Weekly church attendance in Italy 2006-2020
Every year the number of Italian believers attending religious services becomes lower and lower. In 2020, there were about 12 million citizens attending house of prayer at least once every week, around six million worshippers less in comparison with the figures from a decade earlier. The most prayerful were the citizens aged over 75 years, whereas the lowest number of individuals attending religious services at least once a week was recorded in the age group between 18 and 24 years.
Religious affiliation of Italians
Although the dominant religion in Italy is Catholicism, Italian citizens also belong to other religious minorities. In 2018, the largest share of individuals who were not belonging to the Roman Catholic Church were Protestants, followed by Jehova’s Witnesses and Muslims.
Reasons to leave religion
When asked about the reason why they left the religion, 64 percent of the Italian respondents stated that they disagreed with their religion’s position on social issues. Another 60 percent of the interviewees were unhappy about scandals involving religious institutions, whereas six percent left the religion because they married someone outside the faith.
Religious affiliation of Italians
Although the dominant religion in Italy is Catholicism, Italian citizens also belong to other religious minorities. In 2018, the largest share of individuals who were not belonging to the Roman Catholic Church were Protestants, followed by Jehova’s Witnesses and Muslims.
Reasons to leave religion
When asked about the reason why they left the religion, 64 percent of the Italian respondents stated that they disagreed with their religion’s position on social issues. Another 60 percent of the interviewees were unhappy about scandals involving religious institutions, whereas six percent left the religion because they married someone outside the faith.
