Religions in Germany: Facts for the Citizenship Test

Are you preparing for the German citizenship test? Or do you want to understand how religion works in Germany? This guide explains the main religions and your legal rights as an immigrant.

How Many Religions Exist in Germany?

Germany is a diverse country. Many religions are practiced here. No single religion is the official state religion.

About 55% of Germans belong to a Christian church. Around 35–40% have no religious affiliation. This number has grown steadily in recent years.

Here is an overview of the main religious groups:

Religion	Approximate Members
Catholic Christianity	~26 million
Protestant Christianity (EKD)	~20 million
Islam	~5–6 million
Orthodox Christianity	~1.3 million
Buddhism	~270,000
Judaism	~100,000
Hinduism	~100,000

These figures are based on church statistics and data from the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.

Christianity: The Largest Religion

Christianity is the largest religion in Germany. It is divided into two main branches.

The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has about 26 million members. It is strong in southern and western Germany. Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and regions along the Rhine are traditionally Catholic.

The Protestant Church (EKD)

The Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) has about 20 million members. It is based on the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Martin Luther began this Reformation in Germany in 1517.

Protestant churches are most common in northern and eastern Germany.

Declining Church Membership

Both major churches are losing members every year. Many Germans leave formally to avoid church tax. In 2022, more than 500,000 people left the Catholic Church alone. The share of non-religious people continues to rise.

Islam: The Second Largest Religion

Islam is the second largest religion in Germany. About 5 to 6 million Muslims live in the country. Most came to Germany as immigrants or are descendants of immigrants.

The largest Muslim communities in Germany come from:

• Turkey (the largest group)
• Arab countries such as Syria, Morocco, and Lebanon
• Afghanistan, Iran, and Southeast Asian countries

Most Muslims in Germany are Sunni. Shia Muslims form a smaller group. There is no single national Islamic institution representing all Muslims in Germany.

Other Religious Communities

Germany is home to many smaller religious groups.

Judaism: About 100,000 people are registered members of Jewish communities. This number grew significantly after 1990. Many Jewish immigrants arrived from former Soviet countries. Major cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich have active synagogues.

Orthodox Christianity: About 1.3 million people belong to Orthodox churches. Many are immigrants from Greece, Russia, Romania, and Serbia.

Buddhism: About 270,000 people practice Buddhism in Germany. Some are immigrants from East and Southeast Asia. Others are German-born converts.

Hinduism: About 100,000 people practice Hinduism. Most are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from South Asia.

Religious Freedom in Germany

Germany protects religious freedom by law. This protection is in the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) — the German constitution.

Grundgesetz Art. 4 states: "Freedom of faith and of conscience...shall be inviolable." This means you can follow any religion. You can also have no religion at all. The state cannot tell you what to believe.

Grundgesetz Art. 3 states that all people are equal before the law. No one may be disadvantaged because of their religion or worldview.

These rights apply to everyone in Germany — including immigrants and asylum seekers.

Church Tax (Kirchensteuer)

Germany has a church tax system. If you are officially registered as a member of a recognized church, you pay church tax. The state collects this for the church. It is usually 8–9% of your income tax.

If you do not want to pay, you can formally leave your church. You do this at a local government office (Standesamt or Amtsgericht). You stop paying the church tax immediately after leaving.

Separation of Church and State

Germany has no official state religion. Church and state are separated by law. However, they cooperate in certain areas.

Churches in Germany run many hospitals, kindergartens, and social services. The state recognizes churches as public institutions. This model is sometimes called "cooperative separation."

This is different from France, where religion and public life are strictly separated (laïcité).

Religion in Schools

Religious education is a standard school subject in most German states. This is based on Grundgesetz Art. 7. Parents can withdraw their children from these classes. Older students can decide for themselves.

Berlin and Bremen have different rules. In these states, religious education is not compulsory in public schools.

Religion and Your Naturalization Application

Your religion does not affect your right to apply for German citizenship. Germany treats all religions equally. You are not required to leave your religion or join a German church.

However, you must accept the principles of the German constitution. Grundgesetz Art. 4 guarantees religious freedom for everyone. Views that conflict with the constitution can affect your application.

Practice BAMF Test Questions

The BAMF "Leben in Deutschland" test covers many topics about German society. Here are five questions you should know:

Question 36: Which measure creates social security in Germany?
Answer: Health insurance (Krankenversicherung). Germany has a strong social security system. Health insurance is mandatory for almost all residents.

Question 201: Which federal states belonged to the former GDR (East Germany)?
Answer: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The GDR was the communist East German state from 1949 to 1990.

Question 214: What colors does the German flag have?
Answer: Black, red, and gold. These colors represent German democracy and unity.

Question 216: Which symbol is in the plenary hall of the German Bundestag?
Answer: The Federal Eagle (Bundesadler). This symbol represents the German state and its democratic institutions.

Question 225: In which other country is there a large German-speaking population?
Answer: Austria. German is the official language of Austria. Both countries share many historical and cultural ties.

---

Are you ready for the test? Practice all 460 questions with explanations in your language on einbuergerungscheck.de/trainer.

---

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice. For personal legal questions, consult a qualified lawyer or legal advisor.