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Religion in Europe

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Religion has been a major influence on the societies, cultures, traditions, philosophies, artistic expressions and laws within present-day Europe. The largest religion in Europe is Christianity.[1] However, irreligion and practical secularisation are also prominent in some countries.[2][3] In Southeastern Europe, three countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Albania) have Muslim majorities, with Christianity being the second-largest religion in those countries. Ancient European religions included veneration for deities such as Zeus. Modern revival movements of these religions include Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry, Wicca, and others. Smaller religions include Indian religions, Judaism, and some East Asian religions, which are found in their largest groups in Britain, France, and Kalmykia.

Importance of Religion in Europe (results of a 2008/2009 Gallup poll)
Predominance of Christianity in countries across Europe (2010)

Little is known about the prehistoric religion of Neolithic Europe. Bronze and Iron Age religion in Europe as elsewhere was predominantly polytheistic (Ancient Greek religion, Ancient Roman religion, Basque mythology, Finnish paganism, Celtic polytheism, Germanic paganism, etc.).

The Roman Empire officially adopted Christianity in AD 380. During the Early Middle Ages, most of Europe underwent Christianization, a process essentially complete with the Christianization of Scandinavia in the High Middle Ages. The notion of "Europe" and the "Western World" has been intimately connected with the concept of "Christendom", and many even consider Christianity as the unifying belief that created a European identity,[4] especially since Christianity in the Middle East was marginalized by the rise of Islam from the 8th century. This confrontation led to the Crusades, which ultimately failed militarily, but were an important step in the emergence of a European identity based on religion. Despite this, traditions of folk religion continued at all times, largely independent from institutional religion or dogmatic theology.

The Great Schism of the 11th century and Reformation of the 16th century tore apart Christendom into hostile factions, and following the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century, atheism and agnosticism have spread across Europe. Nineteenth-century Orientalism contributed to a certain popularity of Hinduism and Buddhism, and the 20th century brought increasing syncretism, New Age, and various new religious movements divorcing spirituality from inherited traditions for many Europeans. Recent times have seen increased secularisation and religious pluralism.[5]

Religiosity

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Data: https://www.kaggle.com/umichigan/world-religions

Some European countries have experienced a decline in church membership and church attendance.[6][7] A relevant example of this trend is Sweden where the Church of Sweden, previously the state-church until 2000, claimed to have 82.9% of the Swedish population as its flock in 2000. Surveys showed this had dropped to 72.9% by 2008[8] and to 56.4% by 2019.[9] Moreover, in the 2005 Eurobarometer survey 23%[10] of the Swedish population said that they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force and in the 2010 Eurobarometer survey 34%[2] said the same.

Gallup survey 2008–2009

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During 2008–2009, a Gallup survey asked in several countries the question "Is religion important in your daily life?" The table and map below shows percentage of people who answered "Yes" to the question.[11][12]

 
Results of a 2008/2009 Gallup survey on whether respondents said that religion was "important in [their] daily life."[11][12]
  
0%–9%
  
10%–19% (Estonia, Sweden, Denmark)
  
20%–29% (Norway, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Finland)
  
30%–39% (France, Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Russia, Belarus, Luxembourg, Hungary, Albania, Latvia)
  
40%–49% (Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain)
  
50%–59% (Azerbaijan, Serbia, Ireland, Austria)
  
60%–69%
  
70%–79% (Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Cyprus, North Macedonia)
  
80%–89% (Turkey, Romania, Malta, Armenia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  
90%–100% (Kosovo, Georgia)
  
No data
Importance of Religion in Europe by Gallup Poll (2008–2009)[11][12]
Country Percentage
  Estonia
 
 16%
  Sweden
 
 17%
  Denmark
 
 19%
  Norway
 
 21%
  Czech Republic
 
 21%
  United Kingdom
 
 27%
  Finland
 
 28%
  France
 
 30%
  Netherlands
 
 33%
  Belgium
 
 33%
  Bulgaria
 
 34%
  Russia
 
 34%
  Belarus
 
 34%
  Luxembourg
 
 39%
  Hungary
 
 39%
  Albania
 
 39%
  Latvia
 
 39%
  Germany
 
 40%
   Switzerland
 
 41%
  Lithuania
 
 42%
  Kazakhstan
 
 43%
  Ukraine
 
 46%
  Slovenia
 
 47%
  Slovakia
 
 47%
  Spain
 
 49%
  Azerbaijan
 
 50%
  Serbia
 
 54%
  Ireland
 
 54%
  Austria
 
 55%
  Croatia
 
 70%
  Montenegro
 
 71%
  Greece
 
 71%
  Portugal
 
 72%
  Italy
 
 72%
  Poland
 
 75%
  Cyprus
 
 75%
  Romania
 
 76%
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
 
 80%
  Turkey
 
 82%
  Malta
 
 86%
  Moldova
 
 88%
  Armenia
 
 89%
  Kosovo
 
 90%
  Georgia
 
 90%

During 2007–2008, a Gallup poll asked in several countries the question "Does religion occupy an important place in your life?" The table on right shows percentage of people who answered "No".[13]

Lack of Importance of Religion in Europe by Gallup poll (2007–2008)
Country Percentage
  Estonia
 
