Lyla Lindsey
Austria has a strong Catholic heritage, and the religion has played a significant role in shaping the country's history and culture. While the country upholds the separation of church and state, the influence of Catholicism can still be seen in its many churches, cathedrals, and monasteries. So, what percentage of Austria is Catholic today?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Predominant Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Percentage of Roman Catholics | 55% (2021), 55.2% (2022) |
| Number of Roman Catholics | 4.93 million (2021) |
| Number of Protestants | 340,300 (2021) |
| Percentage of Protestants | 3.8% (2021), 4% (2015) |
| Percentage of Muslims | 8.3% (2021), 7.9% (2016), 8% (2015) |
| Number of Muslims | 745,600 (2021) |
| Number of Eastern Orthodox Christians | 437,700 (2021) |
| Percentage of Eastern Orthodox Christians | 4.9% (2021), 6% (2015) |
| Number of Jews | 8,100 (2021) |
| Percentage of Jews | 0.1% (2021), 0.01% (2015) |
| Percentage of Jehovah's Witnesses | 0.3% (2021) |
| Number of Jehovah's Witnesses | 20,000 (2021) |
| Percentage of people with no religion | 22.4% (2021), 22% (2015) |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the predominant religion in Austria
Historically, the Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism, and other religions were repressed. In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Counter-Reformation, Austria and Bavaria, under the absolute monarchy of Habsburg, imposed a strict regime. It was not until 1781, during the era of Austrian enlightenment, that Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance for Austria, allowing other confessions limited freedom of worship. Religious freedom was later declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania after the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867.
Despite the country's separation of church and state, Catholicism continues to influence Austrian society and lawmaking. For example, Austria only approved gay marriage in 2019, and many books and films about the country have religious undertones. Additionally, the presence of the Catholic influence is evident in the country's many churches, cathedrals, and monasteries.
According to various sources, the percentage of the Austrian population that identifies as Catholic ranges from 50.6% to 55.2%. The number has been declining over the years, down from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001. The decline is attributed to several factors, including the mandatory membership fee or "Kirchenbeitrag" ("Ecclesiastical/Church contribution"), which is about 1% of one's income, revelations of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders, and criticism of the Church's conservative stance on various social issues.
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Religious freedom is guaranteed in the Austrian constitution
Austria has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to when the country was part of the Roman Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the era of the absolute monarchy of Habsburg, a strict regime was imposed, and all other religions besides Catholicism were repressed. In 1781, Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance for Austria, allowing other confessions limited freedom of worship. Religious freedom was officially declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania after the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867, recognising the presence of numerous religions in the monarchy.
Despite this guarantee of religious freedom, there have been recent instances of discrimination and intolerance towards religious minorities in Austria. During the 2006 national parliamentary elections, the Islamic Community noted anti-Islamic slogans from the right-wing Freedom Party. In the same year, there were 32 cases of discrimination based on religion brought before the Equal Rights Commissioner, and a poll found that 90% of Austrians believed sects were "inherently dangerous."
The Austrian government has taken steps to promote religious dialogue and tolerance, particularly regarding the Muslim community. The Muslim Youth Organization of Austria (MJO) has led initiatives to counter anti-Semitism and promote dialogue and awareness among Muslim youth. The Austrian government also engages with various religious organisations, including the Ecumenical Council of Austrian Churches, which fosters amicable relations among the 13 officially recognised religious societies.
According to recent estimates, Roman Catholics constitute around 55-57% of the Austrian population, while Muslims make up approximately 8%. Around 22-25% of the population is unaffiliated with any religion, and the remaining includes Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and other religious groups.
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Catholicism influences society and lawmaking in Austria
Catholicism is the predominant religion in Austria, with 55% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic as of December 2021. The religion has been present in the country since before it was established as a nation-state, and its influence is evident in Austria's many churches, cathedrals, and monasteries. The country's strong Catholic roots have shaped its society and even influenced lawmaking.
Historically, the Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism and repressed other religions. During the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries, the absolute monarchy of Habsburg imposed a strict regime, and the growth of Protestantism was largely due to the nobles. Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance for Austria in 1781, allowing other confessions limited freedom of worship. Religious freedom was later declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania after the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867.
Despite Austria's separation of church and state, Catholicism continues to influence society and lawmaking. For example, same-sex marriage in Austria was only approved in 2019, which may be partly attributed to the influence of Catholicism. Additionally, many Austrians practice Catholic traditions such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals, even if they do not regularly attend church services.
