Sarah Mitchell
Scotland has a long history of Catholicism, with the religion contributing significantly to Scottish literature and culture for nearly a millennium. The Catholic Church in Scotland is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, led by the Pope. While the Church of Scotland is the country's largest religious group, the number of Roman Catholics is also significant, with 13.3% of the population identifying as Catholic in the 2022 census. This represents a decline from previous years, with the number of Catholics falling by more than 117,000 in the decade leading up to 2022. The Catholic Church is especially important in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands, with many Scottish Catholics descending from Irish immigrants and Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in Scotland as per 2023 data | 676,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland as per 2022 census | 13.3% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland as per 2019 Scottish Household Survey | 13% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland as per 2011 census | 15.9% |
| Number of Catholics in Scotland as per 2009 estimate | 850,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics among Christians in Scotland as per 2022 census | 34.3% |
| Percentage of Catholics among the total Scottish population identifying with a religion as per 2022 census | 20.4% |
| Council areas where Catholics outnumbered adherents of the Church of Scotland as per 2011 census | North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, and Glasgow City |
| Percentage of Catholics among Christians in Scotland as per 2011 census | 36.7% |
| Percentage of Catholics among the total Scottish population identifying with a religion as per 2011 census | 24.5% |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholic population in Scotland in 2023: 676,000
- Catholic population in Scotland in 2022: 13.3% of the population
- Catholic population in Scotland in 2011: 15.9% of the overall population
- Catholic population in Scotland in 2009: 850,000
- Catholic immigration to Scotland: Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish
Catholic population in Scotland in 2023: 676,000
According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, there were 676,000 Catholics in the country in 2023. This figure represents around 13% of the adult Scottish population, according to the Scottish Household Survey of 2019. The Catholic Church in Scotland has been affected by a general decline in church attendance. Between 1994 and 2002, Catholic attendance in Scotland dropped by 19%, to just over 200,000. By 2008, the Bishops' Conference of Scotland estimated that only 3.6% of Scotland's population, or 184,283 people, attended mass regularly.
The decline in religious affiliation is evident in the 2022 census, which showed that 51.1% of Scots identified with 'No religion'. This represented an increase from 36.7% in 2011. The number of people identifying as Roman Catholic has also decreased, down by more than 117,000 in the past decade, to stand at 13.3% of the population in 2022. This decline is part of a broader trend of decreasing church attendance across most denominations since World War II.
Despite the overall decline in religious affiliation, the Catholic Church remains an important presence in Scotland, particularly in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands. The Catholic Church in Scotland is overseen by the Scottish Bishops' Conference and is part of the worldwide Catholic Church headed by the Pope. Many Scottish Catholics are descendants of Irish immigrants and Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands, who moved to Scotland's cities and industrial towns during the 19th century. There are also significant numbers of Scottish Catholics of Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent.
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Catholic population in Scotland in 2022: 13.3% of the population
According to the 2022 census, 13.3% of the Scottish population identify as Roman Catholic. This is a decline from 15.9% in 2011 and 13% in 2019. The number of Catholics has fallen by more than 117,000 in the past decade.
The Catholic Church in Scotland is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, headed by the Pope. It has a long history in the country, dating back to the introduction of Christianity during the Roman occupation of Britain. The Church was outlawed by the Scottish Reformation Parliament in 1560, and despite multiple uprisings, it remained illegal until Catholic Emancipation in 1829. The Church's influence was also impacted by the decline in church attendance across denominations after World War II.
The Catholic population in Scotland has been shaped by immigration, with many Scottish Catholics being descendants of Irish immigrants and Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands. There are also significant numbers of Scottish Catholics of Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent. Immigration has been a key factor in Scotland's population growth, and the country's minority ethnic population has increased from 4.5% in 2001 to 12.9% in 2022.
While the Catholic Church in Scotland faces a general decline in churchgoing, it remains an important religious institution, particularly in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands. In the 2022 census, "None" was the largest category of belief, chosen by 51.1% of Scots, while 38.8% identified as Christian, with the Catholic Church comprising 34.3% of Christians in Scotland.
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Catholic population in Scotland in 2011: 15.9% of the overall population
According to the 2011 census, Catholics comprised 15.9% of the overall population in Scotland, with 34.3% of Christians identifying themselves as Catholic. This is a significant proportion of the Scottish population, especially considering the history of Catholicism in the country.
The Catholic Church was outlawed by the Scottish Reformation Parliament in 1560, and despite multiple uprisings, it remained illegal for centuries. During this time, the Church survived underground, with priests travelling in disguise and facing harsh punishments if caught. Despite this challenging history, the Catholic Church has contributed enormously to Scottish literature and culture over the centuries.