 84%
  Sweden
 
 83%
  Denmark
 
 80%
  Norway
 
 78%
  Azerbaijan
 
 74%
  Czech Republic
 
 74%
  France
 
 73%
  United Kingdom
 
 71%
  Finland
 
 69%
  Netherlands
 
 66%
  Belarus
 
 65%
  Russia
 
 63%
  Albania
 
 63%
  Bulgaria
 
 62%
  Latvia
 
 62%
  Belgium
 
 61%
  Hungary
 
 59%
  Slovenia
 
 59%
  Spain
 
 59%
  Germany
 
 57%
  Switzerland
 
 56%
  Ukraine
 
 54%
  Lithuania
 
 52%
  Slovakia
 
 51%
  Austria
 
 42%
  Ireland
 
 42%
  Romania
 
 31%
  Serbia
 
 31%
  Croatia
 
 30%
  Greece
 
 30%
  Portugal
 
 27%
  Montenegro
 
 27%
  Italy
 
 26%
  Cyprus
 
 24%
  Poland
 
 23%
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
 
 19%
  North Macedonia
 
 19%
  Malta
 
 18%
  Moldova
 
 11%
  Armenia
 
 10%
  Turkey
 
 9%
  Georgia
 
 9%

Eurobarometer survey 2010

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Largest (non-)religious group by EU member state[14] according to Eurobarometer survey 2010.[2]
  More than 75% Catholic
  50–75% Catholic
  Relative Catholic majority
  50–75% Protestant
  More than 75% Orthodox
  50–75% non-religious
  Relative non-religious majority
  More than 75% Muslim

The 2010 Eurobarometer survey[2] found that, on average, 51% of the citizens of the EU member states state that they "believe there is a God", 26% "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" while 20% "don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force". 3% declined to answer. According to a recent study (Dogan, Mattei, Religious Beliefs in Europe: Factors of Accelerated Decline), 47% of French people declared themselves as agnostics in 2003. This situation is often called "Post-Christian Europe". A decrease in religiousness and church attendance in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden has been noted, despite a concurrent increase in some countries like Greece (2% in 1 year). The Eurobarometer survey must be taken with caution, however, as there are discrepancies between it and national census results. For example, in the United Kingdom, the 2001 census revealed over 70% of the population regarded themselves as "Christian" with only 15% professing to have "no religion", though the wording of the question has been criticized as "leading" by the British Humanist Association.[15] Romania, one of the most religious countries in Europe, witnessed a threefold increase in the number of atheists between 2002 and 2011, as revealed by the most recent national census.[16]

 
Eurobarometer survey 2005 chart results

The following is a list of European countries ranked by religiosity, based on the rate of belief, according to the Eurobarometer survey 2010.[2] The 2010 Eurobarometer survey asked whether the person "believes there is a God", "believes there is some sort of spirit or life force", or "doesn't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".

Eurobarometer survey 2010[2]
Country "I believe
there is a God" 		"I believe there is some
sort of spirit or life force" 		"I don't believe there is any sort
of spirit, God or life force"
  Malta 94% 4% 2%
  Romania 93% 6% 1%
  Cyprus 88% 8% 3%
  Poland 79% 14% 5%
  Greece 79% 16% 4%
  Italy 74% 20% 6%
  Ireland 70% 20% 7%
  Portugal 70% 15% 12%
  Slovakia 63% 23% 13%
  Spain 59% 20% 19%
  Lithuania 47% 37% 12%
  Luxembourg 46% 22% 24%
  Hungary 45% 34% 20%
  Austria 44% 38% 12%
  Germany 44% 25% 27%
  Latvia 38% 48% 11%
  United Kingdom 37% 33% 25%
  Belgium 37% 31% 27%
  Bulgaria 36% 43% 15%
  Finland 33% 42% 22%
  Slovenia 32% 36% 26%
  Denmark 28% 47% 24%
  Netherlands 28% 39% 30%
  France 27% 27% 40%
  Estonia 18% 50% 29%
  Sweden 18% 45% 34%
  Czech Republic 16% 44% 37%
  EU27 51% 26% 20%
  Turkey (EUCU, not EU) 94% 1% 1%
  Croatia (joined EU in 2013) 69% 22% 7%
  Switzerland (EFTA, not EU) 44% 39% 11%
  Iceland (EFTA, not EU) 31% 49% 18%
  Norway (EFTA, not EU) 22% 44% 29%

The decrease in theism is illustrated in the 1981 and 1999 according to the World Values Survey,[17] both for traditionally strongly theist countries (Spain: 86.8%:81.1%; Ireland 94.8%:93.7%) and for traditionally secular countries (Sweden: 51.9%:46.6%; France 61.8%:56.1%; Netherlands 65.3%:58.0%). Some countries nevertheless show increase of theism over the period, Italy 84.1%:87.8%, Denmark 57.8%:62.1%. For a comprehensive study on Europe, see Mattei Dogan's "Religious Beliefs in Europe: Factors of Accelerated Decline" in Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion.

