GITNUXREPORT 2026

Italy Religion Statistics

Italy remains overwhelmingly Catholic yet increasingly diverse and secular today.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

2023 Doxa: 35% Italians pray daily, down from 50% in 2000.

Statistic 2

Weekly Mass attendance: 23% adults per 2022 ISTAT-ISSP.

Statistic 3

71% believe in God per 2021 Eurobarometer Italy.

Statistic 4

Belief in afterlife: 52% per 2023 Ipsos Mori.

Statistic 5

Christmas Mass: 45% attendance 2022 Censis.

Statistic 6

Confession sacrament: 12% yearly per Vatican 2023.

Statistic 7

Divorce acceptance: 89% per 2022 SWG.

Statistic 8

Abortion views: 65% pro-choice per 2021 La Stampa poll.

Statistic 9

Same-sex marriage support: 62% in 2023 Eurispes.

Statistic 10

Religious education in schools: 65% opt-in per MIUR 2022.

Statistic 11

Pilgrimages: 10 million to Lourdes from Italy yearly pre-COVID.

Statistic 12

Saints veneration: 78% believe in intercession per Doxa 2023.

Statistic 13

Fasting Ash Wednesday: 28% participate 2023.

Statistic 14

Bible reading monthly: 15% per 2022 Bible Society Italy.

Statistic 15

Rosary prayer: 22% weekly among Catholics per Caritas 2021.

Statistic 16

Belief in miracles: 48% per 2023 Censis spiritualità.

Statistic 17

Religious vs spiritual but not religious: 28% latter per Ipsos 2022.

Statistic 18

Prayer for health: 40% during COVID per SWG 2021.

Statistic 19

Easter attendance: 35% per 2023 diocesan reports average.

Statistic 20

Virgin Mary devotion: 65% in South per regional polls.

Statistic 21

Exorcisms requested: 500,000 yearly per 2022 Vatican.

Statistic 22

Yoga practice as spiritual: 12% per Censis 2023.

Statistic 23

Horoscopes belief: 25% per 2021 Doxa.

Statistic 24

Reincarnation belief: 30% per Eurispes 2022.

Statistic 25

Church influence on politics: 18% approval per Ipsos 2023.

Statistic 26

According to the 2021 ISTAT census, 71.2% of the Italian population over 6 years old declared themselves as Roman Catholic.

Statistic 27

Pew Research Center's 2018 survey found that 80% of Italians self-identify as Catholic, though only 27% attend Mass weekly.

Statistic 28

In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Interior reported 1.4 million registered Muslims in Italy, representing about 2.3% of the population.

Statistic 29

The 2019 Eurispes survey indicated that 8.7% of Italians identify as atheist.

Statistic 30

ISTAT 2020 data shows 4.1% of Italians belong to other Christian denominations excluding Catholicism.

Statistic 31

According to a 2023 Doxa poll, 12.5% of young Italians aged 18-34 identify as non-religious.

Statistic 32

The Vatican Secretariat of State 2022 report notes 1.2% of Italy's population as Orthodox Christians, mainly from Eastern Europe.

Statistic 33

2021 Censis Foundation survey: 2.8% of Italians are Protestant, with Evangelicals growing fastest.

Statistic 34

Italian Buddhist Union 2023 membership: 250,000 adherents, or 0.4% of population.

Statistic 35

2022 ISTAT: Jews number 28,000 in Italy, concentrated in Rome and Milan.

Statistic 36

Pew 2020 global religion study: Hindus in Italy at 0.2%, mostly from Indian diaspora.

Statistic 37

2019 national census projection: Sikhs estimated at 220,000, 0.37% of total population.

Statistic 38

Agnostics make up 5.3% per 2021 SWG poll in Italy.

Statistic 39

Jehovah's Witnesses: 260,000 members in 2022 Italian branch report.

Statistic 40

Latter-day Saints (Mormons): 30,000 members as of 2023 church stats.

Statistic 41

2022 Ipsos survey: 1.1% identify as belonging to other religions not specified.

Statistic 42

Italian Sikh Federation 2023: 300 gurdwaras serving 250,000 Sikhs.

Statistic 43

2021 Vatican stats: 23 million baptized Catholics in Italy.

Statistic 44

Non-believers rose to 15.4% in 2020 IRES Piedmont survey extrapolated nationally.

Statistic 45

Muslims from North Africa: 800,000 per 2022 Interior Ministry.

Statistic 46

Evangelical churches: 1,800 congregations with 400,000 members in 2023.

Statistic 47

Zoroastrians: Under 1,000 in Italy per 2021 global estimate.

Statistic 48

Baha'is: 3,000 members registered in 2022 national assembly.

