Secularism on the rise: report shows Catalonia has lowest number of believers in Spain 

According to data from Spain's Center for Sociological Research (CIS), the number of Catalans who identify as believers makes up 47%, which is the lowest figure in Spain. The percentage of the Catalan population that identifies as non-believing reached 51% in 2024. 

Across the rest of Spain, the trend remains steady: 39% of people identify as atheist, agnostic, or indifferent. This figure has stabilized after years of growth.  

The report, "Secularism in Figures", by the Ferrer i Guàrdia Foundation, also confirms a generational shift in belief systems. Young people aged 18-34 mostly declare themselves non-religious.  

Based on gender, results show that women overall remain more religious than men, especially among practicing Catholics.  

The data show a widespread decline in religious rites of passage and a progressive detachment from religious practice. 7 in 10 people who identify themselves as Catholic are non-practicing.  

Religious marriage 

Results can also be seen in the number of marriages. 82% of marriages in Spain are civil, a trend that's even more pronounced in Catalonia where it reaches 91%. This is the third lowest number of religious marriages among all Autonomous Communities.  

Also, births outside of marriage remain at 50%, confirming a decades-long trend.  

Education 

The trend can also be seen with students, as the number of Spanish students taking religious education continues to fall, an interesting dynamic as the number of teachers assigned to the subject has risen.  

More students are choosing secular alternatives: 43% in primary school, 46% in secondary school (ESO) and 66% in high school (batxillerat). This trend is especially strong in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Balearic Islands.  

Spain currently has just over 2500 Catholic educational institutions, of which 95% are semi-private (concertada) and receive public funding. Catholic concertades schools make up 8% of all Catalan schools, a percentage slightly below the Spanish average of 9%.