Religion
Religion in Estonia (2001)
No religion (70.8%) Lutheranism (13.6%) Eastern Orthodoxy (12.8%) Other religions (2.8%)According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 16% of Estonian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 54% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 26% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". This, according to the survey, would have made Estonians the most non-religious people in the then 25-member European Union. A survey conducted in 2006–2008 by Gallup showed that 14% of Estonians answered positively to the question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?", which was the lowest among 143 countries polled.
Less than a third of the population define themselves as believers; of those, the majority are Lutheran, whereas the Russian minority is Eastern Orthodox. Ancient equinoctial traditions (like St John's Day) are held in high regard. In 2000, according to the census, 29.2% of the population considered themselves to be related to any religion, thereof:
- 13.6% Lutheran Christians
- 12.8% Orthodox Christians
- 6,009 Baptists
- 5,745 Roman Catholics
- 4,254 Jehovah's Witnesses
- 2,648 Pentecostals
- 2,515 Old Believers (Schismatic Orthodox Christians)
- 1,561 Adventists
- 1,455 Methodists
- 1,387 Muslims
- 5,008 followers of other religions
There are also a number of smaller Protestant, Jewish, and Buddhist groups. The organisation Maavalla Koda unites adherents of animist traditional religions.
Read more about this topic: Demographics Of Estonia
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