In short
In 2023, the largest single group in Switzerland was the non-religious at 36%, up from 34% in 2022. The Roman Catholic Church stood at 31%, down from 32% the year before, and the Protestant (Reformed) Church at 19%, down from 21% and a record low. Muslims made up 6% of the population. Christianity remains the largest religious tradition when the two churches are combined, but both are in steady decline while people with no religious affiliation keep growing.
- People with no religion reached 36% in 2023, up from 34% in 2022, and are now the largest single group in Switzerland (Swiss Federal Statistical Office).
- The Roman Catholic Church stood at 31% in 2023, down from 32% in 2022 (Swiss Federal Statistical Office).
- The Protestant (Reformed) Church fell to 19% in 2023, down from 21% in 2022, a record low (Swiss Federal Statistical Office).
- Muslims made up 6% of the population in 2023 (Swiss Federal Statistical Office).
Switzerland was long a country split fairly evenly between Roman Catholics and Reformed Protestants, but that balance has shifted. In 2023, the largest single group in the country was the non-religious at 36%, up from 34% in 2022, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. The Roman Catholic Church stood at 31%, down from 32% the year before, and the Protestant (Reformed) Church at 19%, a record low and down from 21% in 2022. Muslims made up 6% of the population. Christianity is still the largest religious tradition when the two churches are counted together, but both are shrinking year after year. The figures below draw on the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and the Pew Research Center, the most authoritative sources on religion in Switzerland.
of the population has no religion (now the largest group)
Key findings at a glance
| Metric | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion (now the largest group) | 36% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Roman Catholic | 31% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed), a record low | 19% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Muslim | 6% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| No religion (previous year) | 34% | 2022 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed) (previous year) | 21% | 2022 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
The non-religious are now the largest group
The turning point in Switzerland is the steady rise of people with no religious affiliation. In 2023 they became the largest single group in the country, ahead of both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant church. The Swiss Federal Statistical Office tracks these shares through its structural survey of the resident population.
In 2023, 36% of the population in Switzerland reported no religion, up from 34% in 2022, making it the largest single group in the country.
In 2022, 34% of the population in Switzerland reported no religion, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 36% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| No religion (previous year) | 34% | 2022 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Roman Catholic | 31% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed) | 19% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
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The two churches in decline
Christianity in Switzerland rests on two big churches: the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant (Reformed) Church. Both continue to lose ground year after year. The Reformed Church in particular has fallen to a record low, and the Catholic Church is now smaller than the non-religious group.
In 2023, 31% of the population in Switzerland was Roman Catholic, down from 32% in 2022, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
In 2023, 19% of the population in Switzerland was Protestant (Reformed), down from 21% in 2022 and a record low, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 31% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Roman Catholic (previous year) | 32% | 2022 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed), a record low | 19% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed) (previous year) | 21% | 2022 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
Other faiths in Switzerland
Besides the two Christian churches, Islam is the largest other religious community in Switzerland. Alongside it sit smaller communities and the growing group of people who report no religious affiliation. The Swiss Federal Statistical Office reports these shares from the same structural survey.
In 2023, 6% of the population in Switzerland was Muslim, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muslim | 6% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Roman Catholic | 31% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| Protestant (Reformed) | 19% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
| No religion | 36% | 2023 | Swiss Federal Statistical Office |
How we compiled these statistics
Every number on this page is traceable to a primary source and dated to the year the data were collected. The affiliation shares for no religion, Roman Catholic, Protestant (Reformed), and Muslim come from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, which measures religious affiliation through its structural survey of the resident population. The 2023 figures are the most recent headline, with 2022 figures given as trend context. Broader context on belief and practice in Western Europe, including Switzerland, comes from the Pew Research Center. Where data years differ, we use the most recent published year and label it.
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