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The article examines the top 10 countries with the largest atheist/agnostic populations, according to the following resource:

Zuckerman, Phil. “Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns”, chapter in The

Cambridge Companion to Atheism, ed. by Michael Martin, Cambridge University Press:

Cambridge, UK (2005).

The definition of atheism varies from theorist to theorist. However, it is widely seen as the belief of no god or higher being. Agnostics believe that there is something but do not what is out there. Unlike with atheists, they can be persuaded with actual factual proof.

1. China:

China has 103,907,840 to 181,838,720 atheists/agnostics living in the country. This calculates to approximately 8-14% of the total population. This became prevalent during the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Before that, the Chinese were predominately Buddhist (90%).

2. Japan:

Japan has 81,493,120 to 82,766,450 atheists/agnostics living in the country. This calculates to approximately 64-65% of the total population.

3. Russia:

Russia has 34,507,680 – 69,015,360 atheists/agnostics living in the country. This calculates to approximately 24-48% of the total population. Atheism was first employed by Stalin in what is called military atheism. He violently attacked religious and disenfranchised churches.

4. Vietnam:

Vietnam has 66,978,900 atheists/agnostics living in the country. This calculates to approximately 81% of the total population. The constitution of Vietnam, enacted in 1980 allowed people the freedom of worship.

5. Germany:

Germany has 33,794,250 – 40,388,250 atheists/agnostics living in the country. This calculates to approximately 41-49% of the total population. It is home to Emmanuel Kant and Karl Marx, who both were atheists/agnostics. Kant widely criticized religious morality.

According to the WHO, there are 1.5 million adults who are overweight and obese. The following list expands on the top 10 list of countries increasing overweight population provided by the WHO in 2007 and 2009. It delves into the crux of the problems countries face. The emphasis and focal point of this article is on the changes overtime, not specifically identified by the WHO.

1. Samoa: 83%

83% of Samoans are overweight. The reason why Samoa is # 1 is because it has a big population that is obese. According to WHO, American Samoans (of the Samoan Islands) are the fattest people in the world. 93.5% of the population is obese. The high numbers are due to the increasing migration and cultural exchanges between the West and the Samoan people. Samoan people are bringing in Western ideas for the diets. The diets are not nutritional and are high in sugar and in saturated fats.

2. Nauru: 94.5%

This tiny country has an average BMI between 34 and 35. The blame and finger is pointed towards the western Fast Food businesses which now operate inside the country. The population has become more urbanized and has tried to rely less on traditional diets and more on what we call junk food. Before junk food, obesity was never a problem. As of 2007, they have the highest overweight population. As is the problem with many South Pacific islands, Naura is expected to face such issues because of its dependence on Western cultures.

3. Federated States of Micronesia: 91.1%

Micronesia is a country with a history of dependence on foreign influences. In the last 50 years the country has been extremely influenced by the United States, who took over the country after World War II. Particularly they have changed their diets to the suggestions of the Americans. Foreign relations have allowed the country to bring in imported goods. The people are now eating more salted and processed foods which are higher in saturated fats such as corned beef, turkey tails and spam. It is thus not surprising that this country has the second highest population of overweight people. WHO predicts that the population will increase by 2015 as long as foreign influences are present.

4. United States: 74.1%

If you are wondering why United States is on this list, you should watch the documentary Super Size Me! Americans do not realize what affect McDonald’s and other fast food industries have on their weight and health. Today, 1 in 3 kids are overweight and/or obese. They are performing activities such as watching TV, which involve little exercise. 68% of adults are also overweight and have BMI between 25 and 29. It is no surprise that many Americans are approaching obesity and that obesity has quadrupled between 1986 and 2000.

They have no one to blame but themselves. They are the founders of many fast food franchises such as KFC, Taco Bell and McDonalds.

5. Mexico: 68.1%

Within the last decade there has been a surge in soft drink availability and fast food industries in Mexico. There are now a total of more than 200 McDonald’s in the country. 71% of women and 66% of men are affected by health problems associated with being overweight and obese. People choose deep fried foods over healthy ones anywhere and anytime in the country. The increasing influence of fast food and soft drinks caused a nation with an obese/overweight population of fewer than 10% in 1986 to 68.1% in 2007. This is a big change which is leading in the wrong direction. The effect is enormous as the Mexican Diabetes Foundation believes that 6 to 10 million Mexicans are affected by diabetes, which is caused by obesity and overweight.

According to current U.S. census estimates, the human population is rising rapidly, touching almost 6.4 billion people worldwide and this is bad news for the animal population. Expanding cities, industrial infrastructure, urban lifestyles have driven energy and food needs to dangerous levels which if not controlled will destroy the natural habitats of these animals. We will lose these precious species as they are on the brink of extinction. The World Wildlife Federation estimates the following 10 species to be the top 10 endangered ones.

1. Black Rhino

Mainly seen in Eastern and Southern Africa, the population of the Black Rhino has gone down by 90% since 1970 and now numbers just 3000. This animal species is killed mainly for their horns. Although a ban has been imposed on its hunting, poaching continues because of the huge requirement for Rhino parts in several countries.

2. Giant Panda

Native to China, this rare animal also faces the threat of extinction. There are only 1,000 Pandas remaining in their natural habitat of China. Widespread poaching and the loss of its natural settings are the main reasons for the decline of Panda population.

3. Tiger

Tigers and their subspecies, which are largely found in the temperate regions such as Russian Far East and the tropical regions in Southeast Asia, are facing a deadly future. Owing to medicinal value of tiger bones in traditional Asian medicine and the high price fetched by tiger skin and other body parts, these animals have been reduced to just 6,000 due to poaching.

4. Beluga Sturgeon

Native to the Caspian Sea, Beluga Sturgeon are known the world over for its highly valued caviar. Hence, the high prices fetched by the “pearl-like” caviar of these fishes and the excessive demand has influenced poaching and too much fishing in the Caspian. Only strict regulation of the caviar trade by the governing bodies can save them.

5. Goldenseal

Found in the North American hard wood forests, Goldenseal is a herb in huge demand across the world due to its natural healing properties. The ability to cure common ailments such as allergies and hemorrhoids has made it a favorite of naturopaths.

Let us take a close look at the list top 10 least densely populated territories and countries.

1. Greenland, Denmark

Population density: 0.026 people/km²
Greenland is an ice-covered territory between the Atlantic and the Artic Oceans. It is located at the northeastern part of Canada and is considered as the world’s biggest island. Greenland is an autonomous province of Denmark.

2. Falkland Islands, UK

Population density: 0.25 people/km²
The Falkland Islands is an archipelagic territory composed of 2 major island and 776 small islands located in the Southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a self-governing territory under the control of the United Kingdom.

3. Sahara, Morocco

Population density: 1.3 people/km²
Western Sahara is located in North Africa and is bordered by Morocco on the North end, Mauritania on the south and east and Algeria on the northeast portion. About 440,000 people inhabit a territory that is the size of New Zealand.

4. Mongolia

Population density: 1.7 people/km²
Mongolia is sandwiched between China in the East-Central Asian region and Russia. It is known as the world’s independent country that is least densely populated.

5. French Guiana, France

Population density: 2.1 people/km²
French Guiana is an overseas independent territory and one among the 26 overseas regions of France. It is located on the northern tip of South America.