Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Germany means entering a country that is both highly secularized and deeply marked by centuries of religious history. The landscape is disorienting for many expats: churches dominate city centers, church bells still ring on Sundays, but a large portion of the population no longer identifies as believers or practitioners. At the same time, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism are very present in urban areas, and public debates on religion are frequent, whether about the veil, mosque construction, or the famous church tax.
This guide aims to help newcomers understand local norms, anticipate sensitive situations (bureaucracy, work, school, neighborhood), and enjoy the country’s cultural and religious richness, without bias.
A Christian country… where nearly half the population has no religion
To get your bearings, start by looking at the numbers. Germany has around 85 to 86 million inhabitants. Historically, the country is predominantly Christian, and Christianity remains by far the primary religion, but it no longer structures daily life as it did a few decades ago.
Several recent studies paint a consistent picture. The current situation can be summarized in the following table.
| Religious group / belief | Approximate share of the population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Christians (all churches combined) | ~48% |
| – of which Catholic | ~23–24% (≈ 19.8–23 million) |
| – of which Protestant (EKD) | ~21–22% (≈ 18–21 million) |
| – other Christian churches | 1–2% |
| Muslims | ~4–7% (≈ 5–6 million) |
| Other religions (Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) | ~2–3% |
| No religion / unaffiliated | ~45–47% (≈ 37–39 million) |
These figures conceal spectacular shifts. In the 1950s, Protestants represented about 59% of the population, Catholics 37%. Atheism and agnosticism were marginal. Today, those with no religious affiliation are close to an absolute majority and, according to projections, will surpass 50% very soon.
Only 5% of the population attends a religious service at least once a month, according to surveys.
This gap between affiliation and practice can be visualized in a second table.
| Indicator (2024) | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Population identifying as Christian | ≈ 48% |
| Population with no religion | ≈ 47% |
| Monthly religious practice (all religions) | ≈ 5% |
| Monthly practice – Catholics | ≈ 6.5–7% |
| Monthly practice – Protestants EKD | ≈ 2–3% |
| Regular practice – Muslims | ≈ 25% |
For a religious expat, this context means you will easily find places of worship and active communities, while living in a largely secularized society, where religion is often considered a private matter.
A religious geography with strong contrasts
One of Germany’s specificities is the strong regional variation in religious affiliations. Living in Munich, Dresden, or Hamburg does not offer the same daily life experience at all.
This mental map can be simplified as follows.
| Region / Major Länder | Dominant religious profile (2016) |
|---|---|
| Catholic South (Bavaria, Saarland) | Catholic majority (up to 68% in Saarland) |
| Mixed West (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg) | Strong Catholic and Protestant presence |
| Protestant North (Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Bremen) | Protestant majority (50–60%) |
| East (Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) | Non-religious majority (≈ 60–75%) |
| Major metropolises (Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Munich, Cologne) | High proportion of non-religious + great diversity |
For an expat, these differences have very concrete effects. In a Bavarian village, community life still often revolves around the Catholic parish, religious processions and holidays structure the calendar, and there are more Catholic public holidays. In a city in the former GDR, on the contrary, you can live for years without encountering visible religious practice, apart from a few major Christian holidays or events of religious minorities.
Immigration has profoundly transformed the religious landscape, especially in cities in western and southern Germany, where the majority of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs live. In neighborhoods of cities like Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, or Hamburg, mosques, Hindu temples, and gurdwaras are now an integral part of the daily scenery.
Historical roots: why religion still matters in a secularized country
Understanding German attitudes towards religion requires some historical context. Three major periods still influence mindset.
First, early Christianization, largely accomplished by Charlemagne’s time, shaped the territory, urban planning, and holidays. Countless cathedrals – Cologne, Aachen, Trier, or Munich’s Frauenkirche – bear witness to this past. Architecture, place names, and school calendars remain closely linked to this Christian foundation.
The Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther in Wittenberg in 1517, divided German territories between Catholic and Protestant, leading to conflicts like the Thirty Years’ War. After attempts at compromise (Peace of Augsburg) and efforts to unify churches in the 19th century, its legacy endures: October 31, Reformation Day, is still a public holiday in many northern German Länder.
