The predominant religion in the Republic of Ireland is Christianity, with the largest denomination being the Catholic Church. Irish Buddhists such as U Dhammaloka are recorded from the late nineteenth century on, with numbers growing particularly in the 21st century. However, in the 1990s immigration to Ireland outpaced emigration from the country. Protestants account for 48% of the population while Catholics account . Religion in Italy: History and Statistics, The Great Schism of 1054 and the Split of Christianity, The Military and Political Effects of the Crusades, B.S., Political Science, Boise State University. Of the 5.1 million people in the Republic of Ireland, a majority of the populationabout 78%identifies as Catholic, 3% are Protestant, 1% Muslim, 1% Orthodox Christian, 2% unspecified Christian, and 2% are members of other faiths. [citation needed]. Participation is strongly gendered, with a high proportion of women. According to the Central Statistics Office, Ireland's population as of 2021 is 50,11,500 (5 million) & As per the World Population Prospects, by the United Nations, the . Northern Ireland English is universally spoken. By 2017, this figure had risen to 1.87 million . Muslim > Muslim percentage of total population: Muslim percentage (%) of total population 2014 Pew Report. According to a census report done in 2011, Hinduism in Ireland had increased with more than triple the number it was in 2009 while Judaism population accounts for about 1,984 followers. Ireland is also a significant point of reference for various kinds of Celtic and other neo-pagan spirituality and religious practice around the world, such as the Fellowship of Isis. Most of the population identify as Christian, with the majority (78.3%) affiliating with Catholicism. There are also some Neo-paganism movements active in the country which mostly consists of Neo-Druidry, Wicca and Celtic Polytheism. The reason for this has chiefly been migration. Religion in Ireland: History and Statistics. Protestants account for 48% of the population while Catholics account for 45%. Irelandthe island made up of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Irelandincludes four traditional regions, or "provinces": Ulster in the north, Munster in the south, Leinster in the east, and Connaught in the west. The article also establishes freedom of religion (for belief, practice, and organisation without undue interference from the state), prohibits endowment of any particular religion, prohibits the state from religious discrimination, and requires the state to treat religious and non-religious schools in a non-prejudicial manner. Learn Religions, Oct. 13, 2021, learnreligions.com/religion-in-ireland-4779940. Today approximately 87% of Irish people living in the Republic of Ireland identify themselves as Roman Catholic. What Are The Differences Between Northern Ireland And The Republic Of Ireland? Additionally, as immigration to Ireland increases, populations of Muslims, Hindus, and non-Catholic Christians continues to grow. [15] In 2011, it was reported that weekly Mass attendance in Dublin was on average 18%, with it being lower among younger generations and in some areas less than 2%. https://www.learnreligions.com/religion-in-ireland-4779940 (accessed December 11, 2022). Though most Irish Protestants are members of the Church of Ireland, there is a rising population of African Methodist immigrants. [citation needed]. The War began as a campaign against discrimination of Catholics who consider themselves a nationalist minority by the Protestants who were viewed as government loyalists. The population of Irish Protestants, specifically Anglicans (Church of Ireland), Methodists, and Presbyterians. The number of people who do not identify with any religion is also set to rise to 10% of the population, as secularism becomes a norm in society. Transport in Ireland. Ireland had 2,557 Jews by religion in 2016, of whom 1,439 (56%) lived in its capital, Dublin. The first Irish Buddhist Union was formed in 2018, with representatives of five Buddhist schools coming together to form the body. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/religion-in-ireland-4779940. (2021, October 13). Other religions include Buddhism which accounts for about 0.19% of the population. You can also get to Ireland by ferries that run regularly from the UK. What Are The Differences Between Northern Ireland And The Republic Of Ireland? As well as asking the traditional question of "Religion?" - to which over 13% of respondents gave no answer it also asked "Religion brought up in?" to capture those who no longer identify with a religion. In Ireland, these scandals have included mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of children, the fathering of children by priests, and major cover-ups by members of the clergy and of government. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Ireland and the largest Christian denomination with a population of 78.8%. 