What major religions are represented in the EU?
Emma Valentine
Published Jan 26, 2026
The major religions currently dominating European culture are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Though Europe is predominantly Christian, this definition changes depending upon which measurement is used.
How many religions are there in the European Union?
The three major religions in Europe are Christianity, unaffiliated and Islam. Overall in Europe 47 percent of Christians are Roman Catholic, 18 percent are Protestants, and 35 percent are Orthodox (Rubenstein 2019, p. 140). Christians comprise of 51% of the population (Pew Research Center 2018).
What religion were the European trying to spread?
Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Spain, so Spanish explorers and soldiers, called conquistadors, sought to spread Catholicism throughout their colonies, in addition to accumulating wealth and power.
What religion was followed in Europe before Christianity?
Before the spread of Christianity, Europe was home to a profusion of religious beliefs, most of which are pejoratively referred to as paganism. The word derives from the Latin paganus meaning ‘of the countryside,’ essentially calling them hicks or bumpkins.
What are the top 3 religions in Europe?
Religion in the European Union is diverse. The largest religion in the EU is Christianity, which accounted for 72.8% of EU population as of 2018. Smaller groups include those of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and some East Asian religions, most concentrated in Germany and France.
Which country has no God?
Atheism is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Atheism can also be defined as a rejection of the belief of any deities that exist….Most Atheist Countries 2021.
| Country | Non Religious Persons |
|---|---|
| Australia | 63.00% |
| Vietnam | 63.00% |
| Norway | 62.00% |
| Denmark | 61.00% |
What is Europe’s main religion?
Religion in the European Union is a diverse matter with significant levels of belief in all EU member states. The largest religion in the EU is Christianity, which accounts for 72% of EU population, with its largest denominations being Catholic Church, Protestantism (especially in the north), and Eastern Orthodoxy.
Is the freedom of religion protected in the EU?
Freedom of religion and belief has significant protections in the EU and under the international legal framework. Religion, represented by churches, religious communities and other actors, is also a significant factor in the protection and promotion of human rights, both in the world and in the European Union.
Which is the second largest religion in Europe?
In the second place, unaffiliated people come in with about 18.8% of the entire population. Islam is in third place with around 6% of the population. Other religions come next with less than 1% of the European population practicing each religion.
Which is the least religious country in Europe?
Irreligion. The region of Eastern Germany, which was also under communist rule, is believed to be the least religious region in Europe. Other post-communist countries, however, have seen the opposite effect, with religion being very important in countries such as Romania, Lithuania and Poland.