Religion in Luxembourg

Luxembourg has no official statistics that measure religious affiliation, worship, spiritual beliefs or philosophical orientation. A non-official European Values Study survey found that traditional religious beliefs and practices declined from 75% in 2008 to 48% in 2021, and the share considering religion important declined from 42% to 24%. The same survey recorded belief in a spirit or force among more than 40% of respondents, personal belief in God among 15% and atheism among more than 20%. These figures are survey findings, not an official religious census. Catholicism has historically been the largest local religious system, but its current share is not officially measured. A conventioned cult is a religious community with a formal relationship to the Luxembourg state under an approved agreement. The six conventioned cults are the Catholic Church of Luxembourg, the Jewish community represented by the Consistoire israélite de Luxembourg, the Protestant Church of Luxembourg together with the Reformed Protestant Church of Luxembourg, the Muslim community represented by Shoura, the Anglican Church of Luxembourg and the Orthodox Church in Luxembourg. Orthodox jurisdictions such as Greek, Russian, Romanian and Serbian communities are grouped within this framework. The relationship covers administrative and financial matters, including annual state support. Other religious communities can worship and organize under general law, but the available evidence does not establish convention-based annual state support for them. Membership, donations, rite fees and opening hours depend on each community. People can attend prayer, services, pastoral care, community teaching and religious rites through a local congregation or community. Luxembourg does not maintain a state religious membership register. Spiritual assistance in institutions is normally arranged through the relevant institution and community. Access, language, schedules and fees differ by provider and occasion. The Constitution protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to follow a religion or to follow none. It protects religious manifestation within constitutional limits, public order and human rights, and prohibits forced worship, ceremonies and religious rest days. Equal protection and non-discrimination also apply. The law of 28 November 2006 prohibits direct and indirect discrimination based on religion or convictions in employment access, training, working conditions and harassment. The Centre for Equal Treatment can provide independent information and guidance for discrimination involving private parties, while disputes involving public authorities may be taken to the Ombudsman or the courts. Coercion that prevents worship and disruption of public worship can constitute a criminal offence. Public schools use Vie et société, a common course for all pupils. It replaced religious and moral instruction and moral and social education. The course began in secondary schools in 2016/17 and in fundamental schools in 2017/18; it addresses neutral civic values, citizenship, religious literacy and comparison rather than confessional state-school religion classes. Community catechesis and formation provide non-state religious education. The Centre Jean XXIII–Grand Séminaire offers canon philosophy and theology for ministers and lay pastoral agents, with regular study, free participation and auditeur libre access for other participants. Exam-track admission normally requires a secondary diploma or equivalent. Fees are EUR 80 for 12 hours and EUR 40 for each additional 12-hour unit, with no refund. LSRS and CFD focus on research, dialogue and continuing pastoral training and are not general public-school equivalents. The Conseil des Cultes conventionnés, created in 2013, brings together the heads of the six conventioned cults. The Baha'i Faith, the Église néo-apostolique and Shoura also participate in its work. The Centre Jean XXIII and LSRS support interreligious research, dialogue and training, while the Ministry of State exchanges with conventioned cults. Luxembourg has 11 statutory public holidays. Religion-linked statutory holidays include Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Monday, Assumption, All Saints, Christmas Day and Saint Stephen's Day. In 2026 these fall on 6 April, 14 May, 25 May, 15 August, 1 November, 25 December and 26 December. Good Friday and 2 November are customary observances rather than generally mandatory private-sector leave. No general statutory Eid or Jewish holiday is evidenced. A school may excuse absence for Eid, Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur under official guidance, but missed lessons still have to be caught up. Work absence usually depends on annual leave, the employment contract, a collective agreement or the employer's agreement unless a statutory holiday applies. Religious rites can mark birth, coming of age, initiation and death, including baptism, naming ceremonies, confirmation and Bar or Bat Mitzvah. These rites have no state registration or automatic legal effect, and preparation, sponsors, language, fees and timing depend on the community. A religious marriage can take place only after the civil marriage. The civil ceremony is handled by the commune; at least one partner must have official residence in Luxembourg, the minimum age is 18 unless a guardianship judge authorizes an exception, the file must generally be submitted at least one month before the ceremony and the marriage notices are published for 10 days. A religious ceremony does not create civil marital status. A death must be declared to the commune's civil registrar within 24 hours. Burial or cremation normally takes place within 24 to 72 hours after death and requires the relevant civil authorization or permits. A religious funeral is coordinated with the community and funeral home within those deadlines. Special leave is linked to civil marriage or qualifying family death, not to the religious character of the ceremony; civil marriage generally gives three days, while qualifying family deaths give one to three days depending on the relationship.