Damon Mcknight
Austria is predominantly a Christian country, with 68.2% of the population identifying as such according to the 2021 national survey. Among Christians, 80.9% are Catholics, 7.2% are Orthodox Christians, 5.6% are Protestants, and the remaining 6.2% belong to other Christian denominations. However, the number of Catholics in Austria has been declining over the years, with the percentage of the population identifying as Catholic decreasing from 73.8% in 2001 to 55.2% in 2021. This decline may be attributed to various factors, including historical events such as World War II, the revelation of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders, and the increase in immigration, leading to a more diverse range of religious beliefs in the country.
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the dominant religion in Austria
Austria has a strong history of Catholicism, having been the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) which championed Roman Catholicism. The Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism, and repressed all other Christian confessions and religions. They enacted measures of Counter-Reformation as early as 1527 to suppress the spread of Protestantism, and after 1545, Austria was recatholicised. Despite the decline in recent decades, strong Catholic sentiment continues to influence Austrian society and lawmaking.
Austrian Christians are obliged to pay a mandatory membership fee (called "Kirchenbeitrag") to their church, calculated as a percentage of their income. This may be a factor in the large number of Austrians withdrawing their membership from the Catholic Church when they become adults. Many Austrians continue to practise Catholic traditions that mark significant life events, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals, but most Catholics in Austria do not necessarily hold Catholic beliefs on central social and moral issues.
Austria legally protects freedom of religion, and this is enshrined in the Patents of Tolerance of 1781/82. The Austrian constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination, including freedom of faith, conscience, thought, and creed. All Austrian residents over the age of 14 are free to choose their own religion, and all churches and religious communities in Austria enjoy special protection under the law.
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Protestantism and the Counter-Reformation
Austria's predominant religion is Christianity, with 68.2% of the country's population identifying as Christians in a 2021 national survey. Within this group, the majority are Catholics (80.9%), followed by Orthodox Christians (7.2%), Protestants (5.6%), and other Christians belonging to various denominations (6.2%).
Austria has historically been a strongly Catholic country, especially under the Habsburg monarchy (1273-1918), which championed Roman Catholicism. However, in the 16th century, during the Protestant Reformation, a significant part of the Austrian population converted to Protestantism, particularly Lutheranism. By the Council of Trent in 1545, almost half of the Austrian population had become Lutheran, while a smaller minority endorsed Calvinism.
The Habsburgs, however, responded with the Counter-Reformation, aiming to restore Catholicism as the dominant religion. They imposed strict measures to suppress Protestantism in Austria. This campaign was led by none other than the future emperor Ferdinand II, known as the most resolute advocate of the Counter-Reformation. He successfully uprooted Protestantism first in Inner Austria and then in other Habsburg territories, except for Hungary and Silesia.
During this period, official religious commissions replaced Protestant preachers with Catholic clergymen, particularly in Lower Austria, where the conversion to Catholicism was led by Melchior Klesl. In Upper Austria, where Protestantism had its strongest hold, the situation was more complex, with religious leaders from both faiths vying for influence. Despite some resistance, the Counter-Reformation succeeded in largely wiping out Protestantism in Austria by the end of the 16th century.
In more recent times, Austria has seen a decline in Christianity, including Catholicism, and a rise in other religions, such as Islam and Judaism, due to immigration and historical events like World War II.
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Religious freedom and tolerance in Austria
Austria's religious landscape has been historically dominated by Roman Catholicism, but it has become more diverse in recent years. The country has seen a decline in Christianity and a rise in other religions, particularly Islam, which has been driven by immigration. Austria's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination, ensuring that all citizens are equal before the law and enjoy the same rights regardless of their confession.
The country's legal framework for religious freedom was established over a period of about two centuries, starting with the Patents of Tolerance issued by Emperor Joseph II in 1781/82. This foundational document allowed other confessions limited freedom of worship and was followed by a series of laws and constitutional provisions that enshrined the right to freedom of religion and conscience. The Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867, the Law regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868, and the Law on the Religious Education of Children all guarantee the freedom to choose, practice, and change one's religion. Additionally, Austria's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights further protects its citizens' right to religious freedom.
Austria's commitment to religious freedom and tolerance is evident in its efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment. The government has engaged with religious youth groups and collaborated with the Muslim and Jewish communities to address instances of discrimination and promote interreligious dialogue. The country's compulsory school curriculum includes education on tolerance and anti-bias as part of civics education, and the Ministry of Education conducts training projects with the Anti-Defamation League to promote these values.
