Italy still calls itself overwhelmingly Catholic, yet daily faith is down sharply, with 35% of Italians praying every day in 2023 compared with 50% in 2000. Even among believers, practice and belief split in striking ways, from 71% who say they believe in God to just 23% attending Mass weekly. With questions like confession, miracles, same sex marriage, and religious education all measured side by side, the country’s religious identity looks less like a single trend and more like a set of competing realities.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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.
- 1984 concordat: Catholicism no longer sole state religion.
- 1948 Constitution Article 7: State-Vatican independence.
- 8x1000 tax allocation: 82% to Catholic Church in 2022.
- 2023 ISTAT: Northern Italy 65% Catholic vs 80% South.
- Sicily 2022 survey: 85% identify Catholic, highest regionally.
- Lombardy 2021: 20% non-religious, urban secularization.
Italian religious faith is still strong but participation and daily prayer have steadily declined.
Related reading
01 · Category
Attitudes and Practices25 stats
01
2023 Doxa: 35% Italians pray daily, down from 50% in 2000.
02
Weekly Mass attendance: 23% adults per 2022 ISTAT-ISSP.
03
71% believe in God per 2021 Eurobarometer Italy.
04
Belief in afterlife: 52% per 2023 Ipsos Mori.
05
Christmas Mass: 45% attendance 2022 Censis.
06
Confession sacrament: 12% yearly per Vatican 2023.
07
Divorce acceptance: 89% per 2022 SWG.
08
Abortion views: 65% pro-choice per 2021 La Stampa poll.
09
Same-sex marriage support: 62% in 2023 Eurispes.
10
Religious education in schools: 65% opt-in per MIUR 2022.
11
Pilgrimages: 10 million to Lourdes from Italy yearly pre-COVID.
12
Saints veneration: 78% believe in intercession per Doxa 2023.
13
Fasting Ash Wednesday: 28% participate 2023.
14
Bible reading monthly: 15% per 2022 Bible Society Italy.
15
Rosary prayer: 22% weekly among Catholics per Caritas 2021.
16
Belief in miracles: 48% per 2023 Censis spiritualità.
17
Religious vs spiritual but not religious: 28% latter per Ipsos 2022.
18
Prayer for health: 40% during COVID per SWG 2021.
19
Easter attendance: 35% per 2023 diocesan reports average.
20
Virgin Mary devotion: 65% in South per regional polls.
21
Exorcisms requested: 500,000 yearly per 2022 Vatican.
22
Yoga practice as spiritual: 12% per Censis 2023.
23
Horoscopes belief: 25% per 2021 Doxa.
24
Reincarnation belief: 30% per Eurispes 2022.
25
Church influence on politics: 18% approval per Ipsos 2023.
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Current Religious Demographics30 stats
01
According to the 2021 ISTAT census, 71.2% of the Italian population over 6 years old declared themselves as Roman Catholic.
02
Pew Research Center's 2018 survey found that 80% of Italians self-identify as Catholic, though only 27% attend Mass weekly.
03
In 2022, the Italian Ministry of Interior reported 1.4 million registered Muslims in Italy, representing about 2.3% of the population.
04
The 2019 Eurispes survey indicated that 8.7% of Italians identify as atheist.
05
ISTAT 2020 data shows 4.1% of Italians belong to other Christian denominations excluding Catholicism.
06
According to a 2023 Doxa poll, 12.5% of young Italians aged 18-34 identify as non-religious.
07
The Vatican Secretariat of State 2022 report notes 1.2% of Italy's population as Orthodox Christians, mainly from Eastern Europe.
08
2021 Censis Foundation survey: 2.8% of Italians are Protestant, with Evangelicals growing fastest.
09
Italian Buddhist Union 2023 membership: 250,000 adherents, or 0.4% of population.
10
2022 ISTAT: Jews number 28,000 in Italy, concentrated in Rome and Milan.
11
Pew 2020 global religion study: Hindus in Italy at 0.2%, mostly from Indian diaspora.
12
2019 national census projection: Sikhs estimated at 220,000, 0.37% of total population.
13
Agnostics make up 5.3% per 2021 SWG poll in Italy.
14
Jehovah's Witnesses: 260,000 members in 2022 Italian branch report.
15
Latter-day Saints (Mormons): 30,000 members as of 2023 church stats.
16
2022 Ipsos survey: 1.1% identify as belonging to other religions not specified.
17
Italian Sikh Federation 2023: 300 gurdwaras serving 250,000 Sikhs.
18
2021 Vatican stats: 23 million baptized Catholics in Italy.
19
Non-believers rose to 15.4% in 2020 IRES Piedmont survey extrapolated nationally.
20
Muslims from North Africa: 800,000 per 2022 Interior Ministry.
21
Evangelical churches: 1,800 congregations with 400,000 members in 2023.
22
Zoroastrians: Under 1,000 in Italy per 2021 global estimate.
23
Baha'is: 3,000 members registered in 2022 national assembly.
24
2023 La Repubblica poll: 78% cultural Catholics, 22% practicing.
25
Pentecostals: 350,000 adherents per 2022 federations report.
26
Italian Hindus: 150,000 from Sri Lanka and Mauritius mainly.
27
Spiritists: 10,000 per 2021 ASSAPI estimate.
28
2022 national survey: 0.5% New Age practitioners identify solely.
