Letter from Berlin

Is Germany on the path to secularization? In 2024, for the first time, the country recorded more individuals without religious affiliation than Catholics and Protestants, according to the research group Weltanschauungen in Deutschland, which bases its findings on publications from the German Bishops' Conference and the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD). Thus, Germany had 47% atheists, compared to 45% Catholics and Protestants, and 4% Muslims. In 1990, only 22% of Germans identified as non-religious. By way of comparison, non-religious individuals have been in the majority in France for several years, with an INSEE study conducted in 2019-2020 showing they made up 51% of the population.

This data confirms long-observed trends in Germany, as in the rest of Europe, partly exacerbated by demographic aging. And these trends are accelerating. In total, the two major Christian churches lost over 1 million members last year across Germany. Experts extrapolate that within two years, individuals without religious affiliation will account for more than 50% of the German population.

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