Statistic 49

2023 La Repubblica poll: 78% cultural Catholics, 22% practicing.

Statistic 50

Pentecostals: 350,000 adherents per 2022 federations report.

Statistic 51

Italian Hindus: 150,000 from Sri Lanka and Mauritius mainly.

Statistic 52

Spiritists: 10,000 per 2021 ASSAPI estimate.

Statistic 53

2022 national survey: 0.5% New Age practitioners identify solely.

Statistic 54

Orthodox from Romania: 1 million in Italy per 2023 estimates.

Statistic 55

Total foreign-born religious minorities: 5.2 million or 8.7% in 2021 ISTAT.

Statistic 56

In 1901, 99.6% of Italians were Roman Catholic per first national census.

Statistic 57

By 1931 census, Catholic affiliation dropped slightly to 99.2% due to minor Protestant missions.

Statistic 58

1951 ISTAT census: 99.0% declared Catholic amid post-WWII recovery.

Statistic 59

1961 census showed first decline to 98.5% Catholic identification.

Statistic 60

Vatican Annuario 1970: 98.1% baptized Catholics in Italy.

Statistic 61

1981 ISTAT: 95.3% self-identified as Catholic, urbanization effect.

Statistic 62

1991 census: 92.7% Catholic, rise in non-responses on religion.

Statistic 63

2001 ISTAT: Catholics at 88.1%, atheists 5.2%.

Statistic 64

2011 census omitted religion but projections: 83% Catholic.

Statistic 65

1922 Lateran Treaty formalized Catholicism as state religion.

Statistic 66

Pre-unification 1861: 100% Catholic in most states per papal records.

Statistic 67

1871 first unified census: 99.8% Catholic.

Statistic 68

Jewish population 1938: 48,000 before racial laws reduced to 8,000 by 1945.

Statistic 69

Protestant missions 1900-1950: Grew from 10,000 to 50,000 members.

Statistic 70

1970s secularization wave: Church attendance halved from 1960 levels.

Statistic 71

1984 concordat revision ended Catholic monopoly in schools.

Statistic 72

Muslim arrivals post-1980s: From 20,000 in 1980 to 1M by 2000.

Statistic 73

Orthodox immigration boom 1990s: From negligible to 500,000 by 2000.

Statistic 74

Atheist organizations founded 1968: UAAR membership grew to 10,000 by 1980.

Statistic 75

1881 census first recorded non-Catholics at 0.1%.

Statistic 76

Waldensians stable at 30,000 from 1850 to 1950.

Statistic 77

Post-Vatican II 1965: Practicing Catholics fell 20% by 1975.

Statistic 78

2005 Benedict XVI era: Baptisms down 15% from 1990s.

Statistic 79

2011 non-practicing Catholics first majority per Doxa.

Statistic 80

Pre-1870 papal states: 100% Catholic enforcement.

Statistic 81

1948 constitution: Religious freedom but Catholic prevalence.

Statistic 82

1984 concordat: Catholicism no longer sole state religion.

Statistic 83

1948 Constitution Article 7: State-Vatican independence.

Statistic 84

8x1000 tax allocation: 82% to Catholic Church in 2022.

Statistic 85

Religious holidays: 12 Catholic feasts national per labor law.

Statistic 86

CEI (Italian Bishops) budget: €5.2B from 8x1000 2023.

Statistic 87

Mosques registered: 1,200 out of 2,500 estimated 2022 Interior.

Statistic 88

Religious schools: 9,000 Catholic with state funding 70%.

Statistic 89

Military chaplains: 90% Catholic in armed forces 2023.

Statistic 90

Hospital chaplains: 8,000 Catholic positions funded.

Statistic 91

Intesa agreements: 12 religions signed with state by 2023.

Statistic 92

Muslim CIR: No full intesa, partial recognition 2022.

Statistic 93

Jewish community laws: 20 municipalities with special status.

Statistic 94

Waldensian table: €45M state funding yearly post-1984.

Statistic 95

Buddhist UBI intesa: First non-Abrahamic 2017.

Statistic 96

Jehovah's Witnesses denied intesa 2020 court ruling.

Statistic 97

Civil unions for clergy: Debated, no legal change 2023.

Statistic 98

Crucifix in courts: Upheld by ECHR 2011 for Italy.

Statistic 99

Religion in oaths: Optional formula per Constitution.

Statistic 100

Sikh turban in IDs: Allowed since 2019 police directive.

Statistic 101

Evangelical alliances: 6 intese granting tax benefits.

Statistic 102

Orthodox autocephaly: Russian vs Romanian jurisdictions 10 each.