55-64 years: 10.77% (male 278,836/female 278,498) 65 years and over: 13.82% (male 331,772/female 383,592) (2020 est.) Queen Elizabeth I - portrait from an engraving by Crispin de Passe, 1592 - Queen of England and Ireland. Parents can ask for their children to be excluded from religious study if they wish. Area: 70,273 square kilometers. Note: This article is written about the Republic of Ireland, not including Northern Ireland, a region of the United Kingdom. . Population numbers: 5,003,905 (September, 2021) State of affairs: Republic. However, religious studies as a subject was introduced into the state administered Junior Certificate in 2001; it is not compulsory and deals with aspects of different religions, not focusing on one particular religion. This trend reversed dramatically beginning in 2008, when the vaunted Celtic Tiger economy collapsed and a new wave of Irish emigration started. There are about 500,000 non-Irish nationals, a majority of whom are from Poland (123,000), the UK (103,000) Romania (29,200), and Lithuania (36,550). However, 84% of the Republic of Ireland is Catholic compared to 45% in Northern Ireland. The second largest religious group is that of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) with approximately 3% of the population. The population of Catholics in Ireland is about 4.7 million Non-religious Population Of Ireland According to a poll carried out in 2006 by Dentsu, approximately 10.1% of Ireland's population had no religion. Mckenzie Perkins is a writer and researcher specializing in southeast Asian religion and culture, education, and college life. Almost eight out of ten Irish people are Catholic. Saint Patrick is the only one of the three who is commonly recognised as the patron saint. It is one of the two countries that make up Ireland, the other being the Republic of Ireland. Protestants account for 48% of the population while Catholics account . Other Statistics. In 1972, the article of the Constitution naming specific religious groups, including the Catholic Church, was deleted by the fifth amendment of the constitution in a referendum. Ireland 1,000 Runion 981 Hong . in India, where Sikhs make up approximately 58% of the population. The population of Catholics in Ireland is about 4.7 million. One regional distinction is that between the part of the country east of the River Shannonwith its industrial employment, fertile farmlands, economic growth, and rising standard of livingand the poorer areas of the westparticularly west Donegal, Leitrim, west Mayo, west Galway, Clare, west Cork, and south Kerrywhere incomes were traditionally low (though they are now supplemented by industrial development and tourism) and the fertility of the land was in many cases insufficient to provide an acceptable standard of living for the people. [13] While daily Mass attendance was 13% in 2006 there had been a reduction in weekly attendance from 81% to 48% between 1990 and 2006, although the decline was reported as leveling off. Major Religions Practiced in The Czech Republic, The Historical and Ongoing Persecution Of Gypsies In Europe, The 7 Kindest Cities In The United States, The 10 Largest Universities In The United States, 9 Most Sacred Sites From Around The Globe. Cultural Catholics are raised in the Church and often attend mass for special occasions, such as Christmas, Easter, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, though they are not practicing members of the community. Pope Francis arrives for the Closing Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. Islam is the largest minority religion of Northern Ireland. As a result of emigration, hundreds of thousands of Irish-born people now live outside their native land, and millions of citizens of other countries are of Irish extraction. A typical example is A course in miracles. [22], The earliest recorded presence of Jews in Ireland was in 1062 in the Annals of Inisfallen. The Roman Catholic Church is the single largest church in the country although there are more Protestants overall. These western areas include the districts known collectively as the Gaeltacht, in which the Irish language and the traditional national culture are best preserved. Practicing Catholics in Ireland tend to be members of the older generations. Through to 2002, answer "Protestant" was included under "Church of Ireland" (called "Protestant Episcopalian" before 1961). Its precise rituals and beliefs remain somewhat obscure, but the names of hundreds of Celtic gods have survived, and elements of the religionparticularly the cults of Mary (an echo of Danu, the Earth Mother goddess whom the Celts worshiped) and St. Brigid (one of Irelands patron saints) and several seasonal festivalscarried into the Christian period. Last modified on Thu 22 Sep 2022 13.49 EDT. [25] There are 63,400[26] practising Muslims living in Ireland and approximately 50 mosques and prayer centres within the State. Though the animosity between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland has declined over the centuries, many Irish Protestants report feeling less Irish as a result of their religious identities. 92% of the believing population of Ireland are Catholics, 3% are Protestants, there are also small Jewish and Islamic communities. Northern Ireland has more Christians in its population (93%) than Wales (57.6%), Scotland (53.8%), and England (59.4%). Protestantism is the second largest religion in Ireland and third most significant religious grouping, behind Catholicism and those who identify as nonreligious. Roman Catholicism has faced scrutiny in recent years over child abuse by members of the clergy, and Ireland is no exception to this. Religions in Ireland (2016) [21] Catholicism (78.3%) Protestantism (4.2%) Eastern Orthodoxy (1.3%) Other Christians and other religions (4.8%) Islam (1.3%) Irreligious (10.1%) Ireland is a predominantly Christian country. A congregation of approximately 500,000 people gathered for the event. Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, the others being England, Wales, and Scotland. Immigration from the rest of Europe, Africa, and Asia has been significant since the last two decades of the 20th century. Hinduism is a minority faith in Ireland. Prevailing religious population by country. Today nearly four-fifths of the republic's population is Roman Catholic, with small numbers of other religious groups (including Church of Ireland Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Muslims, and Jews). First centuries of English rule (c. 1166c. [citation needed], New Age religious movements are becoming increasingly significant in Ireland, often as a form of syncretism for members of established religions. Currency: Euro. at the 2022 census, the prevalence rates for the main religions were: catholic (42 per cent); presbyterian (16 per cent); church of ireland (11.5 per cent); methodist (2.4 per cent); other christian or christian-related denominations (6.9 per cent); other religions and philosophies (1.3 per cent); those declaring no religion (17.4 per cent) and Over time, Catholicism adopted ancient Irish mythology into clerical teachings, and Ireland became one of the most fiercely Catholic countries in the world. Celtic Christianity has become increasingly popular, again both within and outside established churches. There are approximately 2000 Irish Sikhs with 1,705 officially recorded in the 2016 census. They have no legal status today, but share distinct histories and identities. In 1992, Moosajee Bhamjee became the first Muslim member of the Irish parliament, and in 2018, Irish singer Sinead OConnor publically converted to Islam. Those loyal to the Church continued to practice underground until the Catholic Emancipation of 1829. Religion in Ireland. According to Irish folklore, the first Celtic deities, the Tuatha D Dannan, descended into Ireland during a thick fog. According to Greeley (2003), 5% of those in Ireland do not believe in God, but only 2% accept the self-identification of "atheist". The republics marriage, birth, and death rates are comparable to those of nearby countries. About 8% of the population is not religious compared to 31.9% in England, 43.7 % in Scotland, and 39.7% in Wales. 1.42 per cent The preliminary results of the 2011 census recorded 58,697 people of Black African ethnicity and 6,381 people of any other Black background resident in the Republic out of a total population of 4,525,281, meaning that 1.42 per cent of the population self-identified as Black.. Is Ireland ethnically diverse? The country's Orthodox Christian, Hindu and Muslim populations have experienced significant growth in recent years, due chiefly to immigration, with Orthodox Christianity being the fastest growing religion in Ireland.[4][5]. The largest Christian denomination in Northern Ireland is Protestant Christianity where over 41.5% of the population identify themselves as Protestants. Christianity in Ireland dates back to the 5th century and it is thought to have emerged through the interaction with the Roman Britain. The past two generations have seen a rise in cultural Catholicism. Originally, the 1937 Constitution of Ireland gave the Catholic Church a "special position" as the church of the majority, but also recognised other Christian denominations and Judaism. The modern Irish language, which is very similar to Scottish Gaelic, was widely spoken up to the time of the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s and the subsequent emigrations. As immigration from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia increases, the populations of Muslims, Christians, and Hindus continue to grow. 1,255,963. New age religious movements are also becoming popular in Ireland mostly as a form syncretism for people belonging to an establish religion. The constitution provides that Irish be the first official language and English the second. Though the constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Ireland. The Celtic religion had a major influence on Ireland long before the adoption of Christianity in the 5th century. Buddhism in the country has also seen an increase in syncretism with another form of religions using Buddhist techniques for meditation. During the period 1845-1852, Ireland experienced the 'Great Famine', which led to a fall in the population of between 20% and 25%. Notably, 10% of the population identify themselves as nonreligious, a number that has continued to increase. Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time, a demographic milestone for a state that was designed a century ago to have a . The . Buddhism among Irish nationals is surging in popularity, as the first Irish Buddhist Union was established in 2018. Ethnic and racial minorities make up about 12 percent of the population of Irelanda proportion that doubled in the first decade of the 21st century. Emigration abroad or to cities within Ireland has always been among the chief threats to the survival of this cultural heritage. The Presbyterian Church is the second largest and the largest Protestant denomination. [citation needed], In October 2020, general secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland Paddy Lavelle confirmed that multidenominational state secondary schools, called State's Education and Training Boards (ETBs) formerly called vocational schools were going to phase out a set of Catholic influences such as mandatory graduation masses, displaying Catholic symbols only, and visits from diocesan inspectors, as described in the 'framework for the recognition of religious belief/identities of all students in ETB schools'.[7]. Ireland - Religion. Monasteries started to emerge in the 6th century which became the centers of excellence for people from all Europe, The Catholic Church in Ireland, as with many Catholic churches, belongs to worldwide Catholic Church that is under the pope's spiritual leadership in Rome. [3] The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglican), declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. According to Ingelhart et al. The earliest form of Christian worship is estimated to have reached the pagan Ireland in 400CE. After the Reformation, Catholicism became closely associated with Irish nationalism and resistance to British rule. Eastern Orthodoxy in Ireland is represented mainly by recent immigrants from Eastern European countries, such as Romania, Russia, or Ukraine, and accounts for 1% of the population. The combination of the two questions gave a community background by religion for over 97% of the population. Members of Protestant denominations are able to communicate directly with God without first interacting with a spiritual leader, placing the responsibility of spiritual learning on the individual. Ethnic Composition of Ireland The Irish make up the largest section of Ireland's population (85%). All official documents are published in both Irish and English. Since the conversion to Christianity, Roman Catholicism, with its ecclesiastical seat at Armagh in Northern Ireland, has been the islands principal religion. Dublin Population 2022. [citation needed] Beyond formal membership in Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Western Buddhist groups, there is increasing syncretism, with self-identified Christians and others using Buddhist meditation techniques, Buddha images, texts by figures such as the 14th Dalai Lama and so on. The remainder of the Protestant population is fragmented among dozens of smaller religious groupings. The Republic of Ireland is considered one of the most religiously respected countries in the world. Religious difference between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland was among the significant factors that lead to the armed conflict between the two countries between the 1960s1998. What percentage of Ireland is black? See also. This statistic shows the distribution of the religious orientations of residents of Northern Ireland on March 29, 2011, the day of the last National Census. It is closely related to the Church of Scotland theologically and historically. 40.8 percent of the population . Though Muslims are documented to have been present in Ireland for centuries, the first Islamic community was not formally established until 1959. Despite a large number of schools in Ireland being run by religious organizations but funded by the state, a general trend of secularism is occurring within the Irish population, particularly in the younger generations. This is the only place where Sikhs are in the majority. Dublin is the capital of Ireland and located in the province of Leinster on the east coast of the country at the mouth of the River Liffey. Most Muslims in Ireland are Sunni, though there are communities of Shias as well. The Republic of Ireland currently has a population of about 4.94 million people and is growing at a rate of about 1.13%. Most recently, Protestantism, including the Church of Ireland, has experienced a massive decrease in percentage, despite having earlier experienced some recovery, chiefly due to immigration from the UK and Nigeria. [citation needed], According to a Georgetown University study, the country also has one of the highest rates of regular Mass attendance in the Western World. Most churches are organized on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Jewish population of Ireland reached around 5,500 in the 1940s, but according to the 2016 census had declined to about 2,500 in 2016, mainly due to assimilation and emigration, although less than 800 are Irish citizens. [citation needed], Evangelical movements have recently spread both within the established churches and outside them. [25] The Constitution of Ireland says that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion. According to the Constitution of Ireland, the state is not allowed to endorse any specific religion as it guarantees freedom of religion. [16][17] A 2012 survey of Irish Catholics undertaken by the Association of Catholic Priests found the weekly mass attendance rate to be 35% on an all-island basis, while daily mass attendance was reported at 3%. The key factors in increased immigration have been the more-open labour market provided by the European Union and the globalized nature of the contemporary Irish