Religion in Latvia
Encyclopedia
The main religion traditionally practised in Latvia is Christianity, with no single church predominating: most Latvian Christians follow Latvian Orthodoxy, Lutheranism or Roman Catholicism. In addition, a large proportion of the country claim to practise no religion.
Latvia was one of the last regions in Europe to be Christianised. The inhabitants of the region that is now Latvia once practised Baltic religion
, but this practice diminished as Latvia fell under influence from the Russian Orthodox Church after the 11th century, from the Roman Catholic Church after the Northern Crusades
in the 12th century (and later Lithuanian and Polish domination), from Lutheranism from northern Germany and Scandinavia, and from official atheism under the Soviet Union. The general European trend of secularisation has been felt in Latvia too, and a large percentage of Latvians claim to follow no religion.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
has 450,000 members. The Latvian Orthodox Church
is semi-autonomous and has 350,000 members. Roman Catholicism in Latvia
has 430,000 members. Historically, the west and central parts of the country have been predominantly Protestant, while the east – particularly the Latgale
region – has been predominantly Catholic. Orthodoxy predominates among the Latvian Russian population.
, the population of Jews in Latvia was 667; there were several hundred Hindus in Latvia
; and there were several hundred to a few thousand Muslims in Latvia. A modern neopagan movement is Dievturība
.
, the Justice Ministry had registered 1098 congregations. This total included: Lutheran (307), Roman Catholic (252), Orthodox (117), Baptist (90), Old Believer Orthodox (67), Seventh-day Adventist (47), Jehovah's Witnesses (12), Methodist (12), Jewish (13), Buddhist (5), Muslim (5), Hare Krishna (10), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) (3), and more than 100 other congregations. In 2003, the Government also registered the Christian Scientists as a recognized religious congregation.
In 2002, churches in Latvia provided the following estimates of church membership to the Justice Ministry:
According to the same source, the Latvian Justice Ministry, "there are significant numbers of atheists, perhaps a majority of the population".
According to the CIA World Factbook, , the religion breakdown of Latvia was as follows: Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7%.
Latvia was one of the last regions in Europe to be Christianised. The inhabitants of the region that is now Latvia once practised Baltic religion
Baltic mythology
Baltic mythology generally covers the pre-Christian mythology of the Latvians, Lithuanians and Old Prussians, which are thought to have at least some common roots....
, but this practice diminished as Latvia fell under influence from the Russian Orthodox Church after the 11th century, from the Roman Catholic Church after the Northern Crusades
Northern Crusades
The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
in the 12th century (and later Lithuanian and Polish domination), from Lutheranism from northern Germany and Scandinavia, and from official atheism under the Soviet Union. The general European trend of secularisation has been felt in Latvia too, and a large percentage of Latvians claim to follow no religion.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a Lutheran Protestant church in Latvia. Latvia's Lutheran heritage dates back to the Reformation. Both the Nazi and communist regimes persecuted the church harshly before religious freedom returned to Latvia in 1988.The Church is governed by a...
has 450,000 members. The Latvian Orthodox Church
Latvian Orthodox Church
The Latvian Orthodox Church is a self-governing Eastern Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow. The primate of the church carries the title of Metropolitan of Riga and all Latvia...
is semi-autonomous and has 350,000 members. Roman Catholicism in Latvia
Roman Catholicism in Latvia
The Roman Catholic Church of Latvia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.There are around 430,235 Catholics — around 17% of the total population.-History:...
has 430,000 members. Historically, the west and central parts of the country have been predominantly Protestant, while the east – particularly the Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
region – has been predominantly Catholic. Orthodoxy predominates among the Latvian Russian population.
, the population of Jews in Latvia was 667; there were several hundred Hindus in Latvia
Hinduism in Latvia
Hinduism in Latvia is a minor religion, spread mainly by ISKCON and Brahma Kumaris.ISKCON started in Latvia in the early eighties. As of April 2006, 11 congregations of Hare Krishna ISKCON are registered in Latvia. In 2005, Hare Krishna gave its membership figures as 127 to the Justice Ministry...
; and there were several hundred to a few thousand Muslims in Latvia. A modern neopagan movement is Dievturība
Dievturiba
Dievturība is a Neopagan religious movement, which claims to be a modern revival of the folk religion of the Latvians before Christianization in the 13th century. Adherents call themselves Dievtuŗi , literally "Dievs keepers", "people who live in harmony with Dievs".The Dievtuŗi movement was...
.
, the Justice Ministry had registered 1098 congregations. This total included: Lutheran (307), Roman Catholic (252), Orthodox (117), Baptist (90), Old Believer Orthodox (67), Seventh-day Adventist (47), Jehovah's Witnesses (12), Methodist (12), Jewish (13), Buddhist (5), Muslim (5), Hare Krishna (10), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) (3), and more than 100 other congregations. In 2003, the Government also registered the Christian Scientists as a recognized religious congregation.
In 2002, churches in Latvia provided the following estimates of church membership to the Justice Ministry:
| Adherents | Number |
|---|---|
| Lutherans | 400,000 |
| Roman Catholics | 500,000 |
| Orthodox | 300,000 |
| Baptists | 6,000 |
| Old Believer Orthodox | 70,000 |
| Seventh-day Adventists | 4,000 |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 2,000 |
| Methodists | 500 |
| Jews | 6,000 |
| Buddhists | 100 |
| Muslims | 300 |
| Hare Krishnas | 500 |
| Mormons | 2,000 |
According to the same source, the Latvian Justice Ministry, "there are significant numbers of atheists, perhaps a majority of the population".
According to the CIA World Factbook, , the religion breakdown of Latvia was as follows: Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7%.