Statistic 103

Pagan/Neopagan registrations: 50 associations seeking recognition.

Statistic 104

2023 ISTAT: Northern Italy 65% Catholic vs 80% South.

Statistic 105

Sicily 2022 survey: 85% identify Catholic, highest regionally.

Statistic 106

Lombardy 2021: 20% non-religious, urban secularization.

Statistic 107

Veneto church attendance 30% weekly per 2023 Caritas.

Statistic 108

Campania: 82% Catholic, strong Marian devotion.

Statistic 109

Lazio Muslims 5% due to Rome immigration hub.

Statistic 110

Trentino-Alto Adige: 10% Protestant German speakers.

Statistic 111

Puglia Orthodox 4%, Albanian communities.

Statistic 112

Emilia-Romagna atheists 18%, highest in Italy.

Statistic 113

Tuscany Buddhists 0.6%, immigrant workers.

Statistic 114

Sardinia 90% Catholic, traditional festivals.

Statistic 115

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Jews historic 1,200 in Trieste.

Statistic 116

Calabria Evangelicals growing to 3% in rural areas.

Statistic 117

Piedmont Sikhs 1%, agro workers in Turin area.

Statistic 118

Abruzzo practicing Catholics 45%, aging population.

Statistic 119

Basilicata lowest immigration, 95% Catholic.

Statistic 120

Molise Orthodox 6% from Moldovan migrants.

Statistic 121

Umbria New Age 1.2%, Assisi pilgrimage effect.

Statistic 122

Marche Hindus 0.4%, food industry links.

Statistic 123

Liguria secular 25%, Genoa port diversity.

Statistic 124

Aosta Valley Protestants 12%, Waldensian history.

Statistic 125

Milan metro: Muslims 7%, urban density.

Statistic 126

Naples: San Gennaro cult, 88% devotion.

Statistic 127

Bolzano: 35% German Catholic vs Italian.

Statistic 128

Palermo Muslims 4.5%, North African ties.

1/128

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

While an astonishing 99.6% of Italians identified as Catholic at the dawn of the 20th century, today's religious landscape tells a more complex and quietly evolving story, with a still-dominant Catholic majority now sharing space with growing secular, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, and other faith communities.

Key Takeaways

According to the 2021 ISTAT census, 71.2% of the Italian population over 6 years old declared themselves as Roman Catholic.
Pew Research Center's 2018 survey found that 80% of Italians self-identify as Catholic, though only 27% attend Mass weekly.
In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Interior reported 1.4 million registered Muslims in Italy, representing about 2.3% of the population.
In 1901, 99.6% of Italians were Roman Catholic per first national census.
By 1931 census, Catholic affiliation dropped slightly to 99.2% due to minor Protestant missions.
1951 ISTAT census: 99.0% declared Catholic amid post-WWII recovery.
2023 ISTAT: Northern Italy 65% Catholic vs 80% South.
Sicily 2022 survey: 85% identify Catholic, highest regionally.
Lombardy 2021: 20% non-religious, urban secularization.
2023 Doxa: 35% Italians pray daily, down from 50% in 2000.
Weekly Mass attendance: 23% adults per 2022 ISTAT-ISSP.
71% believe in God per 2021 Eurobarometer Italy.
1984 concordat: Catholicism no longer sole state religion.
1948 Constitution Article 7: State-Vatican independence.
8x1000 tax allocation: 82% to Catholic Church in 2022.

Italy remains overwhelmingly Catholic yet increasingly diverse and secular today.

Attitudes and Practices

2023 Doxa: 35% Italians pray daily, down from 50% in 2000.
Weekly Mass attendance: 23% adults per 2022 ISTAT-ISSP.
71% believe in God per 2021 Eurobarometer Italy.
Belief in afterlife: 52% per 2023 Ipsos Mori.
Christmas Mass: 45% attendance 2022 Censis.
Confession sacrament: 12% yearly per Vatican 2023.
Divorce acceptance: 89% per 2022 SWG.
Abortion views: 65% pro-choice per 2021 La Stampa poll.
Same-sex marriage support: 62% in 2023 Eurispes.
Religious education in schools: 65% opt-in per MIUR 2022.
Pilgrimages: 10 million to Lourdes from Italy yearly pre-COVID.
Saints veneration: 78% believe in intercession per Doxa 2023.
Fasting Ash Wednesday: 28% participate 2023.
Bible reading monthly: 15% per 2022 Bible Society Italy.
Rosary prayer: 22% weekly among Catholics per Caritas 2021.
Belief in miracles: 48% per 2023 Censis spiritualità.
Religious vs spiritual but not religious: 28% latter per Ipsos 2022.
Prayer for health: 40% during COVID per SWG 2021.
Easter attendance: 35% per 2023 diocesan reports average.
Virgin Mary devotion: 65% in South per regional polls.
Exorcisms requested: 500,000 yearly per 2022 Vatican.
Yoga practice as spiritual: 12% per Censis 2023.
Horoscopes belief: 25% per 2021 Doxa.
Reincarnation belief: 30% per Eurispes 2022.
Church influence on politics: 18% approval per Ipsos 2023.

