Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has long been a predominantly Catholic country, with the religion being championed by the Habsburg monarchy from 1273 to 1918. The Catholic Church continues to enjoy special rights in the country, and the religion is practised by over half of the population. However, the percentage of Catholics in Austria has been declining over the years, with the rise of other religions such as Islam and Paganism, and an increase in those identifying with no religion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Catholic | 57.9% in 2017, 55.2% in 2021, down from 64.1% in 2011 and 73.8% in 2001 |
| Religious freedom in Austria | Guaranteed in the Austrian constitution |
| Official permission given to the Mechitarist Congregation of the Armenian Catholic Church | 1775 |
| Patent of Tolerance for Austria issued by Emperor Joseph II | 1781 |
| Religious freedom declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania | 1867 |
| Islam recognised in Austria | 1912 |
| Percentage of Austrian population with no religion | 22.4% in 2021, up from 12% in 2001 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Protestant | 3.8% in 2021, down from 6% in 1971 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Muslim | 8.3% in 2021, up from 0.2% in 1971 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Orthodox Christian | 4.9% in 2021, up from 2.2% in 2001 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Evangelical Christian | 3.8% in 2021 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that is Jewish | 0.1% in 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
The Habsburg monarchy
In 1482, Maximilian I acquired the Netherlands through marriage. Both realms passed to his grandson and successor, Charles V, who also inherited the Spanish throne and its colonial possessions, thus ruling over the Habsburg Empire at its greatest territorial extent. Charles V's reign was dedicated to the fight against Protestantism, which led to its eradication in vast areas under Habsburg control. In 1556, Charles V divided the House by ceding Austria and the Imperial crown to his brother, Ferdinand, and the Spanish Empire to his son, Philip. The Austrian branch, which ruled the Holy Roman Empire along with Hungary, Bohemia, and other realms of Central and Eastern Europe, was itself split into different branches in 1564 but reunited in 1665.
The Habsburgs controlled the 17 Provinces of the Netherlands until the Dutch Revolt in the second half of the 16th century, when they lost the northern Protestant provinces. They retained the southern Catholic parts, which became known as the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands until they were conquered by the French Revolutionary Army in 1794. The Habsburg realms were unified in 1804 with the formation of the Austrian Empire, and later split in two with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. The monarchy began to fracture during the final years of World War I and ultimately disbanded in 1918 with the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria and the First Hungarian Republic.
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![Catholicism in Austria; Or, An Epitome of the Austrian Ecclesiastical Law; with a Dissertation ... 1827 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Counter-Reformation
Austria has historically been a strongly Catholic country, having been the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) which championed Roman Catholicism. The Counter-Reformation in Austria was a response to the spread of the Protestant Reformation across Europe in the 16th century. As early as 1527, the Habsburgs enacted measures to counter the Reformation and suppress Austrian Protestantism.
The Counter-Reformation in Austria was characterised by the vigorous enforcement of Catholic doctrine and the mass emigration of Protestants, including many nobles. The Habsburgs imposed a strict regime to restore the influence of the Catholic Church, and this campaign proved successful. The Jesuits, in particular, played a prominent role in Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck, with a new generation of energetic bishops providing strong leadership.
In Upper Austria, where Protestantism had its strongest hold, the situation remained undecided between the Catholic governor Hans Jakob Löbl of Greinburg and the Calvinist Georg Erasmus of Tschernembl. However, when Ferdinand II, the son of Charles, the ruler of Inner Austria, took over, he became the most resolute advocate of the Counter-Reformation. Ferdinand succeeded in uprooting Protestantism in Inner Austria and then in other Habsburg countries, except Hungary and Silesia.
The introduction of the Counter-Reformation in Hungary resulted in a rising of Protestant elements under István Bocskay, but peace was eventually negotiated with the Turks, who recognised Austria as an equal partner for the first time. The death of Emperor Matthias brought Ferdinand II to the head of the House of Habsburg, and he continued to enforce the Counter-Reformation vigorously, leading to the mass emigration of Protestants.
The Counter-Reformation in Austria had significant social and economic impacts. The loss of many experienced miners during this period resulted in difficulties for the salt mining industry, and the government took steps to improve and extend the mines. The conflict for the Bohemian crown developed into the Thirty Years' War, with Spain, the Bavarian duke Maximilian I, and the Protestant elector of Saxony entering on the side of the emperor.
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Religious freedom
Austria has a long history as a strongly Catholic country, dating back to when it was the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) and championed Roman Catholicism. However, in recent years, there has been a notable decline in Catholicism and a proliferation of other religions, particularly in Vienna. 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.
Despite this decline, Catholicism remains the largest religion in Austria, with 57.9% of the total population identifying as such in 2017. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the Austrian constitution, and the government generally respects this right in practice. There are, however, some exceptions for religious groups that receive second-class status or no status under the 1998 Law on the Status of Religious Confessional Communities.
Austria has taken steps to promote freedom of religion and protect religious minorities at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. The Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs established an interreligious dialogue platform in 2014, bringing together representatives from all 16 legally recognised religious communities in Austria. Additionally, the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue (KAICIID), founded in Vienna in 2012, provides another important dialogue platform that highlights the human right of freedom of religion.
