, especially since it's 1917 Constitution [[Persecution of Christians in Mexico|a history of anticlerical religious oppression]].<ref name="books.google.com"/> Churches could not engage in worship outside of a church building, own property, sue or defend itself in a suit, or engage in education; religious orders were outlawed, priests deprived of political speach and the right to vote.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Many of these restrictions were removed, but many remain, including limitations on the rights of freedom of speach.<ref name="books.google.com"/>
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}
** There is constitutional ambiguity whether Bangladesh is a secular country or an Islamic country. In 2010, the high court of Bangladesh reinstated secularism as a part of the Bangladesh constitution after terming the 1977 constitutional amendment done by then Bangladesh President [[Ziaur Rahman]] as illegal.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 July 2010 |title=Bangladesh's court restores 'secularism' in Constitution |url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/bangladeshs-court-restores-secularism-in-constitution_644258.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016024057/https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/bangladeshs-court-restores-secularism-in-constitution_644258.html |archive-date=16 October 2023 |access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref> Political leaders and experts have expressed uncertainty if Bangladesh is a secular state or an Islamic state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/bangladeshs-ambiguity-on-religion-has-been-expensive-for-the-country/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309064856/https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/bangladeshs-ambiguity-on-religion-has-been-expensive-for-the-country/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2023|title=Bangladesh's Ambiguity on Religion Has Been Expensive for the Country|date=7 October 2023|access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>


* {{flag|Malaysia|size=23px}}
Secular states run the risk of prefering nonreligion over religion or of establishing a religion of secularism.<ref name="Religious freedom in the world"/>
** In Article 3 of the [[Constitution of Malaysia]], [[Islam in Malaysia|Islam]] is stated as the official religion of the country: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation." In 1956, the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance party]] submitted a memorandum to the [[Reid Commission]], which was responsible for drafting the Malayan constitution. The memorandum quoted: "The religion of Malaya shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practicing their own religion and shall not imply that the state is not a <u>secular</u> state."<ref>Tan Sri Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UntPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YpADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5502,5419129&dq=shall-not-imply-that-the-state-is-not-a-secular-state&hl=en Our Constitution and Islamic Faith], p. 8, 25 August 1987, [[New Straits Times]]</ref> The full text of the Memorandum was inserted into paragraph 169 of the Commission Report.<ref>[http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/letters_others/islams_status_in_our_secular_charter.html Islam's status in our secular charter], Richard Y.W. Yeoh, Director, Institute of Research for Social Advancement, 20 July 2006, The Sun, Letters (Used by permission)</ref> This suggestion was later carried forward in the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals 1957 ([[White Paper]]), specifically quoted in paragraph 57: "There has been included in the proposed Federal Constitution a declaration that Islam is the religion of the Federation. This will in no way affect the present position of the Federation as a <u>secular</u> State...."<ref>[http://www.cpps.org.my/upload/FedMalaya_Constitutional_Proposals_201957.pdf Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals Kuala Lumpur: Government Printer 1957–Articles 53-61] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204426/http://www.cpps.org.my/upload/FedMalaya_Constitutional_Proposals_201957.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }} (PDF document) hosted by Centre for Public Policy Studies Malaysia, retrieved 8 February 2013</ref> The [[Cobbold Commission]] also made another similar quote in 1962: "....we are agreed that Islam should be the national religion for the Federation. We are satisfied that the proposal in no way jeopardises freedom of religion in the Federation, which in effect would be <u>secular</u>."<ref>The birth of Malaysia: A reprint of the Report of the Commission of Enquiry, North Borneo and Sarawak, 1962 (Cobbold report) and the Report of the Inter-governmental Committee, (1962–I.G.C. report), p. 58</ref> In December 1987, the [[Lord President of the Supreme Court]], [[Salleh Abas]] described Malaysia as governed by "secular law" in a court ruling.<ref>Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090318061141/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2009%2F3%2F17%2Ffocus%2F3487299&sec=focus Historical legal perspective], 17 March 2009, [[The Star (Malaysia)]]</ref>


