I have compared the moral values of atheists and theists using data from the World Values Survey and the European Values Study for the last 20 years.  This survey program includes 262 surveys in 112 countries over the period 2004-2021, with a total sample size of 386.870 respondents. See here for more details on the survey program.

As described in previous posts (here and here), I have developed an index of modern versus pre-modern moral values using Kohlberg’s three stages of moral development. Pre-modern moral values and related religious values focus on absolute rules, obedience and punishment and a stage 1 individual is good in order to avoid being punished. In stage 2, the individual internalizes the moral standards of the culture or their religion and is good in order to be seen as a good person by oneself and others. Moral reasoning is based on the standards of the religion/culture, and on individual rights and justice. In stage 3, the individual becomes aware that while rules and laws may exist for the greater good, they may not be applicable in specific circumstances. Issues are not black and white, and the individual develops their own set of moral standards based in universal rights and responsibilities.

I reviewed questions included in the WVS and EVS to identify those (a) most relevant to distinguishing pre-modern and modern moral values and (b) widely available in the survey waves. I then estimated a continuous latent variable based on the categorical responses to 12 questions. The average value of this moral values index ranged from -0.3 for Pakistan up to 9.56 for Denmark. The variable has been scaled so that 0 corresponds to pre-modern values and 10 to the highest level of modern values.

The figure below shows the average moral values index for atheists, non-religious people, and for religious people by religion. Averages for the world and for Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand (as a group) are shown. Its clear that Atheists have the highest moral values score, followed by Jews and non-religious. At the other end of the scale, Hindus and Muslims have the lowest level of modern moral values.

For the countries of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, theists have an overall average moral values score of 4.7, compared to 7.3 for non-religious people, and 7.9 for atheists. For comparison, Denmark and Sweden have an overall moral values score of 9.5 and the Netherlands 7.9. Brazil has a score of 4.8, Russia 4.7 and China 4.0.

In particular, it is clear that, on average, atheists are more moral than Christians, both globally and for the countries of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. I include a distribution plot comparing the moral values index for atheists and Christians in these countries.