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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

More or Less: Nuns on the Rise

Factual

A group of nuns in church

01/05/2015

Nuns on the Rise

BBC World Service - More or Less, Nuns on the Rise

Is the number of Catholic nuns rising? Tim Harford looks at the figures. Plus, comedian and mathematician Matt Parker addresses a listener’s query on finding a life partner.

It was recently reported in the news in the UK that the number of Catholic nuns has trebled in the past five years, reaching its highest level since 1990. The number of women training to become Catholic nuns in Great Britain has reached a 25 year high. Are we witnessing the so-called ‘Pope Francis effect’? What is the long term trend – are more women becoming nuns? Tim Harford looks at figures from the UK and across the world. 
 
Plus, Matt Parker the stand-up mathematician is invited back to the programme to respond to a listener’s query about his theory on the best way to find a life partner.

(Photo: Nuns pray during a vigil to call for peace in Ukraine, Syria and all countries tormented by persecutions and war. Credit: AP)

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