Eastern Orthodoxy by country explained

Based on the numbers of adherents, the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as Eastern Orthodoxy) is the second largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church, with the most common estimates of baptised members being approximately 220 million.[1] [2] [3] The numerous Protestant groups in the world, if taken all together, substantially outnumber the Eastern Orthodox,[4] but they differ theologically and do not form a single communion.[5]

Overview

Eastern Orthodoxy is the predominant religion in Russia (77%),[6] [7] [8] where roughly half the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians live. The religion is also heavily concentrated in the rest of Eastern Europe, where it is the majority religion in Ukraine (65.4%[9] –77%), Romania (82%), Belarus (48%[10] –73%[11]), Greece (95%–98%),[12] Serbia (97%),[12] Bulgaria (62.7%),[13] [14] Moldova (93%),[12] Georgia (84%),[12] North Macedonia (65%),[12] Cyprus (89%)[12] and Montenegro (72%);[12] it is also predominant in the disputed territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria.

Significant minorities are present in several European countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina (31%),[12] Latvia (18%), Estonia (14%), Albania (7%),[15] Lithuania (4%), Croatia (4%), Slovenia (2%), and Finland (1.5%). In the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Eastern Orthodoxy constitutes the dominant religion in northern Kazakhstan, representing 23.9% of the population of the region, and is also a significant minority in Kyrgyzstan (17%), Turkmenistan (5%), Uzbekistan (5%), Azerbaijan (2%),[12] and Tajikistan (1%). In the Levant, the most significant Eastern Orthodox populations are in Lebanon (8%),[16] Syria (5–8% prior to the 2011 civil war) in Palestine (0.5%–2.5%)[17] and Jordan (over 1%).

The percentage of Christians in Turkey, home to an historically large and influential Eastern Orthodox community, fell from 19% in 1914 to 2.5% in 1927,[18] due to genocide,[19] demographic upheavals caused by the population exchange between Greece and Turkey,[20] and the emigration of Christians to foreign countries (mostly in Europe and the Americas).[21] Today there are more than 160,000 people of different Christian denominations.[22]

Recent immigration and missionary activity have raised the numbers of Eastern Orthodox adherents in traditionally Catholic and Protestant countries, including Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Switzerland, where they comprise roughly 2% of the population in each.

Eastern Orthodox population by country

The number of members of the Eastern Orthodox Church in each country has been subject to debate.

Each study performed that seeks to discover the number of adherents in a country may use different criteria, and be submitted to different populations. As such, some numbers may be inflated, and therefore inaccurate. Examples of this are Greece and Russia, where estimates of adherence to Eastern Orthodoxy may reach 80–98%, but where surveys found lower percentages professing Eastern Orthodoxy or belief in God. The likely reason for this disparity is that many people in majority Eastern Orthodox countries will culturally identify with the Eastern Orthodox Church, especially if they were baptized as children, even if they are not currently practicing. This includes those who may be irreligious, yet culturally identify with the Eastern Orthodox Church, or for whom Eastern Orthodox Christianity is listed on official state records. Other cases of incongruent data also might be due to counting ethnic groups from Eastern Orthodox countries rather than actual adherents. For example, the Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States, which has large numbers of immigrants from Eastern Orthodox countries, have collectively reported a total of 2–3 million across the country.

However, a 2010 study by Alexei Krindatch sought data from each parish, with the specific criteria of annual participation, discovering that there were only about 817,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians actively practicing their faith (i.e., attending church services on a regular basis) in the United States. The study explained that such a difference was due to a variety of circumstances, for example the higher numbers having counted all people who self-identify as Eastern Orthodox on a census regardless of active participation, or all people belonging to ethnic groups originating in Eastern Orthodox countries. This study, while initially controversial, proved groundbreaking, and has since been officially approved for use by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