Finally, the 20th century left heavy scars. The Nazi regime sought to instrumentalize churches, exterminated a large part of the Jewish population, and persecuted other minorities. After 1945, West Germany reaffirmed religious freedom in the Basic Law, while East Germany imposed state atheism, partly explaining the very high level of non-believers in the east. This past also explains why issues of secularism, religious symbols, or anti-Semitism are approached with particular sensitivity.
For an expat, it’s important to understand that religion, although no longer dominant in the daily life of Germans, retains a deep historical imprint. This influence manifests in several aspects of society: law, the calendar (with its Christian-based public holidays), urban planning (through architectural heritage), and part of public debates. Germany is a secular country where the public sphere is separate from religious institutions, but their cultural and historical heritage remains perceptible.
Religion and State: separation, cooperation… and church tax
Unlike France, Germany does not have a strict secularism like the French model. The constitutional principle is freedom of religion and a separation without hostility, sometimes described as “positive neutrality.” The state does not interfere with religious doctrine but cooperates closely with recognized communities.
The status of “public law corporation”
Religious communities can apply for the status of Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (public law corporation). This status grants specific rights: providing religious education in public schools, benefiting from tax advantages, and, most notably, levying the famous Kirchensteuer (church tax), collected by the tax administration.
The major Christian churches (Catholic, Protestant EKD) and Jewish communities have public law status, as do some smaller churches like Old Catholics or Mennonites. In contrast, most Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist communities do not, although exceptions exist, such as the Ahmadiyya community in Hesse for religious education.
For an expat, this status is far from theoretical: it directly affects the issue of the church tax and religious education for your children.
The Kirchensteuer: what an expat absolutely must know
The Kirchensteuer is one of the points that most surprises newcomers. It is not a voluntary contribution but a mandatory legal levy for members of certain recognized religious communities. The mechanism is quite simple: the state collects, for a management fee, a percentage of income tax and forwards it to the churches.
The general logic is as follows.
| Key element of the Kirchensteuer | Practical detail for expats |
|---|---|
| Who pays? | Anyone registered as a member of a qualifying church (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.) |
| Calculation basis | Percentage of income tax (not gross income) |
| Rate | 8% of tax in some Länder (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg); 9% elsewhere |
| Collection | Automatic via payroll or tax return, by the Finanzamt (tax office) |
| Mention on payslip | Line Kirchensteuer, KS or KiSt |
| Use | Clergy salaries, building maintenance, social works (schools, hospitals, welfare) |
Concretely, if your annual income tax amounts to €10,000, the church levy will be €800 in a Land with an 8% rate and €900 in a Land with a 9% rate. This surcharge is only due if you are officially a member of a community that levies this tax.
When registering your address (Anmeldung) in Germany, indicating ‘rk’ (Catholic) or ‘ev’ (Protestant) in the ‘religion’ field automatically triggers church affiliation and leads to an additional tax deduction from your salary. It is not simply cultural information.
There are also some complex cases where German churches exchange information with their counterparts in other countries: a person baptized in Italy or Spain can, under certain circumstances, be caught by the system even if they indicated “no religion” upon registration, which can lead to retroactive adjustments.
If you are a member of a religious community that does not levy the Kirchensteuer (like most mosques, many free churches, and many Buddhist or Hindu communities), you are not subject to this church tax.
Leaving the church to stop paying
It is perfectly legal to leave your church to escape this tax, but the procedure must be done with the state, not with the priest or pastor. The process, called Kirchenaustritt, usually takes place at the local court (Amtsgericht) or the registry office (Standesamt), depending on the Land.
You must appear with an ID and sometimes a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), pay administrative fees (often around €30, with regional variations), sign the form, and then carefully keep the exit certificate. The tax office is then informed and stops the deduction in the following months.
However, you must consider the religious consequences: officially leaving the Catholic or Protestant church may close your access to certain sacraments or services (religious marriage, baptism of children, religious funeral in that church). This has no impact, however, on your right to residence, naturalization, or your professional career.
