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Religion in Finland
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Religion in Finland
Finland is a predominantly Christian nation where 62.2 % of the Finnish population of 5.6 million are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (Protestant), 34.9 % are unaffiliated, 1.0% are Orthodox Christians, and 1.8 % follow other religions. These statistics do not include, for example, asylum seekers who have not been granted a permanent residence permit.
There are two national churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (Protestant) and the Finnish Orthodox Church. Those who officially belong to one of the two national churches have part of their taxes turned over to their respective church (approximately 1-2% of income).
There are also approximately 44,000 followers of Pentecostal Christianity, and more than 15,000 Catholics in Finland, along with Anglicans, and some various Independent Christian communities. Prior to its Christianisation, beginning in the 11th century, Finnish paganism was the country's primary religion.
Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (62.2%). With about 3.5 million members out of a total population of 5.6 million, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland remains one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world, though its membership is declining. In 2023, Eroakirkosta.fi, a website which offers an electronic service for resigning from Finland's national churches, reported that more than 850,000 people had resigned their membership in the churches since the website was opened in 2003. The number of church members leaving the Church saw a particular large increase during the fall of 2010. This was caused by statements regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriages perceived to be intolerant towards LGBT people made by a conservative bishop and a politician representing Christian Democrats in a TV debate on the subject. The second largest group – and a rather quickly growing one – of 34.9% by the end of 2024 of the population is non-religious. A small minority belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (1.0%) and to the Catholic Church (15,982 people or 0.3% of the population).
Other Protestant denominations are significantly smaller, as are the Sikhs, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and other non-Christian communities (totaling with the Catholics to about 1.8% of the population).
The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are constitutional national churches of Finland with special roles in ceremonies and often in school morning prayers. Delegates to Lutheran Church assemblies are selected in church elections every four years.
The majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 2 percent of its members attend church services weekly. In 2004, the average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.
According to the Eurobarometer Poll (2010),
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Religion in Finland
Finland is a predominantly Christian nation where 62.2 % of the Finnish population of 5.6 million are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (Protestant), 34.9 % are unaffiliated, 1.0% are Orthodox Christians, and 1.8 % follow other religions. These statistics do not include, for example, asylum seekers who have not been granted a permanent residence permit.
There are two national churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (Protestant) and the Finnish Orthodox Church. Those who officially belong to one of the two national churches have part of their taxes turned over to their respective church (approximately 1-2% of income).
There are also approximately 44,000 followers of Pentecostal Christianity, and more than 15,000 Catholics in Finland, along with Anglicans, and some various Independent Christian communities. Prior to its Christianisation, beginning in the 11th century, Finnish paganism was the country's primary religion.
Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (62.2%). With about 3.5 million members out of a total population of 5.6 million, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland remains one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world, though its membership is declining. In 2023, Eroakirkosta.fi, a website which offers an electronic service for resigning from Finland's national churches, reported that more than 850,000 people had resigned their membership in the churches since the website was opened in 2003. The number of church members leaving the Church saw a particular large increase during the fall of 2010. This was caused by statements regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriages perceived to be intolerant towards LGBT people made by a conservative bishop and a politician representing Christian Democrats in a TV debate on the subject. The second largest group – and a rather quickly growing one – of 34.9% by the end of 2024 of the population is non-religious. A small minority belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (1.0%) and to the Catholic Church (15,982 people or 0.3% of the population).
Other Protestant denominations are significantly smaller, as are the Sikhs, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and other non-Christian communities (totaling with the Catholics to about 1.8% of the population).
The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are constitutional national churches of Finland with special roles in ceremonies and often in school morning prayers. Delegates to Lutheran Church assemblies are selected in church elections every four years.
The majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 2 percent of its members attend church services weekly. In 2004, the average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.
According to the Eurobarometer Poll (2010),
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