Eurobarometer survey 2019

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Self described religion in the European Union (2019)[18]

  Roman Catholic (41%)
  Eastern Orthodoxy (10%)
  Protestantism (9%)
  Other Christians (4%)
  Non believer/Agnostic (17%)
  Atheism (10%)
  Islam (2%)
  Other religion (4%)
  Refusal/Don't know (3%)
 
Largest (non-)religious group by EU member state according to Eurobarometer survey 2019.[19]
  More than 75% Catholic
  50–75% Catholic
  Relative Catholic majority
  50–75% Protestant
  More than 75% Orthodox
  50–75% non-religious
  Relative non-religious majority
  30% Catholic, 30% non-religious (Germany)

According to the 2019 Eurobarometer survey about Religiosity in the European Union Christianity is the largest religion in the European Union accounting 64% of the EU population,[18] down from 72% in 2012.[20] Catholics are the largest Christian group in EU, accounting for 41% of EU population, while Eastern Orthodox make up 10%, and Protestants make up 9%, and other Christians account for 4% of the EU population. Non believer/Agnostic account 17%, Atheist 10%, and Muslim 2% of the EU population. 3% refuse to answer or didn't know.[18]

Eurobarometer survey 2019[18]
Country "Atheist" "Non believer/Agnostic" "Atheist + Non believer/Agnostic"
  Romania 2% 2% 4%
  Malta 2% 2% 4%
  Cyprus 3% 4% 7%
  Poland 5% 4% 9%
  Lithuania 3% 6% 9%
  Greece 7% 4% 11%
  Slovakia 6% 5% 11%
  Croatia 6% 5% 11%
  Portugal 4% 8% 12%
  Ireland 7% 7% 14%
  Italy 5% 9% 14%
  Bulgaria 8% 7% 15%
  Austria 4% 12% 16%
  Slovenia 14% 4% 18%
  Latvia 6% 13% 19%
  Hungary 3% 17% 20%
  Denmark 9% 13% 22%
  Finland 10% 14% 24%
  Luxembourg 10% 16% 26%
  Germany 9% 21% 30%
  Belgium 10% 21% 31%
  Spain 12% 20% 32%
  United Kingdom 19% 20% 39%
  France 21% 19% 40%
  Estonia 21% 27% 48%
  Sweden 16% 34% 50%
  Netherlands 11% 41% 52%
  Czech Republic 22% 34% 56%
  EU28 10% 17% 27%

Maps

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  •  
    Belief "There is a God" per country based on Eurobarometer 2005 survey
  •  
    Belief "there is some sort of spirit or life force" per country based on Eurobarometer 2005 survey
  •  
    No belief in "any sort of spirit, God or life force" per country based on Eurobarometer 2005 survey
  •  
    Belief "there is a God" per country based on Eurobarometer 2010 survey
  •  
    Belief "there is some sort of spirit or life force" per country based on Eurobarometer 2010 survey
  •  
    No belief in "any sort of spirit, God or life force" per country based on Eurobarometer 2010 survey

Pew Research Poll

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According to the 2012 Global Religious Landscape survey by the Pew Research Center, 75.2% of the Europe residents are Christians, 18.2% are irreligious, atheist or agnostic, 5.9% are Muslims and 0.2% are Jews, 0.2% are Hindus, 0.2% are Buddhist, and 0.1% adhere to other religions.[21] According to the 2015 Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe survey by the Pew Research Center, 57.9% of the Central and Eastern Europeans identified as Orthodox Christians,[22] and according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center, 71.0% of Western Europeans identified as Christians, 24.0% identified as religiously unaffiliated and 5% identified as adhere to other religions.[23] According to the same study a large majority (83%) of those who were raised as Christians in Western Europe still identify as such, and the remainder mostly self-identify as religiously unaffiliated.[23]

Pew Research Poll

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Pew Research Poll 2015[22]
Country Affiliated Orthodox,
Catholic or Muslim
(poll 1) 		Unaffiliated
(poll 1) 		Other/DK/ref
(poll 1)* 		"Believe in God,
absolutely certain"
(poll 2)** 		"Believe in God,
fairly certain"
(poll 2)** 		"Believe in God,
not too/at all certain"
(poll 2)** 		"Do not believe in God"
(Poll 2)** 		Atheist
(poll 3)*** 		Agnostic
(poll 3)*** 		Nothing in particular
(poll 3)***
  Armenia 97 2 1 94 2 1 2 1 1
  Georgia 99 <1 1 93 2 2 1 <1
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 96 3 1 90 3 2 3 2 1
  Moldova 95 2 3 89 4 3 3 1 1
  Romania 91 1 8 64 28 2 4 1
  Serbia 94 4 1 73 16 3 5 2 1 1
  Croatia 90 7 3 72 14 5 5 4 2 1
  Greece 92 4 4 69 16 7 6 3 1
  Poland 88 7 5 45 35 5 8 2 1 4
  Lithuania 78 6 17 34 34 7 11 2 4
  Ukraine 88 7 5 32 45 6 9 3 4
  Bulgaria 91 5 4 30 40 7 17 2 1 2
  Latvia 54 21 25 28 34 7 15 3 18
  Belarus 86 3 11 26 47 11 9 2 1
  Hungary 57 21 22 26 26 7 30 5 16
  Russia 81 15 4 25 38 10 15 4 1 10
  Czech Republic 22 72 6 13 13 3 66 25 1 46
  Estonia 26 45 29 13 24 7 45 9 1 35

(*) 13% of respondents in Hungary identify as Presbyterian. In Estonia and Latvia, 20% and 19%, respectively, identify as Lutherans. And in Lithuania, 14% say they are "just a Christian" and do not specify a particular denomination. They are included in the "other" category.
(**) Identified as "don't know/refused" from the "other/idk/ref" column are excluded from this statistic.
(***) Figures may not add to subtotals due to rounding.