Religion in school: between catechism, ethics, and pluralism
For expat families with children, the question of religious education comes up very quickly. The German Basic Law makes religious education an “ordinary” subject in public schools, in cooperation with religious communities. This means that, in principle, every student should have the opportunity to attend religious instruction corresponding to their denomination.
Catholic and Protestant religion classes in Germany are confessional, taught by teachers officially commissioned by their church. They present the specific viewpoint of each denomination, although modern pedagogical approaches often include comparative and ethical dimensions.
Faced with declining religious practice and rising pluralism, however, most Länder have introduced non-confessional alternatives, such as “ethics,” “practical philosophy,” or “values and norms” classes. Reforms carried out between the 1970s and 2000s gradually replaced the strict obligation to attend religious instruction with an obligation to choose between religion and ethics.
The average situation can be summarized as follows.
| Type of instruction (years 1 to 10, estimate) | Share of students affected in western Germany |
|---|---|
| Catholic religious instruction | ≈ 25% |
| Protestant religious instruction | ≈ 25% |
| Other religious instruction (Islam, Judaism, etc.) | Minority but growing |
| Ethics / equivalent secular class | ≈ 20–25% |
In some Länder, especially in the east (Brandenburg, Berlin), there are more clearly secular or interreligious models, with subjects like LER (Lebensgestaltung-Ethik-Religionskunde), which combines the study of religions, ethical reflection, and life skills.
In Germany, the integration of Islam into the public school system is ongoing. Authorities aim to offer classes in German to limit the influence of foreign content and promote an interpretation compatible with democracy. Some Länder already offer, often on an experimental basis, Islamic classes (sometimes Alevi). Depending on the region, a Muslim expat parent can therefore enroll their child in an Islamic class, an ethics class, or even a Christian class if they wish.
Important point for expats who define themselves as non-religious: it is not mandatory to put your children in catechism. Parents have the right to choose an ethics class, and teenagers themselves gain the right to decide from a certain age, which varies by Land.
Practices in places of worship: dress codes and behavior
Beyond institutions, on-the-ground reality also involves visiting cathedrals, attending a Christmas service, or discovering a neighborhood mosque or Hindu temple. Germany is not a particularly strict country regarding religious dress codes, but some implicit rules are worth knowing.
In churches and cathedrals
Whether visiting Cologne Cathedral, Berlin Cathedral, or a small country church, the rule of conduct can be summed up in one word: modesty. There is no uniform code set in stone, but a few principles are widely shared.
When visiting a church in Germany, it is recommended to cover shoulders and knees, especially during a service. Short-sleeved t-shirts and jeans that are not excessively tight or torn are acceptable. However, very low-cut tank tops, short shorts, and tops with deep necklines should be avoided. During heatwaves, German churches are more tolerant than some basilicas in Italy or Spain, but remember that it is still an active place of worship.
For men, removing your cap or hat upon entry is expected, except for health or religious reasons (kippah, turban). For women, there is no obligation to cover your hair in a Catholic or Protestant context. In some Orthodox churches, more numerous since the arrival of migrants from Greece, Russia, Serbia, Romania, or Ukraine, it may be customary to cover your head; scarves are sometimes provided, but this varies.
Behavior inside is also codified: avoid speaking loudly, using phones, eating, or drinking. Most tourist cathedrals allow photography without flash, but some areas – choir, chapels, crypt – may be off-limits. Photographing worshippers in prayer or celebrants without asking is frowned upon.
Even if very touristy, these buildings are first and foremost places of worship. During a service, avoid wandering around noisily, taking selfies, or approaching the altar. If you are not attending the ceremony, stay discreetly in the back or wait outside.
In mosques
German mosques, especially in large cities, are often organized as real cultural centers: prayer, language classes, legal or social assistance, youth activities. Many willingly welcome non-Muslims during “open house” days or by appointment.
