Irreligion in Belgium

Religion in Belgium (2023) ^{[1] [2]}

1. No religion (59.0%)
2. Roman Catholic (31.0%)
3. Protestant (1.00%)
4. Eastern Orthodox (1.00%)
5. Other Christian (1.00%)
6. Islam (6.00%)
7. Other (1.00%)

Irreligion in Belgium pertains to citizens of Belgium that are atheist, agnostic, or otherwise unaffiliated with any religion. Most inhabitants of Belgium are irreligious. The largest religion remains Catholicism.

History

The Constitution of Belgium guaranteed the right to freedom of religion when it was enacted in 1831. Articles 19-21 provide for protections of secularism: the Constitution of Belgium guarantees the freedom of worship and its public practice, forbids the obligation of any religious practices, and disallows government intervention or involvement in a religion's leadership. ^[3]

The First School War was a dispute between Catholicism and secularism in schools in the 1880s. The dispute was revived in the Second School War in the 1950s. ^[4]

Demographics

Religion has declined in Belgium, though Catholicism still remains large among the Belgian population. ^{[5] [6]} In 2021, the Eurobarometer survey found that 41% of Belgians considered themselves irreligious. 26% of Belgians identified as non-believer or agnostic, while 15% identified as atheist. ^[7]

Secular groups

Due to pillarization which is in place in Belgium, irreligious individuals and families who desire to receive counseling and celebration for life moments often go to institutions of organized secularism, including secular organizations or liberal philosophical organizations (Dutch : vrijzinnige levensbeschouwelijke organisaties, French : organisations laïques) which are headed and led by clergy-like officials known as "counsellors".^{[ citation needed ]}

Organized secularism is recognized by Belgium as a philosophy that exists alongside religious groups and receives state funding. ^[8]

See also

• Belgium portal

• Demographics of Belgium
• Freedom of religion in Belgium
• Religion in Belgium

References

1. "European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure (ESS ERIC) (2025) ESS11 - integrated file, edition 3.0 [Data set]". Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research. doi:10.21338/ess11e03_0 . Retrieved 2025-07-28.
2. "European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure (ESS ERIC) (2025) ESS11 - integrated file, edition 3.0 [Data set]". Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research. doi:10.21338/ess11e03_0 . Retrieved 2025-07-28.
3. Velaers, Jan; Foblets, Marie-Clarie. "Religion and the State in Belgian Law". National Report: Belgium.
4. Aries, Jacques (dir.) (2005). La laïcité histoires nationales - perspectives européennes. Lyon: J.André. ISBN   9782915009651.^{[ page needed ]}
5. "Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism" (PDF). Gallup. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
6. "What happened to Belgium? Lament for a Catholic nation – Opinion – ABC Religion & Ethics (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
7. "Special Eurobarometer 516 : European citizens' knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology". European Union: European Commission. September 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2023– via European Data Portal (see Volume C: Country/socio-demographics: BE: Question D90.2.).
8. Sägesser, Caroline (September 2018). Religion and Secularism in the European Union. Université libre de Bruxelles. p. 65.