economy, both of which have attracted a wave of new residents. Historically, the rate of emigrationwhich had been greatly in excess of the next highest rate in Europedepleted Irelands population. Protestantism in Ireland is focused heavily on self-reliance and responsibility for oneself. The patron saints of Ireland for Catholics and Anglicans are Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and Saint Columba. "Religion in Ireland: History and Statistics." Current religion in Northern Ireland from 1861 to 2021 as percentage of population. Although its use as a vernacular has decreased and is concentrated in several small Gaeltacht (i.e., Irish-speaking) areas, Irish is more widely read, spoken, and understood today than it had been during most of the 20th century. The population of Northern Ireland is about 1.9 million people with a third of this population residing in the Belfast Metropolitan area. [23] As of 2016, the total population listing their religion as Jewish is 2,557.[24]. In the 2016 census, 78.3% (3.5 million) of the population identified as Catholic. 78.3% - The percentage of the population who were Catholic in 2016, the lowest recorded. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2022 worldatlas.com, Religion Demographics of Northern Ireland. That decline corresponded with the heyday of the so-called Celtic Tiger economywhen, during the 1990s in particular, robust economic growth made the country significantly wealthierand also with the revelations of child abuse by Catholic clergy that came to light in the first decade of the 21st century. Judaism is practiced by the 400 Jews living in Northern Ireland while about 200 Hindu families practice Hinduism. It is projected that by 2021 there will be more Catholics (51%) than Protestants (37%) in Northern Ireland. However, church support for nationalismboth then and nowhas been ambivalent. Eastern Orthodoxy in the Republic of Ireland, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ireland, "Profile 8 Irish Travellers Ethnicity and Religion", "One in 10 Irish people say they have no religion, the second largest group behind Roman Catholics", "Census 2016: Population growth slowest in 20 years", "Hinduism one of the fastest growing religions in Ireland, outpacing Islam", Irish poll shows parents no longer want to force religion on to children, Ireland threatened by secularism, Pope tells new envoy, "Catholic symbols in State schools to be phased out", "Know Your Faith: Mass Appeal - Church Attendance in Ireland", "New poll shows big rise in church-attendance", Weekly Mass Attendance of Catholics in Nations with Large Catholic Populations, 1980-2000, "Fewer than one in five attend Sunday Mass in Dublin", " . However, progressive political changes, including the legalization of divorce, abortion, and gay marriage, have mirrored the decline in practicing Catholics. Gross national income per inhabitant: 106,456 PPP$ National Day: March 17. The countrys size contributed to its historically homogeneous population and helps explain the distinctive character of Irishness that emerged over time. Perkins, McKenzie. The Buddhist population in Ireland is 9,358 (0.2%). Today nearly four-fifths of the republics population is Roman Catholic, with small numbers of other religious groups (including Church of Ireland Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Muslims, and Jews). In 1995, the ban on divorce was removed from the Constitution, and a 2018 referendum overturned the constitutional ban on abortion. Muslim > Muslim population: Muslim population 2014 Pew Report. [6], Many efforts have been made by secular groups to eliminate the rigorous study in the second and sixth classes, to prepare for the sacraments of Holy Communion and confirmation in Catholic schools. However, in 1972 this special position was removed. The use of Irish continued to decline even after 1922, when the language was introduced into schools; despite its decline, Irish never ceased to exert a strong influence on Irish consciousness. Ireland won independence from the United Kingdom in 1922. Compulsory Irish in schools has come under some criticism from the business sector, which would prefer to see students develop more-diverse language skills. About one in six people belong to the next biggest Protestant denomination, the Anglican Church of Ireland. [21], These percentages decreased again, however, from 2012 to 2016, resulting in the pie chart seen below. Share reddit Tweet Print Email. Learn Religions. More generally a tradition of visions continues, often outside of Church sanction. There is more than one mosque or prayer centre in each province. It shares its only land border with Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. Article 44 remains in the Constitution. The Roman Catholic Church is the single largest church in the country although there are more Protestants overall. Religious Demographics About 93% of the Northern Irish population identifies as Christian, 1% is non-Christian and 6% is not religious. About 93% of the Northern Irish population identifies as Christian, 1% is non-Christian and 6% is not religious. Unlike previous waves, this new set of departing Irish was made up largely of high-skilled labourers and the highly educated. Of the remaining population, 2.7% identify with the