However, despite Austria's legal protections and efforts to foster tolerance, there have been reports of anti-religious incidents and rhetoric. The Islamic Faith Community (IGGIO) recorded a significant increase in anti-Muslim incidents, with more than half occurring online and others involving verbal abuse and vandalism. There have also been instances of anti-Semitic rhetoric and neo-Nazi activity, leading to convictions and sentences by Austrian courts. The government has taken steps to address these issues, with the U.S. Embassy amplifying messages and engaging with communities to underscore the importance of religious freedom and tolerance.
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Islam in Austria
Islam has a long history in Austria, dating back to 1525 when the Ottoman sultans attempted to invade the Austrian Empire. Although these attempts failed, Islam influenced Austrian culture significantly, and numerous Austrians converted to Islam. In 1867, a law was passed guaranteeing respect for all religions throughout the empire, giving Muslims the right to establish mosques and practice their religion. The first mosque was built in Vienna in 1887 with the government's assistance to service Muslims enlisted in the Austrian army.
In 1904, Bosnian Muslim students in Vienna established the first Muslim association in Austria, the "Islamite Academic Association "Zvijezda"". In 1907, some of its members split and established the "Association of Progressive Islamite Academic Youth "Svijest"" in Vienna. After the Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 1908, "Svijest" organized an action committee to gain recognition of Islam in Austria. In 1912, Austria recognized Muslims ("of the hanafite rite") as a religious society and regulated their religious freedoms with the Islam Law.
Substantive Muslim immigration to Austria began in the 1960s when Gastarbeiter from Yugoslavia and Turkey moved to the country. Many Muslim refugees of the Yugoslav Wars also moved to Austria during the 1990s. The biggest ethnic group among Muslims in Austria is of Turkish descent, followed by Bosnians. In recent years, Arabs, especially from Egypt, have also become a significant part of the Muslim population in Austria.
In recent years, there has been a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and policies in Austria. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), led by Joerg Haider, has been accused of encouraging anti-immigrant sentiment and implementing anti-Muslim policies. The Austrian People's Party (OVP), led by Sebastian Kurz, has also been criticized for its anti-Muslim rhetoric and initiatives that target the Muslim community, such as the Islam Act of 2015, which put Muslims under scrutiny and surveillance. In 2020, Austrian police carried out Operation Luxor, a large-scale operation targeting Muslim civil society organizations and individuals.
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Judaism in Austria
Judaism has a long history in Austria, with the first Jews immigrating to the region following the Roman legions after the Roman occupation of Israel. The earliest surviving evidence of a Jewish presence in what is now Austria is a third-century CE amulet discovered by archaeologists in 2008, inscribed with the words of the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael" ("Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one")>. This amulet was found in the grave of a Jewish infant in Halbturn.
The existence of a Jewish community in Austria is known for certain from the 12th century, when two synagogues existed. In 1204, the first documented synagogue in Austria was constructed, and a group of families headed by notable rabbis settled in Vienna. This group established a beit midrash that was considered the most prominent school of Talmudic studies in Europe at the time. However, the insularity and assumed prosperity of the Jewish community caused increased tensions and jealousy from the Christian majority, as well as hostility from the Catholic Church. When the area came under the control of the Catholic House of Habsburg in 1282, Austria's prominence as a centre of Jewish scholarship decreased due to the highly antisemitic atmosphere.
Throughout the following centuries, the political status of the Jewish community in Austria rose and fell. During the reign of Emperor Joseph II in the 18th century, a Patent of Tolerance was issued, allowing other confessions a limited freedom of worship. However, in the 19th century, the Jewish community faced persecution and expulsion, with many Jews emigrating to Israel due to the difficult conditions they faced. The Holocaust during World War II further drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, with only 8,140 Jews remaining according to the 2001 census.
Today, freedom of religion is guaranteed in Austria, and there are around 8,100 Jews in the country, with a total of 33,000 when including Austrians with at least one Jewish grandparent. There are several Jewish educational institutions in Austria, including four Jewish kindergartens and four-day schools offering primary and high school education. The Vienna University has an institute for Jewish studies, and there are also youth organizations such as B'nai Akiva, Hashomer Hatzair, and the Austrian Jewish Students Union. The Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna chronicles the history of the Jewish community in the city and their significant contributions to its development.
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Frequently asked questions
The main religion in Austria is Christianity, with 68.2% of the population identifying as Christian in the 2021 national survey.
In 2021, 55% of Austrians identified as Roman Catholic, down from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001.
Yes, there are several other Christian denominations in Austria, including Protestants (3.8%-7.2%), Orthodox Christians (4.9%-8.3%), and Eastern Orthodox Churches (mostly Serbs).
Islam is the second-largest religion in Austria, with 8.3% of the population identifying as Muslim in 2021. Other religions include Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others, making up around 1.2% of the population.
Yes, freedom of religion is guaranteed in Austria, and it is a statutorily protected right. Austrian law allows individuals to choose, practice, and publicly profess their religion without interference from the state.