29
Orthodox from Romania: 1 million in Italy per 2023 estimates.
30
Total foreign-born religious minorities: 5.2 million or 8.7% in 2021 ISTAT.
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Historical Religious Data26 stats
01
In 1901, 99.6% of Italians were Roman Catholic per first national census.
02
By 1931 census, Catholic affiliation dropped slightly to 99.2% due to minor Protestant missions.
03
1951 ISTAT census: 99.0% declared Catholic amid post-WWII recovery.
04
1961 census showed first decline to 98.5% Catholic identification.
05
Vatican Annuario 1970: 98.1% baptized Catholics in Italy.
06
1981 ISTAT: 95.3% self-identified as Catholic, urbanization effect.
07
1991 census: 92.7% Catholic, rise in non-responses on religion.
08
2001 ISTAT: Catholics at 88.1%, atheists 5.2%.
09
2011 census omitted religion but projections: 83% Catholic.
10
1922 Lateran Treaty formalized Catholicism as state religion.
11
Pre-unification 1861: 100% Catholic in most states per papal records.
12
1871 first unified census: 99.8% Catholic.
13
Jewish population 1938: 48,000 before racial laws reduced to 8,000 by 1945.
14
Protestant missions 1900-1950: Grew from 10,000 to 50,000 members.
15
1970s secularization wave: Church attendance halved from 1960 levels.
16
1984 concordat revision ended Catholic monopoly in schools.
17
Muslim arrivals post-1980s: From 20,000 in 1980 to 1M by 2000.
18
Orthodox immigration boom 1990s: From negligible to 500,000 by 2000.
19
Atheist organizations founded 1968: UAAR membership grew to 10,000 by 1980.
20
1881 census first recorded non-Catholics at 0.1%.
21
Waldensians stable at 30,000 from 1850 to 1950.
22
Post-Vatican II 1965: Practicing Catholics fell 20% by 1975.
23
2005 Benedict XVI era: Baptisms down 15% from 1990s.
24
2011 non-practicing Catholics first majority per Doxa.
25
Pre-1870 papal states: 100% Catholic enforcement.
26
1948 constitution: Religious freedom but Catholic prevalence.
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Institutional and Legal Aspects22 stats
01
1984 concordat: Catholicism no longer sole state religion.
02
1948 Constitution Article 7: State-Vatican independence.
03
8x1000 tax allocation: 82% to Catholic Church in 2022.
04
Religious holidays: 12 Catholic feasts national per labor law.
05
CEI (Italian Bishops) budget: €5.2B from 8x1000 2023.
06
Mosques registered: 1,200 out of 2,500 estimated 2022 Interior.
07
Religious schools: 9,000 Catholic with state funding 70%.
08
Military chaplains: 90% Catholic in armed forces 2023.
09
Hospital chaplains: 8,000 Catholic positions funded.
10
Intesa agreements: 12 religions signed with state by 2023.
11
Muslim CIR: No full intesa, partial recognition 2022.
12
Jewish community laws: 20 municipalities with special status.
13
Waldensian table: €45M state funding yearly post-1984.
14
Buddhist UBI intesa: First non-Abrahamic 2017.
15
Jehovah's Witnesses denied intesa 2020 court ruling.
16
Civil unions for clergy: Debated, no legal change 2023.
17
Crucifix in courts: Upheld by ECHR 2011 for Italy.
18
Religion in oaths: Optional formula per Constitution.
19
Sikh turban in IDs: Allowed since 2019 police directive.
20
Evangelical alliances: 6 intese granting tax benefits.
21
Orthodox autocephaly: Russian vs Romanian jurisdictions 10 each.
22
Pagan/Neopagan registrations: 50 associations seeking recognition.
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Regional Variations25 stats
01
2023 ISTAT: Northern Italy 65% Catholic vs 80% South.
02
Sicily 2022 survey: 85% identify Catholic, highest regionally.
03
Lombardy 2021: 20% non-religious, urban secularization.
04
Veneto church attendance 30% weekly per 2023 Caritas.
05
Campania: 82% Catholic, strong Marian devotion.
06
Lazio Muslims 5% due to Rome immigration hub.
07
Trentino-Alto Adige: 10% Protestant German speakers.
08
Puglia Orthodox 4%, Albanian communities.
09
Emilia-Romagna atheists 18%, highest in Italy.
10
Tuscany Buddhists 0.6%, immigrant workers.
11
Sardinia 90% Catholic, traditional festivals.
12
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Jews historic 1,200 in Trieste.
13
Calabria Evangelicals growing to 3% in rural areas.
14
Piedmont Sikhs 1%, agro workers in Turin area.
15
Abruzzo practicing Catholics 45%, aging population.
16
Basilicata lowest immigration, 95% Catholic.
17
Molise Orthodox 6% from Moldovan migrants.
18
Umbria New Age 1.2%, Assisi pilgrimage effect.
19
Marche Hindus 0.4%, food industry links.
20
Liguria secular 25%, Genoa port diversity.
21
Aosta Valley Protestants 12%, Waldensian history.
22
Milan metro: Muslims 7%, urban density.
23
Naples: San Gennaro cult, 88% devotion.
24
Bolzano: 35% German Catholic vs Italian.
25
Palermo Muslims 4.5%, North African ties.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Italy Religion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-religion-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Italy Religion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italy-religion-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Italy Religion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-religion-statistics.
Sources & references
71 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level