==See also==
With regard to oppression by secular states, scholars have distinguished between what are sometimes called "friendly" and "hostile" separations of church and state.<ref><cite id="CITEREFMaierBruhn2004">Maier, Hans and Jodi Bruhn [http://books.google.com/books?id=Wozo1W7giZQC&dq Totalitarianism and Political Religions]</cite>, pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Wozo1W7giZQC&pg=PA109 109] 2004 Routledge</ref> The friendly type limits the interference of the church in matters of the state but also limits the interference of the state in church matters.<ref>Op. cit.{{Harvnb|Maier|Bruhn|2004|p=[http://books.google.com/books?id=Wozo1W7giZQC&pg=PA110 110]|Ref=CITEREFMaierBruhn2004}}</ref> The hostile variety, by contrast, seeks to confine religion purely to the home or church and limits religious education, religious rites of passage and public displays of faith.<ref name=MaierBruhn2004p111>Op. cit.{{Harvnb|Maier|Bruhn|2004|p=[http://books.google.com/books?id=Wozo1W7giZQC&pg=PA111 111]|Ref=CITEREFMaierBruhn2004}}</ref>
{{Wiktionary|secular}}
{{col div|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Civil religion]]
* [[Freedom of religion]]
* [[Secular education]]
* [[Secularism]]
* [[Secularity]]
* [[Secular religion]]
* [[Separation of church and state]]
* [[State atheism]]
* [[State religion]]
* [[Theocracy]]
* [[Religious law]]
{{colend}}


==Notes==
The hostile model of militant secularism arose with the [[Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution|French Revolution]] and is typified in the [[Persecution of Christians in Mexico|Mexican Revolution]] and the [[Spanish Constitution of 1931]].<ref name=MaierBruhn2004p111/><ref>Martinez-Torron, Javier [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3736/is_200101/ai_n8950497/ Freedom of religion in the case law of the Spanish Constitutional court], p. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3736/is_200101/ai_n8950497/pg_2 2], Brigham Young University Law Review 2001</ref> The hostile model exhibited during these events can be seen as approaching the type of [[political religion]] seen in [[totalitarian state]]s.<ref name=MaierBruhn2004p111 />
{{Notelist}}


==References==
The French separation of 1905 and the Spanish separation of 1931 have been characterized as the two most hostile of the twentieth century, although the current schemes in those countries are considered generally friendly.<ref name="Arguing Comparative Politics">Stepan, Alfred, [http://books.google.com/books?id=nR2tF4k1PXUC&dq Arguing Comparative Politics], p. 221, Oxford University Press</ref> France's President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], however, still considers the current scheme a "negative laicite" and wants to develop a "positive laicite" more open to religion.<ref>Beita, Peter B. [http://www.christiantoday.com/article/french.presidents.religious.mixing.riles.critics/16423.htm French President's religious mixing riles critics] Christianity Today, Jan. 23, 2008</ref> The hostilities of the state toward religion have been seen as a cause of civil war in [[Spanish Civil War#Constitution of 1931|Spain]]<ref>Payne, Stanley G. , [http://libro.uca.edu/payne2/spainport2.htm ''A History of Spain and Portugal'', Vol. 2], [http://libro.uca.edu/payne2/spainport2.htm Ch. 25: ''The Second Spanish Republic'' ], p. 632, (Print Edition: University of Wisconsin Press, 1973) ([http://libro.uca.edu/title.htm Library of Iberian Resources Online], Accessed July 11, 2009)</ref> and [[Cristero War|Mexico]].
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==Bibliography==
The French philosopher and a drafter of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], [[Jacques Maritain]], noted the distinction between the models of secularism found in France and in the mid-twentieth century United States. He considered the U.S. model of that time to be more amicable, because it had both "sharp distinction and actual cooperation" between church and state, what he called "an historical treasure", and he admonished the United States: "Please to God that you keep it carefully, and do not let your concept of separation veer round to the European one."<ref>Carson, D. A. [http://books.google.com/books?id=pIwE74bxvpAC&dq Christ And Culture Revisited], p. 189, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008</ref>
* Temperman, Jeroen, ''State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance'', BRILL, 2010, {{ISBN|9004181482}}


{{portalbar|politics|religion}}
==See also==
{{Wiktionary|secular}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Secular State}}
*[[Civil religion]]
[[Category:Constitutional law]]
*[[Laïcité]]
[[Category:Politics and secularism]]
*[[Religious police]]
*[[Secular education]]
*[[Secularism]]
*[[State atheism]]
*[[State religion]]
*[[Theocracy]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|3}}

[[Category:Secularism]]
[[Category:Religion and politics]]
[[Category:Religion and politics]]
[[Category:Religion and government]]

[[Category:Religious policy]]
[[ar:دولة علمانية]]
[[az:Dünyəvi dövlət]]
[[da:Sekulær stat]]
[[es:Estado laico]]
[[fa:دولت سکولار]]
[[fr:État séculier]]
[[ko:세속국가]]
[[pt:Estado secular]]
[[ru:Светское государство]]
[[th:รัฐโลกวิสัย]]
[[tr:Seküler devlet]]
[[zh:世俗國家]]

Latest revision as of 11:47, 8 December 2024

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  Ambiguous states or no data

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A secular state is an idea pertaining to secularity, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion.[1] A secular state claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen based on their religious beliefs, affiliation or lack of either over those with other profiles.[2]

Although secular states have no state religion, the absence of an established state religion does not mean that a state is completely secular or egalitarian. For example, some states that describe themselves as secular have religious references in their national anthems and flags, laws that benefit one religion or another, or are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.

