Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has a long history of religious diversity, with the freedom of religion being a statutorily guaranteed right. The country's predominant religion is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism as its largest denomination. However, there are also significant numbers of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Protestants, among other faiths. While religious neutrality is maintained, Austria's culture remains influenced by centuries-old Roman Catholicism, evident in the beautiful churches, shrines, monasteries, and cathedrals found throughout the country.
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What You'll Learn
Christianity is the predominant religion in Austria
Austria has a long history of Roman Catholicism, dating back to when the western part of the country was part of the Roman Empire. The first evidence of Christianity in the country dates back to 174 AD, and by the 3rd century, it had spread across Western Austria. The country was greatly impacted by the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, which saw a significant portion of the population convert to Protestantism, particularly Lutheranism. However, the subsequent Counter-Reformation led by the Habsburgs suppressed Austrian Protestantism, restoring Catholicism as the dominant religion.
Today, Christianity remains the predominant religion in Austria, with 68.2% of the population identifying as Christians according to the 2021 national survey by Statistics Austria. Among Christians, the majority are Roman Catholics, making up 80.9% of the Christian population. This equates to around 55.2% of the total Austrian population as of 2021, a decline from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001. The Catholic Church's influence has been on a downward trajectory since World War II, and it is common for younger Austrians to withdraw their membership upon reaching adulthood.
The remaining Christian population in Austria consists of various denominations. 7.2% of Christians in the country are Orthodox Christians, mostly belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Protestants make up 5.6% of the Christian population, with Lutherans forming the majority and Reformists following the Helvetic Confession. Additionally, 6.2% of Christians in Austria belong to other denominations or are not affiliated with any particular denomination.
Austria guarantees freedom of religion in its constitution, allowing citizens to choose their religion and protecting their right to practice it. This has led to the presence of various other religious minorities in the country, including Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus. While these groups collectively make up a smaller proportion of the population, they contribute to the religious diversity that exists within Austria today.
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Islam is the second-largest religion in Austria
Austria has been historically Catholic, with the country having been the centre of the Habsburg monarchy from 1273 to 1918, which championed Roman Catholicism. However, in recent years, there has been a decline in Christianity and a proliferation of other religions, particularly in the capital state of Vienna.
Muslims in Austria mostly belong to the Sunni denomination, with the majority coming to the country during the 1960s as migrant workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia. There are also communities of Arab and Afghan origin. In 2018, it was announced that Austria would close seven mosques and deport 40 imams paid for by Turkey through the Diyanet organisation as measures to thwart political Islam. According to a 2017 Bertelsmann survey, almost 88% of Austrian Muslims feel closely connected to Austria, and more than 62% have routine leisure time contact with people of other religions.
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Austria has freedom of religion
The Austrian constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. Historical and modern constitutional documents provide for freedom of religious belief and affiliation and prohibit religious discrimination. The law bans public incitement to hostile acts against religious groups and protects religious facilities and property under criminal law.
In Austria, every person over the age of fourteen has the right to choose their religion. Parents have the exclusive right to decide their child's religion until the age of ten, after which the child must be consulted. By the age of fourteen, a child cannot be forced into a religion against their will.
Austria has a long history of Roman Catholicism, dating back to its time as part of the Roman Empire. While it remains predominantly Catholic, the country has seen a decline in Christianity and a rise in other religions, particularly in Vienna. The second-largest religious group in the country is Muslims, who make up 8.3% of the population, followed by those who follow Eastern Orthodoxy (4.9%) and Protestantism (3.8%).
Austria has taken an active role in promoting freedom of religion and protecting religious minorities at the bilateral and multilateral levels. The country has initiated discussions and drafted guidelines within the European Union to strengthen international protection mechanisms for religious minorities.
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Austria has a long history of Catholicism
The Catholic Church prevailed in the Austrian Empire for many years before the Protestant Reformation in the early 1500s. In the 16th century, many Austrians converted to Protestantism, particularly Lutheranism, as the Protestant Reformation spread across Europe. However, the Habsburgs, who viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism, enacted measures of Counter-Reformation as early as 1527 and harshly repressed Austrian Protestantism. The Habsburgs imposed a strict regime to restore the influence of the Catholic Church among Austrians, and their campaign proved successful.
The Catholic Church's influence in Austria can be seen in the presence of Catholic churches, shrines, cathedrals, and monasteries throughout the country. The Catholic Church is governed by the Austrian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is made up of the hierarchy of two archbishops (Vienna and Salzburg), the bishops, and the abbot of the territorial abbey of Wettingen-Mehrerau. Each bishop is independent within their diocese and is only answerable to the Pope.
While Catholicism remains the largest religion in Austria, there has been a consistent decline in recent years. In 2021, just over half (55.2%) of the population identified as Roman Catholic, down from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001. This decline has been accompanied by a proliferation of other religions, particularly in the capital state of Vienna. Austria guarantees freedom of religion for all its citizens, and various religious communities enjoy special protection under the law.
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Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism are minority religions in Austria
Austria is predominantly a Christian country, with 68.2% of the population identifying as such in the 2021 national survey. However, within this group, there is a variety of denominations, with 80.9% being Catholics, 7.2% Orthodox Christians, 5.6% Protestants, and 6.2% belonging to other Christian denominations or none at all.
Islam is the second most practised religion in Austria, with 8.3% of the population declaring it as their faith. The remaining population practises other religions or none at all, with 1.2% declaring belief in non-Christian religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, and 22.4% declaring no religion.
Hinduism is also a minority religion in Austria, with around 0.15% of the population, or about 11,000 people, identifying as Hindus as of 2017. The Hindu Community in Austria (HRÖ) has been the official representative of Hindus in the country since 1998, but it does not have full legal recognition from the state. The Hindu Mandir Association in Vienna is one of the oldest Hindu organisations in the country, established in 1991, and it holds various annual festivals.
Buddhism has been legally recognised as a religion in Austria since 1983 and has a small but dedicated following. There are several Buddhist temples and centres of practice across the country, particularly in Vienna, which has the longest tradition of Buddhism. The Buddhist Society of Vienna, founded in 1949, has played a significant role in the development of Buddhism in Austria, and the country has hosted prominent Buddhist figures such as the Dalai Lama.
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Frequently asked questions
The predominant religion in Austria is Christianity, with 68.2% of the country's population identifying as Christian according to the 2021 national survey. Within this, the majority are Roman Catholics, with a smaller number of Orthodox Christians and Protestants.
Islam is the second most common religion in Austria, with 8.3% of the population identifying as Muslim in the 2021 census. Other religions practised in Austria include Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism.
Austria has a long history of Roman Catholicism, which has greatly influenced Austrian culture. In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation spread to Austria, and a significant portion of the population became Protestant. However, beginning in 1545, the Counter-Reformation restored Catholicism as the dominant religion.
Yes, freedom of religion is a statutorily guaranteed right in Austria. Austrian law protects all types of religion, and residents have the right to join or leave any church or religious community, or to abstain from religious activities altogether.
