Leslie Massey
Austria is a highly urbanized country with a population of around 8.9 million people, the majority of whom live in cities and towns. Austrians enjoy freedom of religion as a constitutional right, with the state and church operating as equal partners. While Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the predominant religion in Austria, there has been a notable decline in recent decades. In 2021, 55.2% of the population identified as Roman Catholic, down from 73.8% in 2001. During this period, Islam grew from 0.2% to 8.3% of the population, while the proportion of Austrians with no religious affiliation rose from 4.3% to 22.4%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious freedom | Guaranteed in the Austrian constitution |
| Religion and the state | Equal partners |
| Religious education | Offered in state schools for children belonging to a legally recognized church or religious community |
| Citizenship Law | Individuals persecuted by the Nazi regime and their descendants are eligible for Austrian citizenship without renouncing their existing citizenship |
| Religious breakdown | 55.2% Roman Catholic, 8.3% Muslim, 4.9% Orthodox Christian, 3.8% Protestant, 0.1% Jewish, 5.4% other religions, 22.4% no religion |
| Islam | Officially recognized in 1912, with Islamic theological studies offered at universities |
| Jewish population | Reduced from 200,000 in 1938 to 4,500 during World War II; now stands at around 0.1% of the population |
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What You'll Learn
Religious freedom is a constitutional right
Austria has a long history of religious diversity, with many faiths calling the country home. Religious freedom is a constitutional right in Austria, with several provisions protecting this freedom. The Austrian constitution, along with historical laws on fundamental rights and freedoms, guarantees the freedom of religion, prohibiting religious discrimination and ensuring equality before the law for all citizens, irrespective of their faith.
The roots of religious freedom in Austria can be traced back to the Patent of Tolerance of 1781, issued by Emperor Joseph II during the era of Austrian enlightenment. This allowed confessions other than Catholicism a limited freedom of worship. Later, in 1867, religious freedom was officially declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania, recognising the diverse religious landscape of the monarchy. This was further solidified by Article 14 of the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867, which guarantees freedom of conscience and creed.
Austria's modern laws continue to uphold the right to religious freedom. The Law regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868 ensures every resident's right to join, participate in, leave, or abstain from any church or religious community. The Law on the Religious Education of Children also empowers young people over the age of fourteen to choose their religion freely. Additionally, the European Convention on Human Rights, which Austria is a party to, further enhances these rights.
Despite these protections, religious discrimination and instances of anti-religious sentiment have been reported in Austria. Muslim and Jewish groups have expressed concerns over anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic rhetoric from right-wing political parties. The Austrian government has also been criticised for certain policies, such as the ban on religious headscarves in schools, which some view as targeting the Islamic community and infringing on religious freedom.
In conclusion, while Austria has a strong constitutional framework protecting religious freedom, challenges remain in ensuring the equal treatment of all religious groups. The Austrian government generally respects religious freedom, but some groups, particularly those of minority faiths, continue to face obstacles and discrimination.
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Catholicism is the dominant religion
The Austrian constitution guarantees religious freedom, and this right was first laid down in 1867, in Article 14 of the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals. The Law regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868 further enhanced this right, guaranteeing every resident in Austria the freedom to join or leave any church or religious community, or to abstain from joining any religious group. The relationship between the Austrian state and the Catholic Church is specified by the Concordat of 1933, and the Catholic Church enjoys special rights as the Holy See is subject to international law.
Historically, the Counter-Reformation of 1545 saw the Habsburgs impose a strict regime to restore the influence of the Catholic Church among Austrians, repressing all other religions. The Catholic Church was also subject to oppression and persecution during the German annexation of Austria, and many religious leaders and laypersons were sent to concentration camps.
In recent years, revelations of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders have contributed to the decline of Catholicism in Austria. However, some Austrians continue to practise Catholic traditions that mark significant life events, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals.
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Islam is the second-largest religion
Austria is a highly secular country that guarantees religious freedom in its constitution. While the country does not collect official data on religious affiliation, estimates suggest that Islam is the second-largest religion in Austria, comprising 8.3% of the population as of 2021. This makes the Muslim community in Austria significant, with a presence in the country for over a century.
The Islamic community in Austria has grown steadily over the years, increasing from 0.2% of the population in 1971 to its current size. Several factors have contributed to this growth. Firstly, Austria's proximity to the Ottoman Empire for centuries has historically influenced the presence of Islam in the country. Secondly, the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 brought a substantial number of Muslims into the country, and Islam was officially recognised in Austria in 1912. Thirdly, in recent decades, immigration, particularly from Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, and the Balkans, has contributed to the growth of the Muslim community.
Muslims in Austria are predominantly Sunni, with approximately 8% being Shia. They primarily belong to the Bosniak and Turk populations. The Islamic community has seen changes in recent years regarding funding practices. The Islamgesetz, introduced in 2015, made it illegal for foreign bodies to sponsor mosques or pay the salaries of imams. Additionally, the Austrian government has implemented laws banning face veils in public settings, such as courts and schools, which has impacted some Muslim women.
