Catalonia is the second most non-religious territory in Spain

Catalonia is currently the second-most non-religious territory within Spain with only 49.39% of the population affiliated with a religion, that leaves 47.6% who are not, according to the Spanish state population surveyors, CIS. 

The only region with less religious belief is the Basque Country, with 50.49% of their population non-religious.  

Spain sits at an average of 58.6% of citizens with religious affiliation. These differences in Catalonia and the Basque Country reflect social and cultural diversity of the country based on historical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. 

Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, is set to bless the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona in early June despite the decrease in religious affiliation in the region.  

His time here will include visits to three other churches as well, including the Barcelona Cathedral, Montserrat Abbey, and Church of Saint Augustine. He will also be participating in a vigil at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium and visiting inmates at Brians 1 prison.  

After his time in Catalonia, the pope will travel to the Canary Islands, where 63.35% identify as religious, 4.75% higher than the Spanish average. This is a stark contrast to Catalonia, which has a population more than 10 percentage points less religious than Spain as a whole. 

Catalonia and the Basque County are the only regions in Spain where the non-religious population exceeds or approaches the figure of believers. 

Catalonia remains a clear outlier compared with 53.51% of Madrid's population being religious. Ceuta has the most religious affiliation in Spain at 80.45% of the population.  

Ceremonies

Civil marriages have become increasingly popular, in Catalonia civil marriages are 91% more common than religious matrimonies. Only 8.8% of weddings in the region are held religiously, compared to the 16.4% in all of Spain, with a shift in this regard starting during the 2000s.  

Additionally, the number of non-university students that are enrolled in Catholic schools in Catalonia is in line with the Spanish average. Some 17.4% of students in Catalonia are enrolled in Catholic schools, while Spain averages 18% of students enrolled.  

Within non-university schools in Spain and Catalonia, religion courses are provided, though Catalonia is one of the territories with the highest percentage of students who opt out of taking that course.  

In high schools around the region, 91% of students opt out of the subject of religion. Most high-school students within Spain opt for alternative courses, with 75.5% of students opting out.  

Despite the downward trend in religious affiliation, baptisms rose 10.5% from 2023-2024. This increase was a change from the last 7 years of a downward trajectory.