Catholicism has gradually declined in Austria over the decades, with the younger generation tending to be less devout than their elders. The mandatory membership fee, or "Kirchenbeitrag," calculated at around 1% of one's income, has led many young Austrians to withdraw their membership from the Catholic Church. Additionally, revelations of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders have contributed to the religion's decline.
Austria's religious landscape has undergone significant changes in the 20th and 21st centuries due to historical events like World War II and immigration. The Muslim community, for instance, has grown due to immigration from countries like Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Similarly, the Orthodox Church's presence has increased due to immigration from Slavic and Balkan states. Despite these shifts, Catholicism remains the most prominent religion in Austria, influencing society and lawmaking.
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Religious education in Austrian schools is not restricted to Catholicism
Austria has a long history of Catholicism, and it remains the predominant religion in the country. However, religious education in Austrian schools is not restricted to Catholicism. The country has a diverse range of religious communities, and the education system is transforming to reflect this.
In Austria, parents are legally responsible for the religious education of their children. Religious education (RE) in confessional form is an obligatory subject from the first up to the 13th grade in state schools and private schools with a public status. Sixteen different religious communities have been officially acknowledged in Austria, including Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. This entitles them to various rights and duties, including the RE of affiliated children in schools. As a result, classes are separated based on denomination.
The history of Islamic religious education in Austrian public schools dates back to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1908 and the resulting Islam Law of 1912. This law recognized Islam as a religious community with equal rights. After World War I, Austria lost much of its Muslim population, and the law was largely forgotten. However, with state-initiated labor migration in the 1960s and the growth of the Muslim community, the law gained new significance. In 1979, the Islamic Religious Community in Austria was legally recognized, and in 1982, they appointed the first Muslim teachers and introduced Islamic religious education in primary, middle, and secondary schools. Today, they provide Islamic religious education to over 70,000 Muslim students in Austria.
Austria's second-largest city, Graz, is home to an innovative interreligious project proposing a modification of the RE system. The project, called "Christian-Islamic religious education in team teaching," involves shared teaching units by Islamic and Roman Catholic teachers. The main goal is to encourage integration through personal contact between pupils from the two largest religious communities in Austria: Islam and Christianity.
While Catholicism continues to be a significant part of Austrian culture, the country guarantees religious freedom in its constitution. The religious composition of Austria has undergone a radical change in the 20th and 21st centuries due to historical events and immigration, leading to a more diverse and inclusive society.
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The Catholic Church has been losing followers in Austria
Austria has a long and intense tradition of Catholicism, which has played a significant role in shaping the country's culture and laws. The country has beautiful churches, shrines, monasteries, and cathedrals, such as St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, which was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. For centuries, the Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism, and other religions were repressed. However, in 1781, Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance, allowing limited freedom of worship for other confessions.
Despite the historical dominance of Catholicism, the religious landscape of Austria has been changing. The country now has a more diverse range of religious groups, including Muslims, Jews, and various Christian denominations such as Orthodox and Protestant churches. The Muslim community in Austria, for example, has been present for over a century and has grown in recent years due to immigration from countries like Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Balkans.
One factor contributing to the decline in Catholicism is the criticism of the Catholic Church's conservative stances on social issues such as homosexuality and emancipation. Many young Austrians withdraw their membership from the Catholic Church when they become adults due to the 'Kirchensteuer' or 'Kirchesteuer' (church tax), which is around 1% of their annual salary. Additionally, revelations of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders have also led to a loss of trust in the Church.
While the number of followers is decreasing, some Austrians continue to practise Catholic traditions for significant life events such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals. However, it is common for parents to baptise their babies even if they do not regularly attend church services. The influence of the Catholic Church in Austria is evolving, and the country is becoming more religiously diverse as its social landscape changes.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, 50.6% of Austrians identify as Catholic.
As of 2023, there are 4.64 million Catholics in Austria.
The second-largest religion in Austria is Islam, with 7.9% of the population identifying as Muslim in 2016.
Yes, Austria is a secular country. While it has strong ties to the Catholic faith, the country's constitution enshrines freedom of religion.
Yes, Catholicism has been in decline in Austria since the 1950s. In 1961, 89% of Austrians were Catholic, compared to 55.2% in 2021.