% Eastern Orthodox! data-sort-type="number"
Eastern Orthodox total
Albania (details)2,621,9777.22%173,645[23]
Armenia (details)3,018,8540.25%7,587[24]
Australia (details)23,824,6002.6%563,100[25]
Austria (details)8,773,0006%500,000
Azerbaijan (details)9,624,9002.5%240,000
Belarus (details)9,349,64583.3%[26] 7,788,254
Bosnia and Herzegovina (details)3,502,22731%1,086,733
Brazil (details)210,147,1250.064%135,000
Bulgaria (details)7,348,328[27] 59.4%[28] 4,374,135
Canada (details)33,476,6881.7%550,690[29]
China (details)1,386,000,0000.001%15,000
Croatia (details)4,284,8894.44%[30] 195,969
Cyprus (details)838,89789.1%781,900
Czech Republic (details)10,538,2750.2%20,533
Egypt (details)105,000,0000.3%350,000[31]
Estonia (details)1,294,48613.66%176,773[32] [33]
France (details)67,150,0001%500,000–700,000[34]
Fiji (details)912,2410.02%200+[35]
Finland (details)5,477,3591.1%[36] 70,000
Georgia (details)3,713,80483.4%3,097,312
Germany (details)84,270,6253.56%3,000,000[37]
Greece (details)10,423,05490%[38] 9,380,749
Grenada (details)107,3170.1%100[39]
Guatemala (details)17,263,2393%200,000–550,000
Israel (details)9,010,0500.67%100,000
Italy (details)60,795,6121.5%900,000[40]
Japan (details)126,226,5680.02%20,000[41]
Jordan (details)9,531,7122–4.5%150,000–350,000
Kazakhstan (details)17,948,81623.9%4,300,000[42]
(details)51,413,9250.01%6,000
 (details)		1,433,8421.5%25,837
Kyrgyzstan (details)5,895,10017%[43] 1,000,000
Latvia (details)2,027,00017.9%370,000[44]
Lebanon (details)4,525,2479%330,000
Lithuania (details)2,966,9544.2%125,189[45]
Madagascar (details)26,262,3130.06%15,000[46]
Mexico (details)121,736,8090.01%15,000
(details)3,383,33293.3%3,158,015[47]
Montenegro (details)629,32081%509,749[48]
New Zealand (details)4,599,3270.3%13,883
(details)2,022,54769.8%1,610,184[49]
Norway (details)5,328,2120.41%21,993[50]
(details)4,550,3682.5%100,000
109,035,343[51] 0.002%2,500[52]
Poland (details)38,386,0001.4%504,400[53]
Romania (details)20,121,64181.1%16,321,389[54]
(details)[55] 145,500,00072%101,450,000[56] –104,000,000[57] [58]
Serbia (details)7,237,37584%6,079,395[59]
Slovakia (details)5,397,0360.9%49,133[60]
Slovenia (details)2,055,4962.2%45,000
Spain (details)46,464,0533.1%1,500,000
Sweden (details)9,775,5721.5%145,279[61]
Switzerland (details)8,211,7001.7%140,000[62]
(details)22,457,3363.1%700,000
Tajikistan (details)8,208,0002%160,000
(details)505,15391%[63] 460,000
Turkey (details)84,277,4390.02%16,000[64]
Turkmenistan (details)5,171,6435.3%[65] 270,000
Ukraine (details)40,000,00065.4–76.6%[66] 27,802,000–34,850,000
United States (details)321,163,1570.3%1,043,850[67]
(details)67,886,0110.7%475,000
Uzbekistan (details)29,559,1005%[68] 1,000,000
TOTAL3,331,625,2964%[69] ~220 million
Unreliable census (boycotted by most Serbs).
Unreliable census

Eastern Orthodox Church by jurisdiction

Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches

The Eastern Orthodox Church is organized as a union of several autocephalous subdivisions, which are also called "Churches" (or, sometimes, "jurisdictions"). Some are associated with a specific country, while others are not. This table presents some known data regarding individual jurisdictions. "NA" means that data is not available.

Bishops! data-sort-type="number"
Priestsdata-sort-type="number" Monasticsdata-sort-type="number" Monasteriesdata-sort-type="number" Parishes
Constantinople125NA1,800[70] 142648
Alexandria41NANANANA
Antioch36NANANANA
Jerusalem20NANANANA
Russia21730,675NA80730,142
Serbia45NANA2863,100
Romania5315,0687,60535915,717
Bulgaria151,500NA1202,600
Georgia37730NANA600
Cyprus16NANA67NA
Greece10110,0003,541[71] 6469,146[72]
Poland12NANANA400
Albania6135NA150909
Czech Lands & Slovakia6NANANA172
Orthodox Church in America502700NA1001200
UkraineNANANANA7,000[73] [74]
North Macedonia/
Macedonian Orthodox Church		NANANANANA
Total74354,38212,9462,25661,939

