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PHC 2011: over a quarter of the population are affiliated with a particular religion

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Posted on 29 April 2013, 11:00
According to the data of the 2011 Population and Housing Census (PHC 2011), 320,872 persons or 29% of Estonian population aged 15 and older are affiliated with a particular religion. This percentage has not changed compared to the previous, 2000 Census.

During the period between the censuses, the number religions in Estonia has increased. In 2011, 90 religious affiliations were followed by believers. At the same time 54% of the population aged 15 and older does not feel an affiliation to any religion. Compared to the 2000 Census, the number of persons who did not wish to answer the question in relation to religion has increased, accounting for 14% in total. Relation to the religion is unknown in case of nearly 2% of the population aged 15 and older.

In the 2011 Population Census the most prevalent religion among the population aged 15 and older was Orthodoxy (16% are affiliated with it) and Lutheranism (10% are affiliated with it).

Of Estonians aged 15 and older 19% are affiliated with a particular religion, of non-Estonians – 50%.

Different ethnic nationalities living in Estonia follow their traditional religion. Among Estonians Lutheranism is most prevalent, 14% of Estonians aged 15 and older are affiliated with it. 27% of Finns, 15% of Germans and 14% of Latvians living in Estonia consider themselves Lutherans.

51% of Byelorussians, 50% of Ukrainians, 47% of Russians and 41% of Armenians feel an affiliation to Orthodoxy.

47% of Poles and 33% of Lithuanians living in Estonia are Catholics. Islamic religion is most widespread among Tatars.

In urban settlements of Estonia live three times more believers than in rural settlements, the reason for it is first and foremost related to the ethnic composition of the population.

Share of population affiliated with a particular religion among the county's population aged 15 and older, 31.12.2011

Diagram: Share of population affiliated with a particular religion among the county's population aged 15 and older

More detailed data can be found in the Statistical Database.

The schedule of publication of the results of PHC 2011 is available on the website www.stat.ee/phc2011.

The eleventh Population Census in Estonia was conducted from 31 December 2011 until 31 March 2012. Previous censuses were carried out in 1881, 1897, 1922, 1934, 1941, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989 and 2000. The next Population Census in Estonia will be conducted in 2020/2021.