Pew research poll in 2017 ** [24]
Country A holy book (e.g. Bible) is written
by men, not the word of God		 A holy book is the word of God
  Georgia
9%
88%
  Armenia
9%
87%
  Moldova
10%
87%
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
14%
81%
  Romania
18%
76%
  Ukraine
21%
63%
  Poland
24%
61%
  Serbia
28%
59%
  Greece
28%
58%
  Croatia
29%
58%
  Russia
30%
58%
  Belarus
27%
57%
  Bulgaria
41%
43%
  Lithuania
43%
42%
  Hungary
41%
41%
  Latvia
38%
40%
  Estonia
58%
26%
  Czech Republic
65%
21%

(**) Identified with answers "don't know/refused" are not shown.

Abrahamic religions

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Bahá'í Faith

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Main article: Bahá'í Faith in Europe
 
Bahá'í House of Worship, Langenhain, Germany

The first newspaper reference to the religious movement began with coverage of the Báb, whom Bahá'ís consider the forerunner of the Bahá'í Faith, which occurred in The Times on 1 November 1845, only a little over a year after the Báb first started his mission.[25] British, Russian, and other diplomats, businessmen, scholars, and world travelers also took note of the precursor Bábí religion[26] most notably in 1865 by Frenchman Arthur de Gobineau who wrote the first and most influential account. In April 1890 Edward G. Browne of Cambridge University met Bahá'u'lláh, the prophet-founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and left the only detailed description by a Westerner.[27]

Starting in the 1890s Europeans began to convert to the religion. In 1910 Bahá'u'lláh's son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bahá embarked on a three-year journey to including Europe and North America[28] and then wrote a series of letters that were compiled together in the book titled Tablets of the Divine Plan which included mention of the need to spread the religion in Europe following the war.[29]

A 1925 list of "leading local Bahá'í Centres" of Europe listed organized communities of many countries – the largest being in Germany.[30] However the religion was soon banned in a couple of countries: in 1937 Heinrich Himmler disbanded the Bahá'í Faith's institutions in Germany because of its 'international and pacifist tendencies'[31] and in Russia in 1938 "monstrous accusations" against Bahá'ís and a Soviet government policy of oppression of religion resulted in Bahá'í communities in 38 cities across Soviet territories ceasing to exist.[32] However the religion recovered in both countries. The religion has generally spread such that in recent years the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated the Bahá'ís in European countries to number in hundreds to tens of thousands.[33]

Christianity

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Main article: Christianity in Europe
 
Christianity in Europe by percentage (2010).[34]
 
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Holy See of the Catholic Church
 
Cathedral of Saint Sava in Serbia is the largest Orthodox church in the world
 
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals
 
The St John's Church, Bergen is a Lutheran church in Norway
 
Calvinist Temple Saint-Étienne (Protestant St. Stephen's Church) in France

The majority of Europeans describe themselves as Christians, divided into a large number of denominations.[1] Christian denominations are usually classed in three categories: Catholicism (consider only two groups, the Roman-Latin Catholic and the Eastern Greek and Armenian Catholics), Orthodoxy (consider only two groups, the Eastern Byzantine Orthodox and the Armenian Apostolic which is within the Oriental Orthodox Church) and Protestantism (a diverse group including Lutheranism, Calvinism and Anglicanism as well as numerous minor denominations, including Baptists, Methodism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, etc.).

Christianity, more specifically the Catholic Church, which played an important part in the shaping of Western civilization since at least the 4th century.[35][36] Historically, Europe has been the center and "cradle of Christian civilization".[37][38][39][40]

European culture, throughout most of its recent history, has been heavily influenced by Christian belief and has been nearly equivalent to Christian culture.[41] The Christian culture was one of the more dominant forces to influence Western civilization, concerning the course of philosophy, art, music, science, social structure and architecture.[41][42] The civilizing influence of Christianity includes social welfare,[43] founding hospitals,[44] economics (as the Protestant work ethic),[45][46] politics,[47] architecture,[48] literature[49] and family life.[50]

Christianity is still the largest religion in Europe.[51] According to a survey about Religiosity in the European Union in 2019 by Eurobarometer, Christianity was the largest religion in the European Union accounting 64% of EU population,[18] down from 72% in 2012.[20] Catholics were the largest Christian group in EU, and accounted for 41% of the EU population, while Eastern Orthodox made up 10%, Protestants made up 9%, and other Christians 4%.[18] According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, 76.2% of the European population identified themselves as Christians,[52] constitute in absolute terms the world's largest Christian population.[53]

According to Scholars, in 2017, Europe's population was 77.8% Christian (up from 74.9% 1970),[54][55] these changes were largely result of the collapse of Communism and switching to Christianity in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries.[54]

Christian denominations

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There are numerous minor Protestant movements, including various Evangelical congregations.

