Rachel Evans
Spain has historically been a Catholic country, with the Catholic Church supporting Franco during the Spanish Civil War. However, in recent years, Spain has become increasingly secular, with a decline in the number of believers. While there are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, making up about 92% of the total population, only about 18.5% of Spaniards are practicing Catholics, with many choosing to ignore the Church's moral doctrines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Baptized Catholics | 42 million |
| Percentage of the total population that is baptized | 92% |
| Number of dioceses and archdioceses | 70 |
| Percentage of the population that identifies as Catholic | 54-60% |
| Percentage of the population that is highly religious | 21% |
| Percentage of the population that considers religion to be one of their three most important values | 3% |
| Percentage of the population that is non-religious | 39% |
| Percentage of the population that is atheist | 15.8% |
| Percentage of the population that is indifferent or has no religion | 12% |
| Percentage of the population that is agnostic | 11.2% |
| Percentage of the population that is Muslim | 4.4% |
| Percentage of the population that practices Catholicism | 18.5-18.8% |
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What You'll Learn
- There are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, covering about 92% of the population
- The Catholic Church supported Franco's dictatorship, causing a decline in followers
- Younger generations ignore the Church's moral doctrines on issues like homosexuality
- The number of parish priests shrank from 24,300 in 1975 to 18,500 in 2018
- Spain is a nation-state born out of religious struggle between Catholicism and Islam
There are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, covering about 92% of the population
Spain has historically been a Catholic country, with the Catholic Church playing a significant role in its history and culture. According to some sources, there are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, which is about 92% of the total population. However, it's important to note that this number may include people who were baptized as infants but no longer actively practice the Catholic faith as adults.
In recent years, Spain has undergone a significant cultural and religious shift. While a majority of Spaniards still self-identify as Catholics, there has been a notable decline in church attendance and adherence to the Church's moral doctrines. This trend is not unique to Spain but is also observed across Europe, with a general decrease in religious attendance and belief.
The complex history of Spain is deeply intertwined with the Catholic Church. Medieval Spain was marked by almost constant warfare between Islamic and Christian kingdoms. The Reconquista, which ended in 1492, was the long process by which Catholics reconquered Spain from Islamic rule. This was followed by the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 to enforce religious purity in the Iberian Peninsula. The Catholic Church also played a role during the Spanish Civil War, supporting Francisco Franco, and establishing close ties with the Spanish state.
Today, Spain is a secular country, guaranteeing freedom of religion for its citizens. While Catholicism remains the most widely professed religion, there is a growing diversity of faiths, including Islam, Protestantism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Additionally, a significant portion of the population identifies as non-religious, including atheists, agnostics, and those who are indifferent to religion.
Despite the decline in church attendance and shifting religious beliefs, Catholic cultural practices continue to be prevalent in Spain. Traditions such as Catholic baptisms and funerals, Holy Week processions, pilgrimages, and festivals remain important aspects of Spanish culture, reflecting the enduring influence of Catholicism on the country's social and cultural landscape.
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The Catholic Church supported Franco's dictatorship, causing a decline in followers
The Catholic Church in Spain has a long and complex history, with a deep entanglement in the country's political and social landscape. During the Spanish Civil War and in the aftermath, the Catholic Church played a significant role in supporting the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. This involvement has had lasting repercussions, including a decline in religious observance and a shift in societal attitudes towards the Church.
When Franco launched his nationalist coup in 1936, which sparked the Spanish Civil War, he found crucial support from the vast majority of clergy members. This backing lent legitimacy to his power grab, despite its violent and antidemocratic nature. Just two months after the war's conclusion in 1939, the Catholic Church officially blessed Franco, characterising the conflict as a "national crusade" against the Republic.
Over the ensuing decades of Franco's rule, the Church and his regime shared a symbiotic relationship, with each relying on the support of the other. The Church wielded influence in politics and society, contributing to the state ideology of National Catholicism. In exchange, they provided moral legitimacy to Franco's authoritarian government, with priests and bishops disseminating state propaganda to their congregations.
However, this close association between the Church and Franco's dictatorship has had enduring consequences. Following Franco's death in 1975, Spain underwent a period of transformation, known as La Movida Madrileña, characterised by a counter-cultural movement, economic growth, and the emergence of a new Spanish identity. This period marked a shift away from the repression of the dictatorship, and it coincided with a decline in religious observance, particularly among the younger generations.
The Catholic Church in Spain has struggled to appeal to younger individuals, who, while still identifying as Catholic, attend Mass less frequently. The Church's past collaboration with Franco's regime continues to be a controversial issue, with the Church facing criticism for its lack of apology or recognition of this relationship. This denial and refusal to acknowledge responsibility have hindered the Church's ability to move beyond this chapter of its history and adapt to changing societal attitudes.
As Spain evolved and modernised, the influence of the Catholic Church waned, reflecting a broader trend of secularisation and changing religious attitudes in Europe. The Church's association with Franco's dictatorship, therefore, contributed to a decline in followers and religious observance, particularly as younger generations questioned the Church's role and sought alternatives to traditional religious practices.
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Younger generations ignore the Church's moral doctrines on issues like homosexuality
There are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, covering about 92% of the total population. However, church attendance is falling, and the number of believers has declined over the years. In 2024, the share of believers accounted for 57.1% of the Spanish population, a decrease from over 70% in 2011. This trend is particularly pronounced among the younger generations, who increasingly ignore the Church's moral doctrines on issues such as homosexuality.