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eastern Orthodox Denomination. Mary. Fairchild . ThoughtCo.. 19 October 2018. 17 March 2017.
  2. Book: Brien . Joanne O. . Palmer . Martin . The Atlas of Religion . 2007 . Univ of California Press . 978-0-520-24917-2 . 22 . en . There are over 220 million Orthodox Christians worldwide..
  3. Web site: BBC – Religions – Christianity: Eastern Orthodox Church . www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. Jay Diamond, Larry. Plattner, Marc F. and Costopoulos, Philip J. World Religions and Democracy. 2005, page 119.(also in PDF file, p. 49), saying "Not only do Protestants presently constitute 13 percent of the world's population—about 800 million people—but since 1900 Protestantism has spread rapidly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America." Web site: Archived copy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090325032448/http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/bmoraski/Democratization/Woodberry04_JOD.pdf . March 25, 2009 . 2013-07-03.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/19990819112057/http://adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity Major Branches of Religions
  6. http://wciom.ru/index.php?id=268&uid=13365 VTSIOM
  7. http://fom.ru/obshchestvo/10953 Public Opinion Foundation
  8. There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only. In August 2012, ARENA determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority. However, later that year the Levada Center determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the Public Opinion Foundation determined that 65% of Russians are Christians. These findings are in line with Pew's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.6% of Russians are Christians, with VTSIOM's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with Ipsos MORI 's 2011 survey (69%).
  9. http://old.razumkov.org.ua/upload/Religiya_200516_A4.compressed.pdf РЕЛІГІЯ, ЦЕРКВА, СУСПІЛЬСТВО І ДЕРЖАВА: ДВА РОКИ ПІСЛЯ МАЙДАНУ (Religion, Church, Society and State: Two Years after Maidan)
  10. http://www.mfa.gov.by/upload/pdf/religion_eng.pdf Religion and denominations in the Republic of Belarus by the Commissioner on Religions and Nationalities of the Republic of Belarus from November 2011
  11. http://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/religious-belief-and-national-belonging-in-central-and-eastern-europe/ Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe: National and religious identities converge in a region once dominated by atheist regimes
  12. Web site: Field Listing :: Religions . The World Factbook . CIA . https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003300/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html . dead . June 13, 2007 . 22 May 2014 . none .
  13. Web site: Population by Religious Denomination, Statistical Regions and Districts as of 07/09/2021. National Statistical Institute. 2022. en.
  14. Web site: Преброяване 2021: Етнокултурна характеристика на населението. 2021 Census: Ethnocultural characteristics of the population. National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. https://web.archive.org/web/20221124195716/https://nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/pressreleases/Census2021_ethnos.pdf. 24 November 2022. live.
  15. [Religion in Albania#Religious demography]
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20101123103408/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148830.htm Lebanon – International Religious Freedom Report 2010
  17. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ The World Factbook
  18. İçduygu. Ahmet. Toktaş, Şule; Ali Soner, B.. 1 February 2008. The politics of population in a nation-building process: emigration of non-Muslims from Turkey. Ethnic and Racial Studies. 31. 2. 358–389. 10.1080/01419870701491937. 11729/308. 143541451.
  19. Schaller, Dominik J; Zimmerer, Jürgen (2008). "Late Ottoman genocides: the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and Young Turkish population and extermination policies—Introduction". Journal of Genocide Research. 10 (1): 7–14. doi:10.1080/14623520801950820. S2CID 71515470.
  20. Book: 2008. Chapter The refugees question in Greece (1821-1930) in "Θέματα Νεοελληνικής Ιστορίας", ΟΕΔΒ ("Topics from Modern Greek History"). 8th edition. Nikolaos Andriotis.
  21. 2001. 'Editors' Introduction: Why a Special Issue?: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East. Middle East Quarterly. 11 June 2013. Editors' Introduction. PDF. Quarterly. Middle East.