Islam

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Further information: Islam in Europe
 
Birmingham Central Mosque, the first mosque in the United Kingdom to use loudspeakers to broadcast the adhan.[57]

Islam came to parts of European islands and coasts on the Mediterranean Sea during the 8th-century Muslim conquests. In the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France, various Muslim states existed before the Reconquista; Islam spread in southern Italy briefly through the Emirate of Sicily and Emirate of Bari. During the Ottoman expansion, Islam was spread from into the Balkans and even part of Central Europe. Muslims have also been historically present in Ukraine (Crimea and vicinity, with the Crimean Tatars), as well as modern-day Russia, beginning with Volga Bulgaria in the 10th century and the conversion of the Golden Horde to Islam. In recent years,[when?] Muslims have migrated to Europe as residents and temporary workers.

According to the Pew Forum, the total number of Muslims in Europe in 2010 was about 44 million (6%).[58] While the total number of Muslims in the European Union in 2007 was about 16 million (3.2%).[59] Data from the 2000s for the rates of growth of Islam in Europe showed that the growing number of Muslims was due primarily to immigration and higher birth rates.[60]

Muslims make up 99% of the population in Turkey,[61] Northern Cyprus,[62][63] 96% in Kosovo,[64] 56% in Albania,[65][66] 51% in Bosnia and Herzegovina,[67] 32.17% in North Macedonia,[68][69] 20% in Montenegro,[70] between 10 and 15% in Russia,[71] 7–9% in France,[72][73][74] 8% in Bulgaria,[75] 6% in the Netherlands, 5% in Denmark, United Kingdom and Germany,[76][77][78] just over 4% in Switzerland and Austria, and between 3 and 4% in Greece.

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2016 found that Muslims make up 4.9% of all of Europe's population.[79] According to a same study conversion does not add significantly to the growth of the Muslim population in Europe, with roughly 160,000 more people leaving Islam than converting into Islam between 2010 and 2016.[79]

Judaism

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The Jubilee Synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic
Further information: History of the Jews in Europe, Jews and Judaism in Europe, and Jews by country

The Jews were dispersed within the Roman Empire from the 2nd century.[80] At one time Judaism was practiced widely throughout the European continent; throughout the Middle Ages, Jews were accused of ritual murder and faced pogroms and legal discrimination. The Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany decimated the Jewish population, and today, France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe with 1% of the total population (between 483,000 and 500,000 Jews).[81][82] Other European countries with notable Jewish populations include the United Kingdom (291,000 Jews),[82] Germany (119,000), and Russia (194,000) which is home to Eastern Europe's largest Jewish community.[82] The Jewish population of Europe in 2010 was estimated to be approximately 1.4 million (0.2% of European population) or 10% of the world's Jewish population.[83]

Deism

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Main article: Deism

During the Enlightenment, Deism became influential especially in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Interpretations of the Bible then common were challenged by concepts such as a heliocentric universe and other scientific concepts posited to be challenges to the Bible.[84] Notable early deists include Voltaire, Kant, and Mendeleev.[85]

Irreligion

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Further information: Secularism, Irreligion, and Postchristianity

The trend towards secularism during the 20th and 21st centuries has a number of reasons, depending on the individual country:

  • France has been traditionally laicist since the French Revolution. Today the country is 25%[86] to 32%[87] irreligious. The remaining population is made up evenly of both Christians and people who believe in a god or some form of spiritual life force, but are not involved in organized religion.[88] French society is still secular overall.
  • Some parts of Eastern Europe were secularized as a matter of state doctrine under communist rule in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Albania was an officially (and constitutionally binding) atheist state from 1967 to 1991.[89] The countries where the most people reported no religious belief were France (33%), the Czech Republic (30%), Belgium (27%), Netherlands (27%), Estonia (26%), Germany (25%), Sweden (23%) and Luxembourg (22%).[90] The region of Eastern Germany, which was also under communist rule, is by far the least religious region in Europe.[91][92] Other post-communist countries, however, have seen the opposite effect, with religion being very important in countries such as Romania, Lithuania and Poland.

The trend towards secularism has been less pronounced in the traditionally Catholic countries of Mediterranean Europe. Greece as the only traditionally Eastern Orthodox country in Europe which has not been part of the communist Eastern Bloc also retains a very high religiosity, with in excess of 95% of Greeks adhering to the Greek Orthodox Church.

According to a Pew Research Center Survey in 2012 the religiously unaffiliated (atheists and agnostics) make up about 18.2% of the European population in 2010.[93] According to the same survey the religiously unaffiliated make up the majority of the population in only two European countries: Czech Republic (76%) and Estonia (60%).[3] A newer study (released in 2015) found that in the Netherlands there is also an irreligious majority of 68%.[94]

Atheism and agnosticism

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Main articles: Atheism and Agnosticism

During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, atheism and agnosticism have increased, with falling church attendance and membership in various European countries.[95] The 2010 Eurobarometer survey found that on total average, of the EU28 population, 51% "believe there is a God", 26% "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 20% "don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".[2] Across the EU, belief was higher among women, increased with age, those with a strict upbringing, those with the lowest level of formal education and those leaning towards right-wing politics.[90]: 10–11  Results were varied widely between different countries.[2]

According to a survey measuring religious identification in the European Union in 2019 by Eurobarometer, 10% of EU citizens identify themselves as atheists.[18] As of May 2019, the top seven European countries with the most people who viewed themselves as atheists were Czech Republic (22%), France (21%), Sweden (16%), Estonia (15%), Slovenia (14%), Spain (12%) and Netherlands (11%).[18] 17% of EU citizens called themselves non-believers or agnostics and this percentage was the highest in Netherlands (41%), Czech Republic (34%), Sweden (34%), United Kingdom (28%), Estonia (23%), Germany (21%) and Spain (20%).[18]

Modern Paganism

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Esetrother community of the Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið (Icelandic Esetroth Fellowship) preparing for a Þingblót at Þingvellir.
 