The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality is complex. While it does not consider "homosexual orientation" sinful in itself, it does view homosexual acts as "intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law." The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which contains the dogmas and teachings of the Church, describes homosexual tendencies as "objectively disordered." The 1986 Letter elaborates that while the inclination itself is not a sin, it is "ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil." This distinction is crucial, as it sets Catholicism apart from more fundamentalist Christian churches that may view homosexuality as inherently sinful.
Despite this nuanced position, the Catholic Church has not officially approved of reparative therapy. Instead, the Vatican's policies emphasize respect, compassion, and sensitivity toward individuals with homosexual tendencies. However, the Church maintains that those with deep-seated homosexual tendencies cannot be admitted to holy orders, as it hinders their ability to relate correctly to men and women. This conflicting stance has sparked debates within the Church and among the younger generations, who often disagree with the Church's doctrines on homosexuality.
Younger generations in Spain, and globally, are increasingly embracing LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. They challenge the Church's teachings, arguing that discrimination against homosexuals is wrong and unjust. This perspective is reflected in their support for same-sex marriage, which the Catholic Church does not recognize or perform. The younger generations' disregard for the Church's moral doctrines on homosexuality contributes to their declining influence and attendance in Spain.
The Church's stance on homosexuality remains a contentious issue, with no easy resolution in sight. While the Church upholds its doctrinal teachings, younger generations advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, often finding themselves at odds with traditional Catholic doctrine. As social attitudes continue to evolve, the gap between the Church's teachings and the beliefs of younger generations may widen, further complicating the relationship between the Catholic Church and Spanish society.
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The number of parish priests shrank from 24,300 in 1975 to 18,500 in 2018
While a majority of Spaniards identify as Catholics, there has been a decline in the number of believers over the years. In 2011, the share of believers accounted for slightly over 70% of the population, but by 2024, the Catholic community had lost approximately 13% of its faithful, with a share of 57.1%. This decline is also reflected in church attendance, with over 50% of those who consider themselves Catholics never or rarely attending religious services.
Historically, the Catholic Church in Spain enjoyed a close relationship with the state. During the Franco regime, Roman Catholicism was the only religion with legal status, and the government supported the Church financially and through the reconstruction of church buildings. However, after the Second Vatican Council in 1965, the Church's relationship with the state began to deteriorate.
The decline in the number of believers has had a significant impact on the number of Catholic priests in Spain. The total number of parish priests decreased from 24,300 in 1975 to 18,500 in 2018, with an average age of 65.5 years. This decline is attributed to a general crisis in vocations and a decrease in the number of young men joining the priesthood, while the number of priests leaving has increased.
Despite the overall decline in the number of priests, there has been a recent jump in ordinations to the priesthood in Spain. In 2018, 135 men were ordained priests, compared to 109 in 2017, with the Archdiocese of Madrid recording the highest number. However, this increase is not indicative of a national vocational strategy, and the overall trend still shows a decrease in the number of men entering seminaries.
While the number of parish priests has decreased, expressions of popular religiosity linked to local festivals, such as Catholic baptisms, funerals, Holy Week processions, and pilgrimages, continue to thrive. These practices are deeply ingrained in Spanish culture, and many Spaniards participate in these traditions regardless of their adherence to the Church's moral doctrines.
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Spain is a nation-state born out of religious struggle between Catholicism and Islam
Spain is a nation-state that was born out of a religious struggle between Catholicism and Islam. Medieval Spain was the scene of almost constant warfare between Muslims and Christians. The Iberian Peninsula was introduced to Islam after the Muslim conquest in the 8th century, which resulted in the establishment of Al-Andalus. The era of Muslim rule before 1055 is considered a "Golden Age" for Jews as Jewish intellectual and spiritual life flourished in Spain.
The Kingdom of Asturias became the main base for Christian resistance to Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula for several centuries. By 1250, nearly all of Iberia was back under Christian rule, except for the Muslim kingdom of Granada, which remained independent until 1492. The Reconquista against Al-Andalus, ending in 1492, was highly relevant in the union of Castile and Aragon under the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Fernando. The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, further solidified Catholicism as the dominant religion in Spain. The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile established what would be known as the Spanish Inquisition to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms.
The Counter-Reformation, which lasted from 1563 to 1648, was particularly strong in Spain, and the Inquisition was not definitively abolished until 1834. The Catholic Church in Spain supported General Franco during the Spanish Civil War, and afterward, the Church and State were closely linked, with many Catholic priests serving in the government. However, after the Second Vatican Council, relations between the Church and State began to deteriorate. The 1978 Constitution abolished Catholicism as the official religion of the state while recognizing the religious beliefs of all Spaniards.
Today, Spain is still a predominantly Catholic country, with over 42 million baptized Catholics, covering about 92% of the total population. However, church attendance is declining, as is the case across Europe. According to a 2025 study, 55.4% of Spanish citizens self-identify as Catholics, with 36.6% considering themselves non-practicing and 18.8% practicing. In recent years, Spain has seen an increase in the number of Muslims, with Islam now the second-largest religion in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, 55.4% of Spanish citizens self-identify as Catholics, with 36.6% of those being non-practicing and 18.8% practicing. This is a decline from 2011, when 70% of the population identified as Catholic.
There are over 42 million baptized Catholics in Spain, covering about 92% of the total population.
According to a poll by the Pew Research Center, 21% of Spaniards consider themselves "highly religious".
There are a number of reasons for the decline of Catholicism in Spain. One reason may be the Catholic Church's support of Franco's dictatorship, which has turned off many Spaniards. In addition, younger generations of Spaniards are increasingly ignoring the Church's moral doctrines on issues such as pre-marital sex, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and contraception.
