Census: Small rise in Estonia in those with no religious beliefs

The proportion of the overall Estonian population who express no religious affiliation has risen, according to a survey by state agency Statistics Estonia which formed a part of the 2021 population census.

The largest single denomination in Estonia by adherents remains Eastern Orthodoxy, the agency adds, while Lutheranism has seen a fall.

A total of 29 percent of the population is estimated to adhere to one set of religious beliefs, the survey, reflecting results from 2021, found, a share which is unchanged on previous censuses, while the proportion of the population who do not have any expressed religious affiliation has risen, from 54 percent in 2011 to 58 percent last year, Statistics Estonia says.

Commenting on the results, Terje Trasberg, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said: "The rise is due to the fact that this time around there were fewer people who did not wish to answer the religion question, so it can be assumed that they now held a more definite view."

The largest Christian denominations by adherents in Estonia remain Orthodoxy and Lutheranism.

Eastern Orthodox Christians make up 16 percent, and Lutherans 8 percent, of the total populace.