An Odinist-rite wedding in Spain, in 2010, at the Temple of Gaut in Albacete.
See also: Neopaganism in German-speaking Europe, Ireland, Latin Europe, the United Kingdom, Slavic neopaganism, and Baltic neopaganism

Germanic

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Main article: Germanic neopaganism
Further information: Heathenry in the United Kingdom, Neopaganism in Scandinavia, Neopaganism in Germany and Austria, and Neopaganism in Latin Europe

Heathenism or Esetroth (Icelandic: Ásatrú), and the organised form Odinism, are names for the modern folk religion of the Germanic nations.

In the United Kingdom Census 2001, 300 people registered as Heathen in England and Wales.[96] However, many Heathens followed the advice of the Pagan Federation (PF) and simply described themselves as "Pagan", while other Heathens did not specify their religious beliefs.[96] In the 2011 census, 1,958 people self-identified as Heathen in England and Wales. A further 251 described themselves as Reconstructionist and may include some people reconstructing Germanic paganism.[97]

Ásatrúarfélagið (Esetroth Fellowship) was recognized as an official religion by the Icelandic government in 1973. For its first 20 years it was led by farmer and poet Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson. By 2003, it had 777 members,[98] and by 2014, it had 2,382 members, corresponding to 0.8% of Iceland's population.[99] In Iceland, Germanic religion has an impact larger than the number of its adherents.[100]

In Sweden, the Swedish Forn Sed Assembly (Forn Sed, or the archaic Forn Siðr, means "Old Custom") was formed in 1994 and is since 2007 recognized as a religious organization by the Swedish government. In Denmark Forn Siðr was formed in 1999, and was officially recognized in 2003[101] The Norwegian Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost (Esetroth Fellowship Bifrost) was formed in 1996; as of 2011, the fellowship has some 300 members. Foreningen Forn Sed was formed in 1999, and has been recognized by the Norwegian government as a religious organization. In Spain there is the Odinist Community of Spain – Ásatrú.

Roman

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The Roman polytheism also known as Religio Romana (Roman religion) in Latin or the Roman Way to the Gods (in Italian 'Via romana agli Déi') is alive in small communities and loosely related organizations, mainly in Italy.

Druidry

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The religious development of Druidry was largely influenced by Iolo Morganwg.[102] Modern practises aim to imitate the practises of the Celtic peoples of the Iron Age.[103]

Official religions

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A number of countries in Europe have official religions, including Greece (Orthodox),[104] Liechtenstein,[105] Malta,[106] Monaco,[107] the Vatican City (Catholic);[108] Armenia (Apostolic Orthodoxy); Denmark,[109] Iceland (Lutheran);[110][111] and the United Kingdom (England alone) (Anglican).[112] In Switzerland, some cantons are officially Catholic, others Reformed Protestant. Some Swiss villages even have their religion as well as the village name written on the signs at their entrances.

Georgia, while technically has no official church per se, has special constitutional agreement with Georgian Orthodox Church, which enjoys de facto privileged status. Much the same applies in Germany with the Evangelical Church and the Roman Catholic Church, and the Jewish community. In Finland, both the Finnish Orthodox Church and the Lutheran Church are official. England, a part of the United Kingdom, has Anglicanism as its official religion. Scotland, another part of the UK, has Presbyterianism as its national church, but it is no longer "official". In Sweden, the national church used to be Lutheranism, but it is no longer "official" since 2000. Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, Romania, Russia, Spain and Turkey are officially secular.

Indian religions

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Buddhism

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Main article: Buddhism in Europe

Buddhism is thinly spread throughout Europe, and the fastest growing religion in recent years[113][114] with about 3 million adherents.[115][116] In Kalmykia, Tibetan Buddhism is prevalent.[117]

Hinduism

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Mandir in Gibraltar.

Hinduism is mainly practised among Indian immigrants. It has been growing rapidly in recent years, notably in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Italy.[118] In 2010, there were an estimated 1.4 million Hindu adherents in Europe.[119]

Jainism

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Jain temple in Antwerp, Belgium

Jainism, small membership rolls, mainly among Indian immigrants in Belgium and the United Kingdom, as well as several converts from western and northern Europe.[120][121]

Sikhism

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Sikhism has nearly 700,000 adherents in Europe. Most of the community live in United Kingdom (450,000) and Italy (100,000).[122][123] Around 10,000 Sikhs live in Belgium and France.[124] Netherlands and Germany have a Sikh population of 22,000.[125][126] All other countries, such as Greece, have 5,000 or fewer Sikhs.