Church of Ireland, 2.7% identify with some other branch of Christianity, 1.3% identify as Muslim, 1.7% identify with some other religion, and 9.8% did not identify with a religion. Major religion(s): Country major religions. During the 11th century, Catholic monks recorded these Irish mythological stories, altering the oral histories to reflect Roman Catholic teachings. Minority religions in Ireland include Orthodox and non denominational Christians, Pentecostals, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews. There are also significant numbers of immigrants from France, Italy, and Spain. The entire island of Ireland, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, have a population around 6.8 million people. The deities are thought to have left the island when the ancient ancestors of the Irish arrived. [2] Although they are small in number, the nomadic Travellers (Tinkers) are an indigenous ethnic minority groupdefined by their shared customs, traditions, and languagewho have lived in Ireland for centuries. Since the last decades of the 20th century, Ireland has seen a significant decline in the number of regular churchgoers. [14] In the 1970s a survey had given figures at 91%. [citation needed]. The 2016 Irish Census reports 14,300 Hindus resident in Ireland, constituting 0.3% of the population of Ireland. For example, life expectancy is about 75 years for men and 80 for women. The Anglican Church is the second largest Protestant denomination; it was the official state church of Ireland until the Irish Church Act of 1869 separated the Church of England from the Church of Ireland, and disestablished the latter. (2004) and Davie (1999), 4% of the Irish do not believe in God. Irish Christianity is dominated by the Catholic Church, and Christianity as a whole accounts for 82.3% of the Irish population. They do not attend mass regularly or commit time to devotionals, and they do not follow the teachings of the Church. The population of Northern Ireland is about 1.9 million people with a third of this population residing in the Belfast Metropolitan area. Other religious groups include Muslim 0.8%, Christian (unspecified) 0.7%, Presbyterian 0.6% and those that . Most of the population of Ireland, about 78%, is affiliated with the Catholic Church, though this number has declined significantly since the 1960s, when the population of Catholics was close to 98%. Those declaring no religion, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam showed significant increases. While modern society might question the utility of the language, however, it remains an important element of the Irish identity. [19], A 2010 Bishops Conference survey found that 10.1% of Irish Catholics did not believe in God. 94.9% - The percentage of the population who were Catholic in 1961, the highest recorded. [2] The next largest group after Catholic was "no religion" at 10%. In 2015, Ireland became the first country to legalize gay marriage by popular referendum. With a history dating back to the 9th century, Dublin today has a population estimated at 565,000 in 2014, with a metropolitan population of 1.8 million. In 2022, 40 percent of Catholics stated they attend church. This answer was available as a checkbox on the 2002, 2011, and 2016 censuses. In any case, the adjusted combined figures (6.5%) of those who responded "No religion" (5.6%) and "Other religion and philosophies" (0.9%) is greater than the spread between the adjusted figures of "Protestant" (48.4%) and "Catholics" (45.1%). The most substantial Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland, the Presbyterians, makes up more than one-fifth of the population. This answer was available as a checkbox on the 2011 and 2016 censuses. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Ireland and the largest Christian denomination with a population of 78.8%. The predominant religion in the Republic of Ireland is Christianity, with the largest denomination being the Catholic Church. The "other" (before 1971) or "other stated" category is not directly comparable between censuses, because later ones enumerate some answers separately which were included within "other" in earlier ones. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2022 worldatlas.com, Major Religions in the Republic of Ireland. "Religion in Ireland: History and Statistics." In 2003, another statistic by Greeley concluded that 5% of the population in Ireland did not believe in the existence of God while 2% identified as an atheist. Elizabeth I subsequently removed Catholic farmers from ancestral lands, replacing them with Protestants from Great Britain. Ireland is located on an island, so the best way to get here is by plane. The majority are Catholic; however, the number of people who declare themselves Catholic has been declining in recent years. Initially, the Constitution of Ireland of 1937 granted the Roman Catholic Church a "special position" as it was the denomination with the majority of followers. As with other predominantly Catholic European states, the Irish state underwent a period of legal secularisation in the late twentieth century. According to a poll carried out in 2006 by Dentsu, approximately 10.1% of Ireland's population had no religion. Though reverence for the Catholic Church was explicitly removed from the