Pew Poll: Religious People Happier Than Others

People who consider themselves actively religious are happier than people who are not active in their faith or are not affiliated with a religion.

Key findings in the Pew Research Center survey:

• 71 percent of Mexicans who are actively religious are "very happy;" 61 percent of religiously unaffiliated and 64 percent of religiously inactive people said they are "very happy."
• Colombia had the second-highest rating among religiously active people, with 58 percent saying they are "very happy."
• The United States is farther down the line, with 36 percent of religiously active people saying they are "very happy," while 25 percent of religiously unaffiliated and inactive people said the same.
• Belarus has the lowest rating among religiously active people, with just 11 percent saying they are "very happy."

A separate poll in December found 72 percent of Americans think religion is important. Another 81 percent said religion answers most problems.

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