In the 19th century, the Catholic population in Scotland grew due to the Highland Clearances, the Highland Potato Famine, and similar events in Ireland, which caused Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants and Irish immigrants to move to Scotland's cities and industrial towns. More recently, in the 20th century, significant numbers of Catholics emigrated to Scotland from Italy, Lithuania, and Poland, further boosting the Catholic population.
In 2011, Catholics outnumbered adherents of the Church of Scotland in four council areas: North Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, and Glasgow City. However, the number of Catholics in Scotland has been declining, with a decrease of more than 117,000 in the decade preceding 2022, standing at 13.3% of the population in that year. This decline is part of a broader trend of decreasing religious affiliation in Scotland, with the 2022 census showing that a majority of Scots have no religion.
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Catholic population in Scotland in 2009: 850,000
Scotland has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to the Roman occupation of Britain. The Catholic Church contributed significantly to Scottish literature and culture for nearly a millennium before being outlawed by the Scottish Reformation Parliament in 1560. Despite this, an underground Catholic Church persisted, commanding the loyalty of at least half of the Scottish population.
Over the centuries, Scotland's Catholic population has fluctuated due to various factors, including emigration, immigration, and religious persecution. By 1800, Scotland had an estimated 30,000 Catholics, a number that grew to 70,000 by 1827, with 25,000 living in the Glasgow region. The collapse of the Irish rebellion in 1798 and the Irish famine in the mid-19th century sparked a large migration of Irish Catholics to Scotland, particularly the Glasgow area. The Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and the influx of Irish immigrants led to a further expansion of Catholicism in Scotland.
In 2009, it was estimated that there were about 850,000 Catholics in Scotland, which had a total population of 5.1 million at the time. This number included descendants of Irish immigrants and Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands, as well as significant numbers of Catholics of Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent. The presence of other religions in Scotland has also grown, with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism gaining adherents, primarily through immigration and higher birth rates among ethnic minorities.
Since 2009, there has been a general decline in church attendance across denominations in Scotland, including the Catholic Church. Between 1994 and 2002, Catholic attendance in Scotland declined by 19%, and by 2008, the Bishops' Conference of Scotland estimated that only 184,283 people, or 3.6% of the population, attended mass regularly. According to the 2011 census, Catholics comprised 15.9% of the overall population, with 13% of adults identifying with Catholicism in the 2019 Scottish Household Survey. The latest census data from 2022 shows that the number of Roman Catholics has fallen further, now standing at 13.3% of the population.
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Catholic immigration to Scotland: Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish
Many Scottish Roman Catholics in the heavily populated Lowlands are descendants of Irish immigrants. During the 19th century, over 100,000 Irish migrants fled to the Lowlands in Scotland within five years due to the Highland Potato Famine. Irish immigrants to Scotland also came from the Gaelic-speaking Highlands and Islands, moving into Scotland's cities and industrial towns during the Highland Clearances.
Italian Scots are Scottish people of Italian descent, either through ancestors who emigrated to Scotland or Italian-born people residing in Scotland. This term can also refer to people of mixed Scottish and Italian descent. Migration to Scotland from Italy has predominantly been from the provinces of Lucca and Frosinone. A recent Italian voter census estimated that there are between 70,000 and 100,000 people in Scotland of Italian descent or with Italian nationality, which is up to 1.9% of the overall Scottish population. The Scottish Italian community settled mostly in the Glasgow area, with a smaller community in and around Edinburgh.
Lithuanian immigration to Scotland was driven by farm workers who had been pushed out of Lithuania by 'Russification' policies and a deteriorating economy following the failure of the Polish-Lithuanian uprising against the Russian Empire in 1863. Scottish coal and iron companies recruited Lithuanian farm workers to work in Scotland. Lithuanians in Scotland, most of whom were Catholics, faced hostility from the religious establishment and mining communities.
Polish immigrants have settled in significant numbers in Scotland, with estimates of the Polish-born population in Scotland ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 in 2007. The 2011 UK Census recorded 55,231 Polish-born residents in Scotland, and the 2021 census recorded 75,351 Polish-born residents. Polish immigrants tended to settle in areas near Polish churches and food outlets.
Ukrainian immigration to Scotland has also contributed to the Catholic population. The Ukrainian Church has one parish in Scotland, with other parishes across England and Wales.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, there were 676,000 Catholics in 2023.
According to the 2022 census, 13.3% of the Scottish population is Catholic.
It is estimated that there were about 850,000 Catholics in Scotland in 2009.
The number of Catholics in Scotland has decreased over time. In 2008, 184,283 people attended mass regularly, representing 3.6% of the population. By 2011, Catholics made up 15.9% of the overall population.
As of the 2022 census, 38.8% of the Scottish population identified as Christian. Of these, 34.3% declared an affiliation with the Catholic Church, making up the majority of Christians in Scotland.