Other religions

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Other religions represented in Europe include:

Religious distribution

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Central Europe

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Country Population Christian Muslim Irreligion Hindu Buddhist Jewish Other religion Not stated/Undeclared
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Austria[127] 8,935,800 6,093,700 68.2 745,600 8.3 1,997,700 22.40 10,100 0.00 26,600 0.20 5,400 0.00 62,100 0.1 — —
  Czech Republic[128] 10,524,167 1,241,214 11.7 5,244 0.05 5,027,094 47.8 2,024 0.02 5,757 0.05 1,474 0.02 1,123,283 10.7 3,162,540 30.1
  Germany 82,300,000 56,540,100 68.70 4,773,400 5.80 20,328,100 24.70 — — 246,900 0.30 246,990 0.30 82,300 0.10 — —
  Hungary[129] 9,603,630 4,086,250 42.5 7,983 0.1 1,549,610 16.1 3,307 0.03 11,042 0.1 7,635 0.1 85,646 0.9 3,852,533 40.1
  Liechtenstein 40,000 36,760 91.90 2,000 5.00 1,160 2.90 — — — — — — — — 40 0.10
  Poland[130] 38,036,120 27,550,861 72.43 2,209 0.01 2,611,506 6.87 — — 3,236 0.01 — — 44,694 0.12 7,823,612 20.57
  Slovakia[131] 5,449,270 3,747,558 68.8 3,862 0.1 1,296,142 23.8 975 0.02 6,722 0.1 2,007 0.04 38,157 0.7 353,797 6.5
Total 163,169,237 118,062,752 72.36 5,951,406 3.47 33,471,696 20.51 43,739 0.03 316,619 0.19 255,871 0.16 1,313,500 0.80 3,549,337 2.18

Eastern Europe

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Country[132] Population Christian Muslim Irreligion Hindu Buddhist Folk religion Other religion Jewish
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Belarus 9,611,750 6,835,200 71.20 19,200 0.20 2,745,600 28.60 — — — — — — — — — —
  Georgia 4,350,225 3,849,750 88.50 465,450 10.70 30,450 0.70 — — — — — — — — — —
  Russia 142,960,000 104,789,680 73.30 14,296,000 10.00 23,159,520 16.20 — — 142,960 0.10 285,920 0.20 — — 285,920 0.20
  Ukraine 45,450,000 38,087,100 83.80 545,400 1.20 6,681,150 14.70 — — — — — — — — 45,450 0.10
Total 202,360,000 153,561,730 75.89% 15,326,050 7.57% 32,616,720 16.12% 40,000 0.02% 162,960 0.08% 290,420 0.14% 0 0.00% 331,370 0.16%

Northern Europe

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Country[132] Population Christian Muslim Irreligion Jewish Buddhist Pagan Other religion /Undecided/Not Stated
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Denmark 5,822,863 4,413,430 75.8 256,206 4.4 1,112,167 19.1 — — — — — — 40,760 0.7 — —
  Faroe Islands 50,000 49,000 98.00 — — 850 1.70 — — — — — — 150 0.30 — —
  Estonia[133]* 1,331,824 298,410 26.8 5,800 0.5 650,900 58.4 — — 1,880 0.2 5,630 0.5 9,630 0.9 141,780 12.7
  Finland[134] 5,548,000 3,805,928 68.6 — — 1,697,688 30.6 — — — — — — 44,384 0.8 — —
  Iceland 364,134 274,321 75.06 1,281 0.35 29,621 8.13 — — 1,495 0.42 4,764 1.31 53,652 14.73 — —
  Latvia 1,893,223 1,249,527 66.0 2,500 0.10 539,035 29.0 — — — — — — 4,500 0.20 — —
  Lithuania 3,320,000 2,230,020 79.37 2,165 0.08 171,810 6.11 1,154 0.04 — — — — 16,486 0.58 384,094 13.67
  Norway 5,367,580 4,059,366 75.63 182,826 3.41 1,083,076 20.17 794 0.01 21,555 0.40 — — 19,963 5.21 — —
  Sweden 10,379,295 6,364,093 61.3 246,498 2.3 3,739,255 36.0 8,148 0.08 12,328 0.1 — — 10,380 0.10 — —
Total 32,450,000 24,569,250 75.71% 893,290 2.75% 6,751,930 20.81% 66,320 0.20% 79,180 0.24% 20,370 0.06% 33,810 0.10% 9,380 0.03%
* Only includes the population of religious affiliation for 15 years old or above.

Southeastern Europe (Balkans)

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Country[132] Population Christian Muslim Irreligion Hindu Buddhist Jewish Other religion Not stated/Undeclared
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Albania 2,800,138 475,529 16.95 1,646,236 58.79 223,625 8.00 — — — — — — — — 454,046 16.20
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3,824,782 1,755,574 45.9 1,939,164 50.70 94,000 2.50 — — — — — — — — — —
  Bulgaria[135] 6,519,789 4,219,270 64.7 638,708 9.8 1,036,943 15.9 — — — — 1,736 0.03 6,451 0.1 616,681 9.5
  Croatia[136] 3,871,833 3,383,980 87.46 51,110 1.32 247,410 6.39 — — — — — — 72,400 1.87 149,450 3.86
  Greece 11,360,000 10,008,160 88.10 602,080 5.30 692,960 6.10 11,360 0.10 — — — — — — — —
  Kosovo 2,080,000 237,120 11.40 1,809,600 87.00 33,280 1.60 — — — — — — — — — —
  Moldova 3,570,000 3,477,180 97.40 21,420 0.60 49,980 1.40 — — — — 21,420 0.60 — — — —
  Montenegro 630,000 492,030 78.10 117,810 18.70 20,160 3.20 — — — — — — — — — —
  North Macedonia[137] 1,836,713 1,109,808 60.43 590,879 32.17 10,728 0.59 — — 894 0.05 74 <0.01 209 0.02 132,260 7.20
  Romania[138] 19,053,815 16,161,328 84.82 58,335 0.31 128,622 — — — — — 2,707 0.01 23,925 0.12 2,656,477 13.04
  Serbia 7,770,000 7,187,250 92.50 326,340 4.20 256,410 3.30 — — — — — — — — — —
  Slovenia 2,030,000 1,591,520 78.40 73,080 3.60 365,400 18.00 — — — — — — — — — —
Total 76,746,932 60,899,220 76.35 8,798,576 13.38 2,980,693 4.53 11 360 0.02% 894 <0.01 25,937 0.04 109,385 0.17 3,554,868 5.41

