Why is atheism a mostly Western phenomenon?

Answer 1

This is not correct. Visible Atheists are mostly in Western countries because Atheists in Latin America, Africa, the Islamic World, and parts of Asia risk serious violence or social setbacks for coming out publicly. A number of Atheists have left those areas to come to the West in order to promote their Atheism within the relative safety of the West. Maryam Namazie, Fariborz Pooya, Ali Rizvi, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and several others fit this mold.

Answer 2

Where ever you find people you will find atheists. Many countries are secular (no impact of religion on government) and the people tend to be, if not atheists, non-theists. China with a third of the human race would fall into this category. May European countries such as Denmark and the other Scandinavian countries are mainly secular and non-theistsic.

Assessing the number of atheists is difficult in any population as social forces tend to make atheists a bit careful about "coming out". Western countries tend to be somewhat more open in this regard and atheists are a bit more obvious.

Answer 3

It truly is not. There are over 700,000,000 atheists worldwide and it is growing yearly.