The religion in Liechtenstein is predominantly Catholic, with a minority of Protestants, non-adherents, and adherents of other religions; it also has a small Muslim population, composed mainly of immigrants from countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. [1]
Liechtenstein is a small, doubly landlocked country located in the Alpine region of Europe. [3]
In 2020, 70% of the population was Catholic, 8% was Protestant Reformed, 6% was Muslim, 10% had no religious beliefs, approximately 2% was part of another religion and 4% refused to respond. There were also approximately 30 Jews living in the country. [1]
In 2002, 83.9% of Liechtenstein's population were Christian (76% Catholic and 7% Protestant), 4.2% followed Islam, 0.8% followed Orthodox Christianity, and 12% are either non-religious or adherents of other faiths. [4]
The Catholic Church, as written in the Constitution of Liechtenstein, is the official state religion of Liechtenstein. The constitution declares that the Catholic Church is "the State Church and as such shall enjoy the full protection of the State." [5] Liechtenstein offers protection to adherents of all religious beliefs, and considers the "religious interests of the people" a priority of the government. [5] In Liechtenstein schools, although exceptions are allowed, religious education in Catholicism or Protestantism is legally required. [6] Tax exemption is granted by the government to religious organizations. [6] According to the Pew Research Center, social conflict caused by religious hostilities is ranked low in Liechtenstein, and so is the amount of government restriction on the practice of religion. [7]
Before 1997, within the Catholic church, the principality was part of the Swiss Diocese of Chur: after then the Vatican founded the new Archdiocese of Vaduz. Reforms aimed at diminishing the influence of the Catholic Church on Liechtenstein's government have been supported by Prince Hans-Adam II. [8]
Religion | 2020 [2] | 2015 [9] | 2010 [10] [11] [9] | 2000 [11] [9] | 1990 [11] | 1980 [12] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholics | 69.6% | 73.4% | 75.9% | 78.4% | 84.9% | 85.8% |
Protestants | 8.1% | 8.2% | 8.5% | 8.3% | 9.2% | 10.3% |
Christian-Orthodox Churches | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.7% | - |
Other Christian Churches | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
Muslims | 6.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 2.4% | 1.7% |
Other religions | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.2% | - |
No religion | 9.6% | 7.0% | 5.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | - |
Undeclared | 4.0% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 4.1% | 0.9% | - |
In 2023, the country scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom. [13]
Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ,is a landlocked German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. It is the sixth smallest country in the world, and one of only two which are double landlocked. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein.
Demographic features of the population of Liechtenstein include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and also the seat of the national parliament. The city, which is located along the Rhine, has 5,696 residents. The most prominent landmark of Vaduz is Vaduz Castle, perched atop a steep hill overlooking the city. It is home to the reigning prince of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein princely family. The city's distinctive architecture is also displayed in landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. Florin, Government House, City Hall, the National Art Gallery, as well as the National Museum. Although Vaduz is the best-known town in the principality internationally, it is not the largest; neighbouring Schaan has a larger population.
The principality of Liechtenstein is divided into eleven municipalities, most consisting of only a single town. Five of the Gemeinden fall within the electoral district of Unterland, while the other six are within the Oberland.
Christianity is the largest religion in Belgium, with the Catholic Church representing the largest community, though it has experienced a significant decline since the 1950s. Belgium's policy separates the state from the churches, and freedom of religion of the citizens is guaranteed by the country's constitution.
The Catholic Church is "the Catholic Communion of Churches, both Roman and Eastern, or Oriental, that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome ." The church is also known by members as the People of God, the Body of Christ, the "Temple of the Holy Spirit", among other names. According to Vatican II's Gaudium et spes, the "church has but one sole purpose–that the kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished."
As of the year 2021, Christianity had approximately 2.38 billion adherents and is the largest religion by population respectively. According to a PEW estimation in 2020, Christians made up to 2.38 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people. It represents nearly one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion in the world, with the three largest groups of Christians being the Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The largest Christian denomination is the Catholic Church, with 1.3 billion baptized members. The second largest Christian branch is either Protestantism, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Religion has been a major influence on the societies, cultures, traditions, philosophies, artistic expressions and laws within present-day Europe. The largest religion in Europe is Christianity. However, irreligion and practical secularisation are also prominent in some countries. In Southeastern Europe, three countries have Muslim majorities, with Christianity being the second-largest religion in those countries. Ancient European religions included veneration for deities such as Zeus. Modern revival movements of these religions include Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry, Wicca, and others. Smaller religions include Indian religions, Judaism, and some East Asian religions, which are found in their largest groups in Britain, France, and Kalmykia.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Mexico, with Catholicism being its largest denomination representing around 78% of the total population as of 2020. In recent decades the share of Catholics has been declining, due to the growth of other Christian denominations – especially various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism – which now constitute larger shares of the population. Conversion to non-Catholic denominations has been considerably lower than in Central America, and central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world.
Serbia has been traditionally a Christian country since the Christianization of Serbs by Clement of Ohrid and Saint Naum in the 9th century. The dominant confession is Eastern Orthodoxy in the fold of Serbian Orthodox Church.
Religion in Italy has been historically characterized by the dominance of Catholicism since the Great Schism. According to a 2023 Ipsos survey, 61% of the country's residents are Catholic, 4% are Protestants, 3% other Christians, 28% are irreligious, 2% prefer not to say, 1% are Muslims, and 1% adhere to other religions. Italy's Catholic patron saints are Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena.
The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) does not collect religious statistics, and accurate reports are difficult to obtain. However, based on various studies and a survey, about 90% of the population adheres to Christianity, the majority of which (70.9%) are Roman Catholic, while a significant minority (16.7%) adhere to Protestantism.
Christianity is the most prevalent religion in the United States. Estimates from 2021 suggest that of the entire U.S. population about 63% is Christian. The majority of Christian Americans are Protestant Christians, though there are also significant numbers of American Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations such as Latter-day Saints, Orthodox Christians and Oriental Orthodox Christians, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world and, more specifically, the largest Protestant population in the world, with nearly 210 million Christians and, as of 2021, over 140 million people affiliated with Protestant churches, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. The Public Religion Research Institute's "2020 Census of American Religion", carried out between 2014 and 2020, showed that 70% of Americans identified as Christian during this seven-year interval. In a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 65% of adults in the United States identified themselves as Christians. They were 75% in 2015, 70.6% in 2014, 78% in 2012, 81.6% in 2001, and 85% in 1990. About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.
The predominant religion in Kenya is Christianity, which is adhered to by an estimated 85.5% of the total population. Islam is the second largest religion in Kenya, practised by 10.9 percent of Kenyans. Other faiths practised in Kenya are Baháʼí, Buddhism, Hinduism and traditional religions.
Christianity is the largest religion in Uruguay, with Catholics having the most adherents, but around 44.5% of the population is non-religious as of 2021. Church and state are officially separated since 1916.
Christianity is the largest religion in Benin, with substantial populations of Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths. According to the most recent 2020 estimate, the population of Benin is 52.2% Christian, 24.6% Muslim, 17.9% traditionalist and 5.3% follows other faiths or has no religion.
Christianity is the largest religion in Tanzania, with a substantial Muslim minority. Smaller populations of Animists, practitioners of other faiths, and religiously unaffiliated people are also present.
Religion in Guinea-Bissau is diverse, with no particular religion comprising an absolute majority of the population. Islam is the most widely professed faith, and significant populations of Christians and adherents of traditional African religions are also present in the country.
Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Tanzania, but in the island of Zanzibar most of the population is Muslim.
This is an index of Liechtenstein related topics.