Austria has also actively participated in international efforts to promote freedom of religion and protect religious minorities. During its membership in the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (2011-2014), Austria prioritised freedom of religion and the protection of religious minorities, initiating discussions on strengthening international protection mechanisms. Furthermore, Austria has supported the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues.
While Austria has made significant strides in promoting religious freedom, there have been challenges. Instances of anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic sentiment have been reported, with the Islamic Faith Community (IGGIO) recording a 75% increase in anti-Muslim incidents from 2017 to 2018. However, courts have convicted individuals of anti-Islamic rhetoric and anti-Semitic or neo-Nazi activity, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing these issues.
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Influence of the Catholic Church
Austria has been historically a strongly Catholic country, having been the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) that championed Roman Catholicism. The country is dotted with churches, with 42 Roman Catholic churches in Salzburg alone. The Catholic Church's governing body in Austria is the Austrian Conference of Catholic Bishops, made up of the hierarchy of the two archbishops (Vienna, Salzburg), the bishops, and the abbot of the territorial abbey of Wettingen-Mehrerau. The current president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops is Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who belongs to the Central European noble family of Schönborn.
In the 16th century, many Austrians converted to Protestantism, Lutheranism in particular, as the Protestant Reformation (begun in 1517) was spreading across Europe. However, the Habsburgs enacted measures of Counter-Reformation as early as 1527 and harshly suppressed Austrian Protestantism, although a minority of Austrians remained Protestant. The Habsburgs viewed themselves as the vanguard of Catholicism, and all other confessions and religions were repressed.
In 1781, in the era of Austrian enlightenment, Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance for Austria that allowed other confessions a limited freedom of worship. Religious freedom was later declared a constitutional right in Cisleithania after the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867, thus acknowledging the fact that the monarchy was home to numerous religions besides Catholicism.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Austria has seen a radical change in the religious composition of the country, largely due to historical events (such as WWII) and immigration. While Catholicism has been on the decline, other religious communities have seen significant growth, including Islam and Judaism. The Muslim community in Austria has been present for over a century, and the country was one of the first European countries to recognise Muslims as a religious community in the 1912 Act of Recognition (Anerkennungesetz).
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Declining Catholicism
Catholicism is the predominant religion in Austria, with 57.9% of the population identifying as Catholic in 2017. However, this number has been declining over the years. Between the censuses of 1971 and 2021, Catholicism in Austria decreased from 87.4% to 55.2%. In 2023, the number of Austrian Catholics fell by 1.99%, and the number of priests working in the country dropped from 3,403 in 2022 to 3,320.
There are several factors contributing to the decline of Catholicism in Austria. Firstly, the younger generation tends to be less devout than the older generation, and it is common for young Austrians to withdraw their membership from the Catholic Church when they become adults due to the 'Kirchensteuer' (church tax), which takes 1.1% of one's total annual salary. Secondly, the Austrian Catholic Church has been affected by revelations of past mistreatment of children by its religious leaders, leading to a further decrease in adherence to the religion. Additionally, the growth of other religions in Austria, such as Islam and various branches of Orthodox Christianity, has contributed to the decline of Catholicism in the country. Immigration, particularly from Turkey and the former Yugoslavia, has played a role in this shift.
Moreover, historical events, such as World War II, have also impacted the religious composition of Austria. The Jewish community, which was substantial before the war, was decimated during the Holocaust, with only a few thousand remaining in the country. Additionally, the Protestant Reformation, which began in 1517, spread to Austria and led to a significant number of Austrians converting to Protestantism, particularly Lutheranism. While the Habsburgs enacted measures of Counter-Reformation and suppressed Austrian Protestantism, a minority of Austrians remained Protestant.
The decline of Catholicism in Austria is also reflected in the decreasing number of baptisms and marriages performed by the Catholic Church. In 2023, there were 39,488 baptisms and 8,228 Catholic marriages, down from 9,503 marriages in 2022. The Austrian bishops' conference attributed the decline in Catholic numbers to an unfavourable ratio between baptisms and deaths, as well as individuals formally leaving the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has been a Catholic country for a long time, dating back to the centre of the Habsburg monarchy (1273–1918) which championed Roman Catholicism. The Catholic Church is the largest religion in Austria, with 55.2% of the population identifying as Catholics in 2021.
The Austrian state and the Catholic Church have a close relationship, with the Church enjoying special rights and influence in the country. The Concordat of 1933 and other laws regulate this relationship, and Austrian Christians are obliged to pay a mandatory membership fee (called "Kirchenbeitrag") to their church.
Besides Catholicism, other religions in Austria include Islam, Judaism, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the Austrian constitution, and various religious communities are legally recognised, including the Alevi Religious Community, the Old Catholic Church, and the Methodist Church.
Yes, there has been a consistent decline in Catholicism in Austria over the past few decades. In 2001, 73.8% of the population identified as Catholic, which decreased to 64.1% in 2011 and 55.2% in 2021. This decline is attributed to various factors, including the younger generation being less devout, revelations of past mistreatment by Catholic leaders, and the proliferation of other religions in the country.