Attitudes and Practices Interpretation

Italy's religious landscape is a lively and often contradictory piazza where a clear majority still believes in God, yet daily prayer is dwindling and public morality is increasingly a personal affair, resulting in a nation that piously venerates saints by the millions while overwhelmingly accepting divorce and leaning pro-choice.

Current Religious Demographics

According to the 2021 ISTAT census, 71.2% of the Italian population over 6 years old declared themselves as Roman Catholic.
Pew Research Center's 2018 survey found that 80% of Italians self-identify as Catholic, though only 27% attend Mass weekly.
In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Interior reported 1.4 million registered Muslims in Italy, representing about 2.3% of the population.
The 2019 Eurispes survey indicated that 8.7% of Italians identify as atheist.
ISTAT 2020 data shows 4.1% of Italians belong to other Christian denominations excluding Catholicism.
According to a 2023 Doxa poll, 12.5% of young Italians aged 18-34 identify as non-religious.
The Vatican Secretariat of State 2022 report notes 1.2% of Italy's population as Orthodox Christians, mainly from Eastern Europe.
2021 Censis Foundation survey: 2.8% of Italians are Protestant, with Evangelicals growing fastest.
Italian Buddhist Union 2023 membership: 250,000 adherents, or 0.4% of population.
2022 ISTAT: Jews number 28,000 in Italy, concentrated in Rome and Milan.
Pew 2020 global religion study: Hindus in Italy at 0.2%, mostly from Indian diaspora.
2019 national census projection: Sikhs estimated at 220,000, 0.37% of total population.
Agnostics make up 5.3% per 2021 SWG poll in Italy.
Jehovah's Witnesses: 260,000 members in 2022 Italian branch report.
Latter-day Saints (Mormons): 30,000 members as of 2023 church stats.
2022 Ipsos survey: 1.1% identify as belonging to other religions not specified.
Italian Sikh Federation 2023: 300 gurdwaras serving 250,000 Sikhs.
2021 Vatican stats: 23 million baptized Catholics in Italy.
Non-believers rose to 15.4% in 2020 IRES Piedmont survey extrapolated nationally.
Muslims from North Africa: 800,000 per 2022 Interior Ministry.
Evangelical churches: 1,800 congregations with 400,000 members in 2023.
Zoroastrians: Under 1,000 in Italy per 2021 global estimate.
Baha'is: 3,000 members registered in 2022 national assembly.
2023 La Repubblica poll: 78% cultural Catholics, 22% practicing.
Pentecostals: 350,000 adherents per 2022 federations report.
Italian Hindus: 150,000 from Sri Lanka and Mauritius mainly.
Spiritists: 10,000 per 2021 ASSAPI estimate.
2022 national survey: 0.5% New Age practitioners identify solely.
Orthodox from Romania: 1 million in Italy per 2023 estimates.
Total foreign-born religious minorities: 5.2 million or 8.7% in 2021 ISTAT.

Current Religious Demographics Interpretation

While the nation's spiritual landscape remains officially dominated by a Catholic supermajority, the reality is a vibrant mosaic of fervent practice, cultural inheritance, quiet unbelief, and diverse immigrant faiths that is gradually, but irreversibly, pluralizing the once-monolithic soul of Italy.

