It includes regional surveys, and background essays on U.S. foreign policy, international relations and the current state of religious freedom. The survey also finds that religious freedom does not correlate easily with wealth. While the countries in the North Atlantic are free, other wealthy countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Singapore, are not. Furthermore, some less prosperous countries, such as Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Lithuania are free. Ideology and culture affect freedom just as much as wealth, the study concludes.
Religious freedom shows some correlation with religious background.
With some exceptions, notably Cuba, historically Christian countries tend to be free, though there is increasing intolerance in parts of Western Europe. Traditionally Buddhist countries, with the exception of those still under communist domination, also rank comparatively well. Hindu countries are increasingly unfree due to the recent upsurge of repression in India. The religious areas with the largest current restrictions on religious freedom are countries with an Islamic background. This parallels problems with democracy and civil liberties in general, but the negative trend is stronger with respect to religion.