The codes are similar to those in force elsewhere in the Muslim world. Men and women should dress modestly: shoulders, chest, and knees covered. Women are generally asked to cover their hair, and shoes are always removed at the entrance to the prayer hall. Sunni mosques are the majority, but there are also Shiite, Alevi, Ahmadi, or Sufi places. Most prayer halls are single-sex or have separate areas.
Germany has several emblematic mosques, like the large central mosque in Cologne, with modern architecture and extensive cultural functions, or the Imam Ali Mosque in Hamburg. In Berlin, places like the Sehitlik Mosque or the Ibn Rushd‑Goethe Moschee, the latter claiming to be inclusive and reform-oriented, illustrate the internal diversity of German Islam.
Synagogues and heightened security
Germany is now home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe, behind France and the United Kingdom, although its numbers remain modest compared to pre-war times. Synagogues are much more protected than churches or mosques, due to persistent anti-Semitism and the reported rise in hostile acts in recent years.
For a visitor, this translates into checks at the entrance: bag searches, questions about the reason for the visit, sometimes obligation to show ID. Men must cover their heads (kippah usually provided on-site). Photos are generally restricted, and it’s advisable to inquire in advance with the community (opening hours, possibility of attending a service, language used).
Practicing your faith in English, Arabic, Hindi, or other: international communities
One major asset for expats is the density of international religious communities, especially in large cities. There is a highly developed network of English-speaking churches – Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, non-denominational – in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Bonn, Wiesbaden, Kaiserslautern, Ramstein, Gießen, Würzburg, and elsewhere.
International Christian communities offering services in English and bringing together worshippers from around the world.
Offers Anglican-tradition liturgy in English and an international choir.
Attracts worshippers from about thirty nationalities, with services translated into German, Portuguese, or others.
Like the Munich International Community Church or English-speaking Baptist communities, bringing together expats from over fifty countries.
For Muslims, several national organizations – notably DITIB and Islamische Gemeinschaft Millî Görüş – structure the life of many mosques. Sermons and activities are often offered in Turkish, Arabic, Bosnian, Persian, Urdu and, increasingly, in German and English. Apps like Muslim Pro or IslamFinder, and simply Google Maps, help locate nearby mosques and halal restaurants.
Hindu communities, often composed of Sri Lankan Tamils or Indians, are present in several German cities. Their temples range from modest basement worship spaces or former industrial buildings to monumental edifices, like the Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, which attracts thousands of worshippers annually during festivals.
Hindu communities in Germany
Sikhs, Buddhists (especially Vietnamese and Sri Lankan) or Baha’is also have places of worship in major metropolises, as does a small community of Quakers, very active on peace and social justice issues.
For an expat, these religious communities are not just places of prayer: they often serve as a support network for finding housing, deciphering bureaucracy, spotting schools for children, or simply building a social circle beyond the professional environment.
Religious holidays and “quiet days”: impacts on daily life
Even if not everyone goes to church anymore, the German calendar remains deeply marked by Christian holidays. Be aware that, except for German Unity Day, all public holidays are decided at the Länder level. The result, for an expat, is sometimes confusing: a day may be a holiday in one Land but not in the neighboring one.
National public holidays include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, May 1st, Christmas (December 25) and December 26. Regional public holidays of a religious nature are added, varying by Land: Epiphany (south), Corpus Christi (Catholic Länder in the west and south), All Saints’ Day (several western Länder), Reformation Day (many Protestant Länder in the north and east), and Assumption (very Catholic areas).
Beyond official public holidays, most Länder have “quiet days” (stille Tage), especially Good Friday, Protestant Memorial Sunday (Totensonntag), or Christmas Eve. These days may come with restrictions: ban on dancing in clubs, limitations on noisy sports events, obligations for bars and concert halls to be discreet. These rules are sometimes seen as anachronistic by younger generations, but they remain enforced, with variations in severity by region.
For expats, religious public holidays have a concrete impact on daily life: shop closures, unavailability of municipal halls for events, and adjusted transport schedules. These days also offer the opportunity to discover popular local traditions like Christmas markets, processions, organ concerts, or religious services, even for non-practitioners.