Historical Religious Data

In 1901, 99.6% of Italians were Roman Catholic per first national census.
By 1931 census, Catholic affiliation dropped slightly to 99.2% due to minor Protestant missions.
1951 ISTAT census: 99.0% declared Catholic amid post-WWII recovery.
1961 census showed first decline to 98.5% Catholic identification.
Vatican Annuario 1970: 98.1% baptized Catholics in Italy.
1981 ISTAT: 95.3% self-identified as Catholic, urbanization effect.
1991 census: 92.7% Catholic, rise in non-responses on religion.
2001 ISTAT: Catholics at 88.1%, atheists 5.2%.
2011 census omitted religion but projections: 83% Catholic.
1922 Lateran Treaty formalized Catholicism as state religion.
Pre-unification 1861: 100% Catholic in most states per papal records.
1871 first unified census: 99.8% Catholic.
Jewish population 1938: 48,000 before racial laws reduced to 8,000 by 1945.
Protestant missions 1900-1950: Grew from 10,000 to 50,000 members.
1970s secularization wave: Church attendance halved from 1960 levels.
1984 concordat revision ended Catholic monopoly in schools.
Muslim arrivals post-1980s: From 20,000 in 1980 to 1M by 2000.
Orthodox immigration boom 1990s: From negligible to 500,000 by 2000.
Atheist organizations founded 1968: UAAR membership grew to 10,000 by 1980.
1881 census first recorded non-Catholics at 0.1%.
Waldensians stable at 30,000 from 1850 to 1950.
Post-Vatican II 1965: Practicing Catholics fell 20% by 1975.
2005 Benedict XVI era: Baptisms down 15% from 1990s.
2011 non-practicing Catholics first majority per Doxa.
Pre-1870 papal states: 100% Catholic enforcement.
1948 constitution: Religious freedom but Catholic prevalence.

Historical Religious Data Interpretation

For over a century, Italy’s religious identity has meticulously shifted from a Catholic monolith, enforced by the state, into a more nuanced mosaic, slowly but persistently chipped at by secularization, Protestant whispers, and the arrival of new faiths through immigration.

Institutional and Legal Aspects

1984 concordat: Catholicism no longer sole state religion.
1948 Constitution Article 7: State-Vatican independence.
8x1000 tax allocation: 82% to Catholic Church in 2022.
Religious holidays: 12 Catholic feasts national per labor law.
CEI (Italian Bishops) budget: €5.2B from 8x1000 2023.
Mosques registered: 1,200 out of 2,500 estimated 2022 Interior.
Religious schools: 9,000 Catholic with state funding 70%.
Military chaplains: 90% Catholic in armed forces 2023.
Hospital chaplains: 8,000 Catholic positions funded.
Intesa agreements: 12 religions signed with state by 2023.
Muslim CIR: No full intesa, partial recognition 2022.
Jewish community laws: 20 municipalities with special status.
Waldensian table: €45M state funding yearly post-1984.
Buddhist UBI intesa: First non-Abrahamic 2017.
Jehovah's Witnesses denied intesa 2020 court ruling.
Civil unions for clergy: Debated, no legal change 2023.
Crucifix in courts: Upheld by ECHR 2011 for Italy.
Religion in oaths: Optional formula per Constitution.
Sikh turban in IDs: Allowed since 2019 police directive.
Evangelical alliances: 6 intese granting tax benefits.
Orthodox autocephaly: Russian vs Romanian jurisdictions 10 each.
Pagan/Neopagan registrations: 50 associations seeking recognition.

Institutional and Legal Aspects Interpretation

While Italy’s legal framework has moved beyond official Catholic exclusivity, the nation’s religious landscape remains a masterfully negotiated compromise, where Catholic traditions are comfortably baked into the state’s structure while a diverse array of other faiths are, with varying degrees of success, vying for a seat at the increasingly crowded table.

Regional Variations

2023 ISTAT: Northern Italy 65% Catholic vs 80% South.
Sicily 2022 survey: 85% identify Catholic, highest regionally.
Lombardy 2021: 20% non-religious, urban secularization.
Veneto church attendance 30% weekly per 2023 Caritas.
Campania: 82% Catholic, strong Marian devotion.
Lazio Muslims 5% due to Rome immigration hub.
Trentino-Alto Adige: 10% Protestant German speakers.
Puglia Orthodox 4%, Albanian communities.
Emilia-Romagna atheists 18%, highest in Italy.
Tuscany Buddhists 0.6%, immigrant workers.
Sardinia 90% Catholic, traditional festivals.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Jews historic 1,200 in Trieste.
Calabria Evangelicals growing to 3% in rural areas.
Piedmont Sikhs 1%, agro workers in Turin area.
Abruzzo practicing Catholics 45%, aging population.
Basilicata lowest immigration, 95% Catholic.
Molise Orthodox 6% from Moldovan migrants.
Umbria New Age 1.2%, Assisi pilgrimage effect.
Marche Hindus 0.4%, food industry links.
Liguria secular 25%, Genoa port diversity.
Aosta Valley Protestants 12%, Waldensian history.
Milan metro: Muslims 7%, urban density.
Naples: San Gennaro cult, 88% devotion.
Bolzano: 35% German Catholic vs Italian.
Palermo Muslims 4.5%, North African ties.

Regional Variations Interpretation

Italy presents a surprisingly devout and complex religious landscape, where the powerful, almost tribal, Catholic identity of the sun-baked South contends with the creeping secularism and diverse immigration of the industrial North, creating a patchwork of ancient devotion and modern plurality.