Religion in Slovenia

Religion in Slovenia (2002 census)

  Roman Catholicism (57.8%)

  Eastern Orthodoxy (2.3%)

  Islam (2.4%)

  Undeclared (15.7%)

  Non-religious (10.2%)

  Unknown (7.1%)

  Believer, no religion (3.5%)

  Lutheranism (0.8%)

  Other religion (0.2%)

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in Ljubljana.

Christianity is the largest religion in Slovenia, with Roman Catholicism being the largest Christian denomination in the country. According to 2002 census, adherents of Christianity represented 60.9% of the total population of Slovenia. Other Christian denominations having significant following in the country include Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism (Lutheranism). Islam (2.4%), Judaism and Hinduism also have a sizeable following in Slovenia.

Religion played a significant role in the development of the Slovene nation and the country of Slovenia. After centuries-long tradition of a state church, interrupted by the periods of Protestant Reformation in the 16th century and post-World War II socialism shunning religion from the public life, a degree of separation of the state and the church has been reached in the independent Slovenia. There is, however, some legislative bias in favour of the Roman Catholic Church.

Christianity

Roman Catholicism

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Ljubljana, is the seat of the Archbishop of Ljubljana, Primate of Slovenia.

The Roman Catholic Church in Slovenia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

There are around 1,195,000 Catholics in the country (about 57.8% of the total population as per the 2002 Census). The country is divided into six dioceses, including two archdioceses. The diocese of Maribor was elevated to an archdiocese by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Additionally, the pope created three new sees, namely Novo Mesto, Celje and Murska Sobota.

Archbishop Juliusz Janusz, 66, is the Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and the Apostolic Delegate to Kosovo.

Others

Lutheran church in Bodonci in the Prekmurje region

Eastern Orthodoxy maintains a significant presence in the country and is practised mainly by ethnic Serb population. Protestantism also has a long history in Slovenia, although today it has negligible following in the country.

Islam

The Muslims in Slovenia are ethnically mostly Bosniaks and other Slavic Muslims. In 2014, there were 48,266 Muslims in Slovenia, making up about 2.4 percent of the total population. The Muslim community of Slovenia is headed by sl.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Slovenia

Hinduism is a minority religion in Slovenia.

The Hindu Religious Community (Slovene: Hinduistična verska skupnost v Sloveniji) in Slovenia was registered in 2003 on Derčeva street 41 in Ljubljana. Other Hindu organisations are International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Yoga in Daily Life, Sri Chinmoy Centre and Ananda Marga.

Judaism

The small Jewish community of Slovenia (Slovene: Judovska skupnost Slovenije) is estimated at 400 to 600 members, with the Jewish community of Slovenia suggesting 500 to 1000 members. Around 130 are officially registered, most of whom live in the capital, Ljubljana. The Jewish community was devastated by the Shoah, and has never fully recovered. Until 2003, Ljubljana was the only European capital city without a Jewish place of worship.

Religious landscape

Religiosity of Slovene citizens according to population censuses 1991 and 2002.

Religion	1991 (%)	2002 (%)
Catholic	71.6	57.8
Lutheran	0.9	0.8
Orthodox	2.4	2.3
Other religions	0.0	0.2
Islam	1.5	2.4
Believer, no religion	0.2	3.5
Atheist	4.4	10.2
Refused to answer	4.3	15.7
Unknown	14.6	7.1

Legislation

In February 2007 a new Religious Freedom Act was passed in Slovenia, with a bias towards the Roman Catholic Church, particularly in regard to state funding and the strict terms for the registration of new religious communities.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Slovenia
• Islam in Slovenia
• Hinduism in Slovenia
• History of the Jews in Slovenia