Atheism or apostasy is punishable by death in approximately 13 Muslim-majority countries, closely matching the list provided, though the exact number is generally cited as 13 rather than 14.
Mostly True
In at least 14 Muslim majority countries atheism or apostasy is punishable by death. Those being Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Pakistan
The right to apostasy in the world - Humanists International
Source: humanists.international
At a glance
Verified August 4, 2025Key Evidence
Sources such as The Atlantic and Business Insider both list exactly these 13 countries as imposing the death penalty for atheism or apostasy.
theatlantic.comtheatlantic.comThere Are 13 Countries Where Atheism Is Punishable by Death
businessinsider.combusinessinsider.comAtheism Is Punishable By Death In These 13 Countries
Humanists International and the National Secular Society also confirm that apostasy is punishable by death in about a dozen countries with significant overlap in this list.
secularism.org.uksecularism.org.ukDeath sentence for apostasy in nearly a dozen countries, report says
humanists.internationalhumanists.internationalThe right to apostasy in the world
Reddit discussions and other forums corroborate these findings without adding additional countries beyond these 13.
reddit.comreddit.comr/atheism on Reddit: Which countries kill atheists?
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim that atheism or apostasy is punishable by death in at least 14 Muslim-majority countries is largely accurate but slightly overstated in number. Multiple reputable sources from recent years consistently identify 13 countries where such penalties exist: Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
These countries are all Muslim-majority and have legal frameworks or interpretations of Sharia law that allow for the death penalty for apostasy or atheism. The list in the claim matches these countries exactly but counts 14 instead of 13. No widely recognized source currently supports a total of 14 countries; the figure of 13 is standard in human rights and secular advocacy reports.
Additionally, some reports note that the enforcement and application of these laws vary significantly by country and over time. Therefore, while the list of countries is correct, the number should be 13 rather than 14 to align with authoritative sources.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source