  22. Web site: Religions. https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003300/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html#tu. dead. June 13, 2007. 9 February 2013. Central Intelligence Agency.
  23. Web site: CENSI I POPULLSISË DHE BANESAVE NË SHQIPËRI 2023 . 2024-07-10.
  24. Web site: Armenian Census 2011. 25 October 2015. 7. hy.
  25. Web site: 2071.0 - Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census, 2012–2013 . 2015-07-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425232111/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2071.0Main%20Features902012%E2%80%932013 . 2016-04-25 . dead .
  26. Web site: Generations and Gender Survey, 2020 Belarus Wave 1. ggpsurvey.ined.fr. 2019-08-25. 2022-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20221016202502/https://ggpsurvey.ined.fr/webview/index.jsp?headers=http%3A%2F%2F193.49.36.147%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FGGS2020.W1.30_V4&v=2&previousmode=table&stubs=http%3A%2F%2F193.49.36.147%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FGGS2020.W1.30_V2061&weights=http%3A%2F%2F193.49.36.147%3A80%2Fobj%2FfVariable%2FGGS2020.W1.30_V5&V4slice=1&V2061slice=1&analysismode=table&study=http%3A%2F%2F193.49.36.147%3A80%2Fobj%2FfStudy%2FGGS2020.W1.30&language=en&mode=table&top=yes. dead.
  27. Web site: Population, total. United Nations. The World Bank. 26 January 2015.
  28. Web site: People and Society :: Bulgaria – Religions . The World Factbook . CIA . https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003300/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html . dead . June 13, 2007 . 26 January 2015.
  29. Web site: The Daily — 2011 National Household Survey: Immigration, place of birth, citizenship, ethnic origin, visible minorities, language and religion. 8 May 2013.
  30. Web site: Naslovna .
  31. Encyclopedia: Egypt Religions & Peoples . Encyclopedia. September 30, 2008. LookLex. https://web.archive.org/web/20110201062041/http://looklex.com/e.o/egypt.religions.htm . 2011-02-01 .
  32. Web site: PC0454: AT LEAST 15-YEAR-OLD PERSONS BY RELIGION, SEX, AGE GROUP, ETHNIC NATIONALITY AND COUNTY, 31 DECEMBER 2011. 31 December 2011. 9 January 2014. Statistics Estonia.
  33. Web site: PHC 2011: over a quarter of the population are affiliated with a particular religion. 29 April 2013. 9 January 2014. Statistics Estonia. 24 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171124002736/https://www.stat.ee/65352?parent_id=39113. dead.
  34. Web site: France currently home to 500-700,000 Orthodox Christians and growing.
  35. Web site: Επίσκεψη στην Ορθόδοξη Ιεραποστολή στα νησιά Φίτζι (ΦΩΤΟΡΕΠΟΡΤΑΖ). 29 September 2018.
  36. Web site: Population.
  37. Web site: Rund Drei Millionen Orthodoxe Christen Deutschland. 11 May 2022.
  38. Web site: Religious affiliation in central and eastern Europe. 10 May 2017.
  39. Web site: St. George's: Orthodox Community in Grenada to open New Mission Parish.
  40. http://www.db.caritas.glauco.it/caritastest/informiamoci/Riviste_e_pubblicazioni/Sussidi2007/Libri/dossierimmigrazione2007/materiale/panorama_multireligioso.pdf Caritas Dossier Immigrazione 2007
  41. Web site: Religions in Japan | PEW-GRF . Global Religious Futures Project.
  42. http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/data-tables/total-by-topic.aspx Table 28, 2013 Census Data – QuickStats About Culture and Identity – Tables
  43. https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2001/5598.htm United States Department of State
  44. Web site: Tieslietu ministrija iesniegtie religisko organizaciju parskati par darbibu 2011. gada . lv . 2012-07-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121126013327/http://www.tm.gov.lv/lv/labumi/TM.docx . 2012-11-26 .
  45. Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Web site: Ethnicity, mother tongue and religion . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141008005424/http://www.osp.stat.gov.lt/en/web/guest/pranesimai-spaudai?articleId=223122 . 2014-10-08 . . 2013-03-15.
  46. Web site: Нищета и надежда православного Мадагаскара.
  47. http://www.statistica.md/pageview.php?l=ro&idc=295&id=2234#idc=205& 2004 census
  48. Popis stanovništva, domacinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine . sh, en . Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Montenegro 2011 . Statistical office, Montenegro . 12 July 2011 . 30 March 2011 .
  49. http://www.stat.gov.mk/publikacii/knigaX.pdf
  50. Web site: First Romanian Orthodox church in Norway consecrated.
  51. Web site: Population and Housing Philippine Statistics Authority Republic of the Philippines . 2024-02-18 . psa.gov.ph.