Southern Europe

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Country[132] Population Christian Muslim Irreligion Hindu Buddhist Folk religion Other religion Jewish
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Andorra 80,740 71,600 89.50 640 0.80 7,040 8.80 400 0.50 — — — — 80 0.10 240 0.30
  Gibraltar 30,000 26,640 88.80 1,200 4.00 870 2.90 540 1.80 — — — — 90 0.30 630 2.10
  Italy 60,550,000 50,438,150 83.30 2,240,350 3.70 7,508,200 12.40 60,550 0.10 121,100 0.20 60,550 0.10 60,000 0.10 50,000 0.08
  Malta 420,264 407,400 97.00 840 0.20 10,500 2.50 840 0.20 — — — — — — — —
  Portugal[139] 10,343,066 7,444,786 84.77 36,480 0.42 1,237,130 14.09 19,471 0.22 16,757 0.19 — — 24,366 0.28 2,910 0.03
  San Marino 30,000 27,480 91.60 — — 2,160 7.20 — — — — — — 270 0.90 90 0.30
  Spain 46,080,000 23,961,600 52.0 967,680 2.10 20,321,280 44.1 20,000 0.04 — — 20,000 0.04 10,000 0.02 46,080 0.10
  Vatican City 800 800 100.00 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Total 106,870,800 87,208,790 82.47% 2,674,790 2.78% 16,053,890 14.21% 93,010 0.08% 185,180 0.16% 133,950 0.11% 70,440 0.06% 97,040 0.08%

Western Europe

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Country[132] Population Christian Irreligion Muslim Hindu Buddhist Paganism/Neo-Paganism Other religion Jewish Sikh Not stated/Undeclared
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
  Belgium[140] 11,521,238 5,645,406 49.0 4,723,708 41.0 691,274 6.0 — — 115,212 1.0 — — 345,637 3.0 — — — — — —
  England[141] 56,490,048 26,167,899 46.3 20,715,664 36.7 3,801,186 6.7 1,020,533 1.8 262,433 0.5 95,931 0.2 78,851 0.1 269,283 0.5 520,092 0.9 3,400,548 6.0
  France[142] 65,250,000 32,625,000 50.0 21,532,000 33.0 2,610,000 4.0 — — 1,305,000 2.0 — — 653,000 1.0 652,500 1.0 — — 5,873,000 9.0
  Ireland[143] 5,145,255 3,885,560 75.50 758,734 14.8 83,272 1.60 33,827 0.70 9,285 0.20 3,868 0.10 22,163 0.40 2,193 0.04 2,183 0.04 345,165 6.70


  Isle of Man[144] 84,069 40,735 48.5 32,603 38.8 393 0.5 263 0.3 390 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0 113 0.1 — — 9,582 11.4
  Luxembourg 510,000 359,040 70.40 136,580 26.8 11,730 2.3 — — — — — — 1,530 0.30 510 0.10 — — — —
  Monaco 40,000 34,400 86.00 4,680 11.7 160 0.4 — — — — — — 80 0.20 680 1.70 — — — —
  Netherlands 17,424,978 6,238,140 35.8 10,019,362 57.5 801,550 4.6 — — — — — — 365,925 2.1 — — — — — —
  Northern Ireland[145] 1,903,188 1,516,152 79.7 330,983 17.4 10,870 0.6 4,190 0.2 — — — — 10,464 0.6 — — — — 30,529 1.6
  Scotland[146] 5,493,842 2,110,405 38.8 2,780,900 51.1 119,872 2.2 29,929 0.6 15,501 0.3 19,113 0.4 12,425 0.2 5,847 0.1 10,988 0.2 30,529 1.6
  Switzerland 8,680,980 5,321,440 61.30 2,769,230 31.9 477,450 5.5 30,640 0.40 30,640 0.40 — — 7,660 0.10 — — 22,980 0.30
  Wales[147] 3,107,494 1,354,773 46.5 1,446,398 43.6 66,947 2.2 12,242 0.4 10,075 0.3 6,481 0.2 9,445 0.3 2,044 0.1 4,048 0.1 195,041 6.3
Total 175,651,092 85,298,950 48.56 65,250,842 37.15 8,674,704 4.94 1,131,624 0.64 1,748,536 1.00 125,393 0.07 1,507,180 0.86 933,170 0.53 560,391 0.32 9,884,394 5.63

See also

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References

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