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date: 24 January 2021

Abstract and Keywords

This essay provides an overview of what is known about atheists in North America. It begins with estimates of the total number of atheists in North America, including Central America, Caribbean nations, Mexico, Canada, and the US. Demographic characteristics of atheists in Canada, Mexico, and the US based on the World Values Survey are also examined. What life is like for atheists in the US, including the discrimination they experience and the issues they must address in developing an atheist identity in a predominantly religious country, are also detailed. The essay concludes with suggestions for future research.

Keywords: atheist, North America, United States, Mexico, Canada, Central America, Caribbean, demographics, discrimination, identity development

Ryan T. Cragun

Ryan T. Cragun is an assistant professor of Sociology at the University of Tampa. His research focuses on the nonreligious, secularization, and Mormonism.

Joseph H. Hammer

Joseph H. Hammer is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University. His research focuses on stigma, with specific attention to how it impacts diverse individuals' willingness to seek counseling and psychological well-being.

Jesse M. Smith

Jesse M. Smith is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His interests include nonreligion, deviance, and the self.

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