  52. Richters . Katja . 2021-03-09 . A Rational Choice? Explaining the Growth of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Philippines . International Journal of Asian Christianity . 4 . 1 . 72–93 . 10.1163/25424246-04010005 . 2542-4246.
  53. Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Mały Rocznik Statystyczny Polski 2016, Warszawa 2017, tab. 18(80), s. 115
  54. http://www.recensamantromania.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sR_TAB_13.xls 2011 Census Religion Statistics (final results)
  55. There is no official census of religion in Russia, and estimates are based on surveys only. In August 2012, ARENA determined that about 46.8% of Russians are Christians (including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational), which is slightly less than an absolute 50%+ majority. However, later that year the Levada Center determined that 76% of Russians are Christians, and in June 2013 the Public Opinion Foundation determined that 65% of Russians are Christians. These findings are in line with Pew's 2010 survey, which determined that 73.6% of Russians are Christians, with VTSIOM's 2010 survey (~77% Christian), and with Ipsos MORI 's 2011 survey (69%).
  56. http://fom.ru/obshchestvo/10953 Public Opinion Foundation
  57. Web site: Russia Fast Facts - Population, Flag, Visa, Religion.
  58. Web site: How Putin Uses Russian Orthodoxy to Grow His Empire.
  59. Book: Etnokonfesionalni i jezički mozaik Srbije, 2011 . 2015 . Republički zavod za statistiku . Belgrade . 181 . 8 February 2020 . sr.
  60. Web site: Table 14 Population by religion . Statistical Office of the SR . 2011 . Jun 8, 2012 . November 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121114211304/http://portal.statistics.sk/files/table-14.pdf . dead .
  61. https://www.myndighetensst.se/download/18.619a13c216d889e2bad4b1fa/1572609036593/The%20Religious%20landscape_La%CC%8Aguppl.pdf
  62. Web site: Ständige Wohnbevölkerung ab 15 Jahren nach Religions- / Konfessionszugehörigkeit, 2011-2013 . Statistics . XLS . Swiss Federal Statistical Office . Neuchâtel . 2015 . bfs.admin.ch . de . 29 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150529155846/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/01/nip_detail.Document.193976.xls . 29 May 2015 .
  63. Web site: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Transnistria (unrecognised state): Overview . Refworld . 30 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016213958/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country%2C%2C%2CCOUNTRYPROF%2CRUS%2C%2C4954ce57c%2C0.html . 16 October 2012 .
  64. Web site: Rum Orthodox Christians. minorityrights.org. 5 February 2005. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150116083823/http://www.minorityrights.org/4412/turkey/rum-orthodox-christians.html. 16 January 2015.
  65. Web site: Religions in Turkmenistan PEW-GRF. 2020-06-06. www.globalreligiousfutures.org. 2020-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20200606234424/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/turkmenistan#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2016. dead.
  66. Web site: Pewforum: Christianity (2010) . 2014-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130805020311/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf . 2013-08-05 . dead .
  67. Book: Krindatch, Alexei. Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Churches. 2011. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Brookline, MA. 978-1-935317-23-4. 143. Orthodox Christian Churches in the United States: 2010. http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/AtlasAmericanOrthodoxChurchesSample.pdf.
  68. https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2924.htm United States Department of State
  69. Web site: Eastern Orthodoxy by Country 2024 . 2024-04-04 . worldpopulationreview.com.
  70. This is including Mount Athos
  71. Web site: CNEWA – Church of Greece . 2013-07-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090802192140/http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=23&IndexView=toc . 2009-08-02 . dead .
  72. Web site: Greece's many places of worship . 30 December 2021 . 6 January 2017 . Apostolos Lakasas . www.ekathimerini.com .
  73. Web site: Epifaniy: Orthodox Church of Ukraine counts nearly 7,000 parishes and is open to other communities. risu.org.ua.
  74. In the CPC, the number of parishes and commented on the seizure of temples, Ukrayinska Pravda (21 December 2018)

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