To define what it takes to “truly” belong to a country, many people across the globe emphasize speaking the local language. They view it as the most important factor. In fact, more people see speaking the national language as essential to national identity. They consider it more important than other factors, like being born in the country or following its customs and traditions.
However, religion is generally considered the least important marker of national belonging. This is especially true for those who are members of the historically predominant religion. According to surveys by the Pew Research Center conducted in 2023 and 2024 across 36 countries, the views on what constitutes national identity vary significantly by age, education, and ideology.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE IN NATIONAL IDENTITY
Globally, a large majority of people think speaking the country’s most common language is at least somewhat important. They feel it is crucial for truly belonging. In fact, in many nations, a significant share sees it as very important.
While there are exceptions, Singapore is notable. Only about a quarter of adults there consider speaking Mandarin crucial for being truly Singaporean. This is despite Mandarin being one of the country’s four official languages (alongside English, Malay, and Tamil). This is a reflection of Singapore’s multicultural society, where no single language holds dominance.
Across various countries, attitudes toward language as an element of national identity often differ by demographics. For example, older individuals are more likely to place a higher value on speaking the local language than younger people. In the Netherlands, 72% of those over 40 say speaking Dutch is very important. In contrast, only 45% of adults under 40 feel the same. This generational divide reflects how language can evolve as a cultural marker over time.
In terms of education and ideology, those with less formal education often see speaking the local language as crucial for national belonging. People on the ideological right are also more likely to view language as essential. In the U.S., 71% of conservatives think speaking English is necessary to be truly American. This contrasts with only 21% of liberals.
CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
Adopting local customs and traditions is also seen by many as important for truly belonging to a country. Nevertheless, the importance of this factor varies widely, particularly between middle-income and high-income countries. In Indonesia, a middle-income country, 79% of people say following customs and traditions is vital for national identity. In contrast, only 40% of adults in Australia, a high-income country, share this view.
In Europe, there is a noticeable divide in attitudes based on ideology. In the UK, for instance, supporters of right-wing populist parties such as Reform UK are 35 points more likely to say following local customs is essential to being truly British than non-supporters (55% vs. 20%).
Older people, those less educated, or more ideologically right-leaning tend to value customs and traditions greatly. In the U.S., conservatives (54%) are much more likely than liberals (14%) to consider the sharing of American customs vital for national belonging. This represents a 40-point difference that underscores the ideological divide.
BIRTHPLACE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
When it comes to birthplace, opinions vary widely. In high-income countries with large immigrant populations, fewer than half of adults believe that being born in their country is crucial for national identity. This perspective varies greatly across nations. For example, in Sweden, only 4% of adults say that being born in Sweden is crucial for being truly Swedish. Similarly, only a quarter of adults in Germany and 17% in Sweden share this view.
In contrast, people in many middle-income countries view being born in their country as essential. This includes countries like Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. It is considered a central aspect of national identity. About 80% of people in Bangladesh and India consider birthplace very important. Many people in Kenya, Peru, and Sri Lanka share similar views.
In general, less educated people are more likely to believe that birthplace is essential for true national belonging. They think being born in their country is crucial. People on the ideological right also tend to hold this belief. This is particularly evident in Spain. More than half of those who support the right-wing populist Vox party argue that birthplace is crucial to being truly Spanish. In contrast, just a quarter of non-supporters share this view.
THE U.S.: A DEEP DIVIDE IN VIEWS ON NATIONAL IDENTITY
Among high-income countries, the United States stands out for its deep ideological divide over national identity. Conservatives in the U.S. are significantly more likely to prioritize language, customs, and birthplace when defining what it means to be truly American. U.S. liberals, on the other hand, tend to place less importance on these factors, especially language. For example, only 21% of U.S. liberals believe speaking English is very important for being American, compared to 71% of conservatives — a stark contrast that highlights the political polarization in the country.
This ideological difference also extends to attitudes about customs and traditions, where U.S. conservatives are far more likely to prioritize the sharing of American customs as part of national identity.
