Religion in Scotland: Diverse, Secularizing, and Historically Presbyterian

Scotland's Religious Landscape

Scotland has no official state religion. The Church of Scotland (The Kirk) is the national church (Presbyterian) but is legally independent of the state.

2022 Census Highlights (Scotland)

• No Religion: 51.1% (up from 36.7% in 2011) – largest group.
• Church of Scotland: 20.4% (down from 32.4%).
• Roman Catholic: 13.3% (down from 15.9%).
• Other Christian: 5.1% (Episcopal, Baptist, Orthodox, etc.).
• Muslim: 2.2%.
• Hindu: 0.6%.
• Buddhist: 0.3%.
• Sikh: 0.2%.
• Jewish: 0.1%.
• Other Religions: 0.6%.

Key Institutions

• Church of Scotland: Presbyterian; governed by General Assembly; Moderator (1-yr term). Member: World Council of Churches.
• Scottish Episcopal Church: Anglican communion; ~30,000 members.
• Roman Catholic Church: Two archdioceses (St Andrews & Edinburgh, Glasgow); ~700,000 nominal.

Trends

Rapid secularization mirrors Western Europe. "No religion" majority since ~2016. Historic sectarianism (Catholic/Protestant) diminished but persists in some communities (e.g., Glasgow football). Strong legal protections for religious freedom.