Religion, work, and public space: implicit codes and sensitive debates
Working in Germany involves dealing with a fairly strict conception of state neutrality, but a more flexible one in the private sector. The country does not have a general horizontal ban like the French model: rules vary by Land and profession.
Several German Länder have adopted laws regulating the wearing of religious symbols by teachers and certain civil servants. In Berlin, for example, a neutrality law prohibits the visible wearing of symbols (crucifix, kippah, headscarf) for teachers, police officers, judges, and prison guards. Other regions mainly target teachers, sometimes with exceptions (like for nuns in habit). Case law frequently evolves, with a general trend towards case-by-case assessment, especially in the absence of concrete disruption.
In the private sector, the situation is generally more flexible, although some companies may set internal rules on dress code as part of brand or safety policies. Large international companies are often very accustomed to religious diversity and provide accommodations: informal prayer rooms, schedule adjustments during Ramadan, permission to wear headscarves or turbans in most positions.
For a religious expat, a few practical points emerge:
It is generally legal to wear religious symbols in public places and private employment, unless it violates safety rules. The strictest restrictions apply to certain public jobs (teaching, police, judiciary) in a few German Länder. For major religious holidays (Eid, Diwali, Passover, Vesak), a leave request can be made to the employer, but these days are not legally recognized as holidays, except in rare cases where some Länder recognize them in their labor or school law.
Furthermore, keep in mind that even though religious freedom is guaranteed, discrimination exists. European studies show that minorities like Muslims or Jews are particularly exposed to hate speech or attacks, online and on the street. The state keeps specific statistics on religiously motivated crimes, and most major cities have interfaith initiatives and awareness programs to counter these phenomena.
Interfaith dynamics: fertile ground for encounters
A little-known facet of Germany is the density of its interfaith initiatives. In several major cities, councils of religions, dialogue houses, or events like the “Long Night of Religions” bring together churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples each year for guided tours, concerts, or public discussions.
In Berlin, the “House of One” is an emblematic building designed to house a church, a mosque, and a synagogue, embodying a will for dialogue. Since 2003, the “Interreligiöses Friedensgebet” (interfaith prayer for peace) has taken place monthly at Gendarmenmarkt, bringing together representatives of various beliefs. Other activities like intercultural weeks, interfaith breakfasts, religion gardens, and regular roundtables complement these outreach initiatives.
For an expat, these spaces can be privileged places to meet people of different faiths, discover other traditions, but also understand how Germans address sensitive topics (Israel-Palestine, secularism, far-right extremism, migration) in a religious framework.
Some pointers for integrating without missteps
In practice, most expats will not encounter major religious difficulties in daily life, but a few reflexes can facilitate integration.
On one hand, do not overestimate the level of practice: many Germans identify as Christian without going to church, or identify as “without religion” while respecting certain traditions (Christmas tree, Easter with family). It is therefore prudent, in conversations, to avoid clichés about “very religious Germans” or, conversely, about “a completely atheist country”.
Topics related to Judaism, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or racism are highly charged. Inappropriate jokes or comparisons on these themes can be poorly received, even in informal contexts.
Finally, take the time to inquire about the local rules of your Land: specific public holidays, possible restrictions on religious symbols at work, modalities of religious education in school, functioning of the Kirchensteuer. A simple check of the local tax office website, the regional Ministry of Education, or expat information pages can often avoid costly surprises or misunderstandings.
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In summary, religious life in Germany is characterized by a fascinating paradox for expats: a very visible Christian foundation in heritage, laws, and the calendar, rapidly declining practice, growing religious diversity driven by immigration, and a state that cooperates pragmatically with communities without letting them occupy the public sphere without limits.
For those coming to live here, the country thus offers a dual field of exploration: on one side, deep historical roots, cathedrals and monasteries, holidays and rituals; on the other, a very contemporary mosaic of mosques, temples, synagogues, international churches, and dialogue initiatives. Understanding these different levels not only helps avoid missteps but also makes your stay in Germany a unique opportunity to discover, in one territory, almost the entire religious spectrum of the contemporary world.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
