Government restrictions on religion, by region Median scores on the Government Restrictions Index Middle East North Africa
While sub-Saharan Africa had fewer religious restrictions in 2015 than many other parts of the world, it experienced a larger increase that year than any other region, according to a recent Pew Research Center report that tracks these restrictions by both governments and private individuals and groups. Attacks by the Nigeria-based extremist group Boko Haram, along with subsequent government reactions to those incidents, played a role in this increase.
Government restrictions on religion,  | by region  | Median scores on the Government Restrictions Index  | Middle East North Africa  | 5 9  | 4.7  | Asia -Pacific  | 3.2  | Europe  | World  | 3  | I  | 2.2  | 1.8  | 1.6 1.7  | 1.  | Sub-Saharan Africa  | 1.6 1.7  | Americas  | 1.0  | 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  | Source: Pew Research Center analysis of external data  | See Methodology for details.  | "Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly in 2015,  | Reversing Downward Trend"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 