Constitution in the 1970s, the document retains religious references. Religion in Ireland Religions in the Republic of Ireland Christians - 84% -Catholic Church (78.3%) -Church of Ireland (2.7%) -Orthodox Christians (1.3%) -Other Christians (1.6%) None - 10.1% Islam - 1.3% Other religions - 2.6% Unspecified - 2.6% Source: Wikipedia Top Cities in Ireland by Population read more about Top Countries in Population The country of green Shamrock and source of famous breweries, Ireland has seen a shocking change in its religious population density as well. Irish travellers have traditionally adopted a very particular attitude to the Catholic Church, with a focus on figures such as "healing priests". Ireland Demographics Islam is the third largest religion in Ireland constituting 1.33% of the country's population. Religious Demographics. The population of Northern Ireland is about 1.9 million people with a third of this population residing in the Belfast Metropolitan area. Islam has a 60-year long and complex organisational history in Ireland. There was also a significant increase in residents with 'Other religions' or none. Between 2006 and 2011, Catholics decreased as a percentage of the population, but still showed a robust increase in absolute numbers due both to an excess of births over deaths as well as immigration from countries such as Poland. In the 2016 census, 78.3% (3.5 million) of the population identified as Catholic. Weekly Mass attendance in Dublin is currently estimated at around 20-22% of the population. Religious Demographics. There is no officially established church in Ireland, and the freedoms of conscience and religion are constitutionally guaranteed. Perkins, McKenzie. Today Poles constitute the largest minority population in Ireland. About 93% of the Northern Irish population identifies as Christian, 1% is non-Christian and 6% is not religious. Though only in small numbers, Judaism has been present in Ireland for centuries. The Constitution of Ireland says that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion. The poll also showed that 10% of Ireland now consider themselves convinced atheists, which is an increase from 2005. Since then, numbers of Muslims in Ireland has continued to rise steadily, particularly during the Irish economic boom of the 1990s that brought in immigrants and asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East. Protestantism is a minority Christian faith in Ireland. The percentage ratio of representatives of various religious trends looks like this: Catholics - 85% of the population; various Protestant movements - 5.5%; Orthodox Christians - 0.5%; Muslims - about 0.6% of the country's population. It is practiced by Muslims, most of whom immigrated to the country in the late 20th century. Though the 1937 constitution guaranteed the right of religious freedom, it formally recognized Christian churches and Judaism within the country and granted the Catholic Church a special position. These formal recognitions were removed from the Constitution in the 1970s, though it still retains several religious references. Perkins, McKenzie. Phil Zuckerman: Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns", "Religious Practice and Values in Ireland", "Ireland's Jewish population rises by almost 30%", "Islam is Ireland's third largest religion", "Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204", United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, List of World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland, List of national parks of the Republic of Ireland, Association football in the Republic of Ireland, Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religion_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland&oldid=1124844322, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 84.6% of the Irish population are Christian, and 10% of the Irish population have no religion, This page was last edited on 30 November 2022, at 20:26. The first diocese was established in the 12th century, though Catholicism was made illegal by Henry VIII during the conquest of Ireland. [27] Most Sikhs in Ireland are based in Dublin, where the Gurdwara, Guru Nanak Darbar is the main place of worship and in recent times has also facilitated a Sikh parade known as the Nagar Kirtan during Vaiskahi celebrations. Other main religions in Ireland include Protestantism, Islam, Orthodox, and nondenominational Christian, Judaism, and Hinduism. According to a 2010 Eurobarometer Poll,[31], According to a 2012 Eurobarometer Poll when people were shown a card listing options for religious identification:[32]. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Ireland, and it has played a significant political and social role in the community since the 12th century, though the Constitution guarantees the right of religious freedom. Christianity is the island's largest religion, having more followers than any other religion in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Though Protestants were present in Ireland prior to the 16th century, their numbers were insignificant until Henry VIII established himself as the king and head of the Church of Ireland, banning Catholicism and dissolving the countrys monasteries. 