Religion

Germany is an intercultural and multi-religious country. It's important to understand that apart from main Christian religions (including Protestantism and Catholicism) and several minority beliefs, around a third of the people in Germany are atheists.

The main religion in Germany is Christianity, with around two-thirds of the population identifying as Christian. Unlike most European countries, which tend to be either largely Catholic (e.g. Ireland, Spain) or largely Protestant (e.g. Sweden, UK), German Christians are split almost evenly. Around half of Germany's Christians are Protestantism and half are Roman Catholic. Around 2% of the country practice other Christian religions - mainly Orthodoxy, including both Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy.

Although you will find followers of both Catholicism and Protestantism in all regions of Germany, the religions are more distinct in certain regions. As a rule, you will encounter more Catholics in the South and West of the country, including Bavaria, Rhineland, Westphalia and Saarland. In the North and East of the country, more of the population identify as protestant.

Islam is the biggest non-Christian religion practiced in Germany, with followers accounting for about 5% of the population (approximately 4 million people). Most Muslims in Germany are Turkish or of Turkish descent and follow the Sunni tradition. You will find that mosques are in most major cities in Germany, but also in some smaller towns too.