Origin and practice

[edit]

Secularity can be established at a state's creation (e.g., the Soviet Union, the United States) or by it later secularizing (e.g., France or Nepal). Movements for laïcité in France and separation of church and state in the United States have defined modern concepts of secularism, the United States of America being the first explicitly secular government in history. Historically, the process of secularisation typically involves granting religious freedom, disestablishing state religions, stopping public funds being used for religion, freeing the legal system from religious control, freeing up the education system, tolerating citizens who change religion or abstain from religion, and allowing political leaders to come to power regardless of their religious beliefs.[3]

In France, Italy, and Spain, for example, official holidays for the public administration tend to be Christian feast days. Any private school in France that contracts with Éducation nationale means its teachers are salaried by the state—most of the Catholic schools are in this situation and, because of history, they are the majority; however, any other religious or non-religious schools also contract this way.[4] In some European states where secularism confronts monoculturalist philanthropy, some of the main Christian denominations and sects of other religions depend on the state for some of the financial resources for their religious charities.[5] It is common in corporate law and charity law to prohibit organized religion from using those funds to organize religious worship in a separate place of worship or for conversion; the religious body itself must provide the religious content, educated clergy and laypersons to exercise its own functions and may choose to devote part of their time to the separate charities. To that effect, some of those charities establish secular organizations that manage part of or all of the donations from the main religious bodies.

Many states that are nowadays secular in practice may have legal vestiges of an earlier established religion. Secularism also has various guises that may coincide with some degree of official religiosity. In the United Kingdom, the head of state is still required to take the Coronation Oath enacted in 1688, swearing to maintain the Protestant Reformed religion and to preserve the established Church of England.[6] The UK also maintains seats in the House of Lords for 26 senior clergymen of the Church of England, known as the Lords Spiritual.[7] In Canada the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affords secular freedoms of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression, including communication, assembly and association yet the Charter's preamble maintains the concept of "the supremacy of God" which would appear to disadvantage those who hold nontheistic or polytheistic beliefs, including Atheism and Buddhism.[8][9] Italy has been a secular state since the enactment of the Constitution in 1948 (stressed by a Constitutional court's decision in 1989),[10] but still recognizes a special status for the Catholic Church. The reverse progression can also occur, however; a state can go from being secular to being a religious state, as in the case of Iran where the secularized Imperial State of Iran was replaced by an Islamic Republic. Nonetheless, the last 250 years has seen a trend towards secularism.[11][12]

List of secular states by continent

[edit]
See also: Constitutional references to God

This is the list of countries that are explicitly described as secular in their constitutions or other official state documents.

Africa

[edit]

Americas

[edit]

Asia

[edit]

Europe

[edit]

Oceania

[edit]

Transcontinental countries

[edit]

Formerly secular states

[edit]

Ambiguous countries

[edit]
  •  Bangladesh
    • There is constitutional ambiguity whether Bangladesh is a secular country or an Islamic country. In 2010, the high court of Bangladesh reinstated secularism as a part of the Bangladesh constitution after terming the 1977 constitutional amendment done by then Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman as illegal.[171] Political leaders and experts have expressed uncertainty if Bangladesh is a secular state or an Islamic state.[172]
  •  Malaysia
    • In Article 3 of the Constitution of Malaysia, Islam is stated as the official religion of the country: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation." In 1956, the Alliance party submitted a memorandum to the Reid Commission, which was responsible for drafting the Malayan constitution. The memorandum quoted: "The religion of Malaya shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practicing their own religion and shall not imply that the state is not a secular state."[173] The full text of the Memorandum was inserted into paragraph 169 of the Commission Report.[174] This suggestion was later carried forward in the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals 1957 (White Paper), specifically quoted in paragraph 57: "There has been included in the proposed Federal Constitution a declaration that Islam is the religion of the Federation. This will in no way affect the present position of the Federation as a secular State...."[175] The Cobbold Commission also made another similar quote in 1962: "....we are agreed that Islam should be the national religion for the Federation. We are satisfied that the proposal in no way jeopardises freedom of religion in the Federation, which in effect would be secular."[176] In December 1987, the Lord President of the Supreme Court, Salleh Abas described Malaysia as governed by "secular law" in a court ruling.[177]

See also

[edit]
Look up secular in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c State with limited recognition.[106]
  2. ^ Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia provides, "the Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.[148] However, the states retain the power to pass religiously discriminatory laws.[149]

References

[edit]
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Bibliography

[edit]
  • Temperman, Jeroen, State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance, BRILL, 2010, ISBN 9004181482
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