2022 population pyramid Dependency ratios total dependency ratio: 54.8 youth dependency ratio: 32.3 elderly dependency ratio: 22.6 potential support ratio: 4.4 (2020 est.) Religion Adherents Percentage Christianity: 2.382 billion: 31.11%: Islam: 1.907 billion: . Notably, 10% of the population identify themselves as nonreligious, a number that has continued to increase. [18], A 2006 Dentsu poll found that 7% of Ireland had no religion. From 1881 to 2011: Sources: CSO Ireland and Religious Statistics for the Island of Ireland. It begins: The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland. Protestants constitute another Christian denomination that is not Roman Catholic. Religions in the Republic of Ireland (2016)[1]. There is no officially established church in Ireland, and the freedoms of conscience and religion are constitutionally guaranteed. Key figures and facts. New immigrants included a large number of Irish Americans moving back to the country. Protestants account for 48% of the population while Catholics account for 45%. This decrease in devout Catholicism is in line with the progressivism of the countrys politics over the past 30 years. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The Roman Catholic Church nevertheless continues to play a prominent role in the country, including maintaining responsibility for most schools and many hospitals. . In the past 40 years, Catholicism has seen a dramatic decline, particularly in the younger generations, as a result of Church scandals and progressive socio-political movements. Median age total: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years [20], According to a 2012 WIN-Gallup International poll, Ireland had the second highest decline in religiosity from 69% in 2005 to 47% in 2012, while those who considered themselves not a religious person increased 25% in 2005 to 44% in 2012. Hindus and Buddhists immigrated to Ireland in search of economic opportunity and to escape persecution. After Irish independence, many Protestants fled Ireland for the United Kingdom, though the Church of Ireland was recognized by the 1937 Constitution. Reputed links between Buddhism and Celtic religion have long played a role in Irish literature. This historical homogeneity also has worked against the development of significant regional or local divisions. Approximately 10% of Ireland is nonreligious, a number that has risen in the past 40 years. [5], Various Neopagan movements are active in Ireland, especially Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic Polytheism. Other . Christianity is the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland based on baptisms. The largest religion in Ireland is Christianity based on the number of baptisms. How Many Countries Are Recognized By The United States. By 2019, about 5,000 Muslims were living in the country. Through to 1971, the religion question was answered in freeform text. Jews received formal recognition as a protected religious group in the 1937 Constitution, a progressive move during the tumultuous political climate just before World War II. Support by Subscribe and LikeRelated TitlesReligion in the Republic of IrelandReligion in Ireland 1900 - 2100 StatisticsIs Ireland mostly Catholic or Protest. Of the 5.1 million people in the Republic of Ireland, a majority of the populationabout 78%identifies as Catholic, 3% are Protestant, 1% Muslim, 1% Orthodox Christian, 2% unspecified Christian, and 2% are members of other faiths. This answer was available as a checkbox on the 2002 census. After the devastating Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, there was a remarkable surge in devotional support of the Catholic church, and over the next century the number of Irish priests, nuns, and missionaries grew dramatically. About 93% of the Northern Irish population identifies as Christian, 1% is non-Christian and 6% is not religious. 1600), Charles I (162549) and the Commonwealth (164960), The Restoration period and the Jacobite war, Social, economic, and cultural life in the 17th and 18th centuries, The Home Rule movement and the Land League, De Valeras governments (193248) and the quest for sovereignty. Non Roman Catholic Christians used to make the majority of the population but in 2021, Catholicism is more present than any other religions combined (Religion statistics from the 1971 and 1981 Censuses are not shown on this graph due to the impact of civil unrest on Census enumeration) | Northern Ireland . Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are both religious states with 90.4% the latter identifying as Christian. Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland is a country in north-western Europe. Even though 80% of the population still accounts to Christians, there has been a significant shift seen in the growth of Hindu and Muslim population. Irish Muslims tend to be younger than Protestants and Catholics, with a median age of 26. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland and abroad on 17 March. This is attributed to the new generation that no longer views religion as a contentious issue between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Number with no religion continues to rise In 2016 persons indicating 'No Religion' accounted for 9.8 per cent of the population up from 5.9 per in 2011. . List of Irish . 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