Catholic church sees huge decline in Spain

The last 50 years has seen an enormous decline in Catholicism in Spain, in response to recent figures. 

At the time of General Franco’s death in 1975, around 90% of Spanish adults identified as Catholic. Now research by the Funcas Foundation has suggested that only 55% achieve this today, Evangelical Focus reports.

The fall might be seen amongst all age groups of Spanish society but is more pronounced among the many young. In 2002, 60% of 18 to 29 yr olds identified as Catholic, but in 2024, only 32% did so. The over-70s are still broadly Catholic, with over three quarters standing by the Church.

According to the research, it’s agnosticism and atheism that is basically filling the gap, although there may be a sign of a small but significant rise in evangelicalism within the country.

In 1998, only 0.2% of Spaniards declared themselves to be evangelical. Now that figure is 2%, representing 1.5 million people.

As people turn away from the normal faith of their country, so too do they turn away from the ceremonies and culture related to it.

Half a century ago, virtually every marriage was Catholic, but by 2000 this had fallen to 76%, and in 2023 it was only 18%.

Catholic education can be becoming less popular. In 2022-23 just over half of primary school children were enrolled at Catholic institutions, down from 85% within the 1998-99 period.

Recent research in one other traditionally Catholic bastion – Ireland – painted a rather different picture. While 40% of Irish people hold an unfavourable view of the Catholic Church, largely attributable to abuse scandals, 61% still described themselves as religious or spiritual, with young adults being more open to faith than other cohorts.