Religion in Liechtenstein

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]

Demographics

Religion in Liechtenstein in 2020[2]

  Catholicism (69.6%)
  Protestantism (8.1%)
  Other Christian (1.8%)
  Islam (6.0%)
  Other religion (1.0%)
  Undeclared (4.0%)
  Irreligion (9.6%)

Liechtenstein is a small, landlocked country located in the Alpine region of Europe.[3]

In 2020, 72% of the population were Catholic, 10% were Protestant, 6% were Muslim and 5% had no religious beliefs.[4] There were also approximately 30 Jews and 10 Buddhists living in the country.[5]

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.[6]

Overview

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."[7] Liechtenstein offers protection to adherents of all religious beliefs, and considers the "religious interests of the people" a priority of the government.[7] In Liechtenstein schools, although exceptions are allowed, religious education in Catholicism or Protestantism is legally required.[8] Tax exemption is granted by the government to religious organizations.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

Religion2020[2]2015[11]2010[12][13][11]2000[13][11]1990[13]
Catholics69.6%73.4%75.9%78.4%84.9%
Protestants8.1%8.2%8.5%8.3%9.2%
Christian-Orthodox Churches1.5%1.3%1.1%1.1%0.7%
Other Christian Churches0.3%0.3%0.3%0.1%0.2%
Muslims6.0%5.9%5.4%4.8%2.4%
Other religions1.0%0.8%0.8%0.3%0.2%
No religion9.6%7.0%5.4%2.8%1.5%
Undeclared4.0%3.3%2.6%4.1%0.9%

Freedom of religion

In 2023, the country scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[14]

See also

References
  1. US State Dept 2022 report
  2. Amt für Statistik. "213.001d Ständige Bevölkerung nach Stichtag und Religion". PX-Web (in German). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. Carl Waldman; Catherine Mason (2006). Encyclopedia of European Peoples. Infobase Publishing. pp. 486–487. ISBN 978-1-4381-2918-1. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. The World Religion Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  5. US State Dept 2022 report
  6. Encyclopædia Britannica Almanac 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica. 25 March 2009. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-59339-839-2. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  7. Jeroen Temperman (30 May 2010). State-Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance. BRILL. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-90-04-18148-9. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  8. Aili Piano (30 September 2009). Freedom in the World 2009: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil Liberties. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 426. ISBN 978-1-4422-0122-4. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  9. "Global Restrictions on Religion" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2013.
  10. Thomas M. Eccardt (30 October 2005). Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Hippocrene Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7818-1032-6. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  11. Statistisches Jahrbuch Liechtensteins 2020 Llv.li, p. 80
  12. "Volkszählung 2010". Llv.li. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  13. Statistisches Jahrbuch Liechtensteins 2014 Llv.li, p. 80
  14. Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08


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