Despite these challenges, Muslims in Austria generally enjoy the same religious rights as their Christian and Jewish counterparts. They have the right to religious instruction in public schools, and Islamic theological studies are offered at the universities of Innsbruck and Vienna. The Austrian government has also taken steps to address issues such as antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment, engaging in regular discussions with religious youth organizations and participating in ceremonies commemorating victims of National Socialism and the Holocaust.
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Religious education in schools
Austria's religious landscape is diverse, with strong historical ties to Catholicism and a more recent increase in the Muslim population due to immigration. While the country upholds freedom of religion as a constitutional right, there is no recent data on religious affiliation to maintain secularism. However, as of 2021, 55.2% of Austrians identified as Roman Catholic, 8.3% as Muslim, 4.9% as Orthodox Christian, 3.8% as Evangelical Christian, and 0.1% as Jewish, while 5.4% followed another religion and 22.4% had no religious affiliation.
Austria's education system reflects the country's commitment to religious freedom, offering religious instruction in state schools for all recognised religious communities. The Law on the Religious Education of Children ensures that children belonging to legally recognised religious groups receive education according to their own confession. This law also grants parents the exclusive right to determine their child's religious education until the age of ten, after which the child must be consulted, and at fourteen, the child gains full autonomy over their religious choices.
In state schools, religious education is mandatory for pupils affiliated with an officially recognised church or religious society. Sixteen different religious communities have been acknowledged by the state, encompassing Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. This recognition grants these communities the right to provide religious instruction in schools, resulting in classes being separated based on denomination.
The University of Graz is currently conducting a research project titled 'Christian-Islamic religious education in team teaching', funded by the Austrian Science Fund. This project aims to encourage integration by fostering personal contact between pupils from the two largest religious communities in Austria: Islam and Christianity. Through collaborative teaching by Islamic and Roman-Catholic teachers, the initiative seeks to navigate the legal, pedagogical, and social complexities of interreligious education.
Despite these provisions for religious education, there is a growing demand for alternative approaches. A popular petition calling for Ethics classes for all students, regardless of religious affiliation, garnered nearly 160,000 signatures by January 2021. The petition advocates for teaching shared values and integration across diverse worldviews and religions. This reflects a broader shift in Austrian society, with an increasing number of citizens opting for no religious affiliation or exploring spiritual paths outside of traditional organised religions.
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Religious symbols and face coverings
Austria is a country with a rich religious history and a diverse range of faiths. While Catholicism is the dominant religion, the country also has a significant Muslim population, as well as Jewish, Orthodox Christian, and Protestant communities. The country guarantees freedom of religion as a constitutional right, with residents able to join or leave any religious community, or abstain from joining any at all.
In recent years, there has been a notable decline in Christianity, with the exception of Orthodox churches, and a proliferation of other religions, particularly in Vienna. This shift in religious demographics has led to some tensions and debates around religious expressions, including the wearing of religious symbols and face coverings.
Austria has taken steps to uphold secularism and religious neutrality in public spaces, including a ban on certain religious symbols and face coverings. The country passed the Anti-Face Veiling Act in 2017, prohibiting full-face veils in public places such as courts and schools. The law applies to everyone in the country and aims to promote integration and enable interpersonal communication for peaceful coexistence. While the law allows exceptions for artistic, cultural, traditional, and sporting events, as well as for health and professional reasons, violations are considered administrative offences and can result in penalties.
The Austrian government has also considered banning state employees from wearing headscarves and other religious symbols. Additionally, the government prohibits the display of certain symbols considered extremist, including those related to specific terrorist organisations, regardless of their religious context. However, the government allows headwear for religious purposes in official identification photos, provided the face remains visible for identification purposes.
In the context of education, Austria's approach to religious symbols and face coverings has been subject to legal challenges. A 2020 Constitutional Court ruling overturned a headscarf ban for children in elementary schools, allowing children of all ages to wear headscarves and other religious head coverings in schools. The government also funds religious instruction for 16 officially recognised religious societies in public and accredited private schools, provided there are at least three children in a class.
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Frequently asked questions
Religious freedom is guaranteed in Austria, and the country's population is predominantly Christian, with around three-fourths of Austrians following this religion. The majority of Christians are Roman Catholics, with smaller groups of Protestants (mainly Lutherans) and Orthodox Christians. Other religions include Islam, Judaism, and Paganism.
Muslims constitute 8.3% of Austria's population, with the majority being Sunni. Islam has been present in Austria for over a century, and the country was one of the first in Europe to recognise Muslims as a religious community in 1912.
Catholicism is the largest religion in Austria, with 55.2% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic in 2021. However, there has been a consistent decline in Catholicism, with the younger generation tending to be less devout. The Catholic Church also faced oppression and persecution during the German annexation of Austria in World War II.
