Which Religion is Practiced in Belarus in 2025?

Religious Composition, Percentages, and Trends

Belarus, located in Eastern Europe between the European Union and Russia, has a deeply rooted yet complex religious identity. While the country is officially secular and guarantees freedom of belief in its constitution, religion continues to play a significant cultural, historical, and social role. In 2025, Belarus remains a multi-confessional society, where traditional Christianity dominates, secularism is widespread, and minority religions coexist under strong state regulation.

This in-depth guide explains which religions are practiced in Belarus in 2025, provides estimated percentages, and explores historical roots, regional differences, and modern trends, making it ideal for readers, researchers, and SEO-focused content publishers.

Overview of Religion in Belarus (2025)

Belarus does not declare any state religion, but in practice, Eastern Orthodox Christianity holds a privileged position. The government maintains formal cooperation agreements with certain “traditional” religions, especially the Belarusian Orthodox Church, which is closely aligned with the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate.

At the same time, a large portion of the population identifies as non-religious or only nominally religious, reflecting the lasting impact of Soviet-era atheism and modern secular lifestyles.

Key Characteristics of Religion in Belarus:

• No official state religion

• Orthodoxy recognized as culturally dominant

• High level of secularism

• Strict legal regulation of religious organizations

• Limited but present religious diversity

Religious Percentages in Belarus (2026)

Based on aggregated demographic data, sociological surveys, and institutional records, the estimated religious distribution in Belarus in 2025 is as follows:

Religion Breakdown in Belarus (2026)

• Eastern Orthodox Christianity: 48–50%

• Roman Catholicism: 7–9%

• Protestant Christianity (all denominations): 2–3%

• Islam: 1–2%

• Judaism: <1%

• Other religions (including Buddhism, Baháʼí Faith, Hindu movements): <1%

• Non-religious / Atheist / Unaffiliated: 38–42%

These figures reflect self-identification, not regular religious practice, which is significantly lower across all denominations.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Belarus

Share of Population: ~50%

Eastern Orthodoxy is the largest and most influential religion in Belarus. Most Orthodox believers belong to the Belarusian Orthodox Church, which operates under the Moscow Patriarchate.

Why Orthodoxy Dominates:

• Historical integration with Kyivan Rus and the Russian Empire

• Strong institutional support from the state

• Recognition as a “traditional religion”

• Deep cultural symbolism in national identity

Orthodox Christianity influences:

• National holidays

• Architecture and heritage sites

• Public ceremonies

• Moral and cultural discourse

However, despite its dominance, active church attendance is relatively low, indicating that many Belarusians identify as Orthodox culturally rather than spiritually.

Roman Catholicism in Belarus

Share of Population: ~8%

Roman Catholicism is the second-largest religious group in Belarus. Catholics are primarily concentrated in:

• Western Belarus

• Grodno region

• Areas near Poland and Lithuania

Historical Roots:

• Legacy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

• Ethnic Poles and Lithuanians

• Long-standing Catholic parishes

Catholic churches are active in:

• Education

• Charitable work

• Cultural preservation

Although Catholicism is officially recognized as a traditional religion, it operates under closer state supervision than the Orthodox Church.

Protestant Christianity

Share of Population: ~2–3%

Protestant communities in Belarus include:

• Baptists

• Pentecostals

• Lutherans

• Seventh-day Adventists

• Evangelical churches

These denominations grew rapidly after the collapse of the Soviet Union but now face tight legal restrictions, including mandatory re-registration and limits on public outreach.

Despite these challenges, Protestant churches remain active, especially among:

• Younger believers

• Urban populations

• Small community groups

Islam in Belarus

Share of Population: ~1–2%

Islam has a long but small presence in Belarus. Most Muslims belong to the Sunni tradition and are descended from the Lipka Tatars, a historic Muslim community that settled in the region centuries ago.

Key characteristics:

• Peaceful integration into Belarusian society

• Several registered mosques

• Cultural rather than political expression of faith

In recent years, immigration has slightly increased the Muslim population, but it remains a minority religion.

Judaism in Belarus

Share of Population: <1%

Belarus was once a major center of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Before World War II, Jewish communities made up a significant portion of the population. However:

• The Holocaust

• Soviet repression

• Emigration

have reduced the Jewish population to a small minority.

Today, Jewish life in Belarus is centered mainly in:

• Minsk

• Grodno

• Brest

Synagogues and cultural centers exist, but the community remains numerically small.

Other Religions and Beliefs

Combined Share: <1%

Small communities practice:

• Buddhism

• Baháʼí Faith

• Hindu-influenced spiritual movements

• New religious movements

These groups are legally permitted but often face administrative barriers to registration and public activity.

Non-Religious and Secular Population

Share of Population: ~40%

One of the most defining features of Belarus in 2025 is its large non-religious population.

Reasons for high secularism:

• Decades of Soviet atheism

• Low trust in institutions

• Cultural rather than spiritual religious identity

• Modern urban lifestyles

Many Belarusians:

• Identify with a religion but do not practice

• Celebrate religious holidays as cultural events

• Avoid formal religious affiliation altogether.

Religious Freedom and State Policy

Belarus officially guarantees freedom of religion, but in practice:

• All religious organizations must be registered

• Unregistered activity is illegal

• The state favors “traditional” religions

• Foreign religious influence is restricted

Recent laws require re-registration of all religious groups, increasing government oversight and limiting religious pluralism.

Religion and Society in Belarus (2026)

Religion in Belarus today functions more as:

• A cultural marker

• A historical identity

• A regulated social institution

rather than a dominant force in daily life.

Key Trends:

• Stable Orthodox majority

• Gradual decline in religious practice

• Persistent secularism

• Limited growth of minority religions

• Strong state control over religious expression

In 2026, Belarus remains a country where religion is present but restrained. Eastern Orthodox Christianity dominates culturally, Roman Catholicism holds regional importance, and smaller religious communities continue to exist under regulation. At the same time, nearly half of the population identifies as non-religious, making Belarus one of the more secular societies in Eastern Europe.

Understanding religion in Belarus requires looking beyond simple labels to see how history, politics, and culture shape belief in modern society.