x

Record number of new members in the Church of Sweden

14-05-2022

Northern Europe

CNE.news

Confirmation in St. Mary's Church, Ystad, Sweden. Photo Wikipedia, Jonn Leffmann

During the first four months of 2022, 3,220 active entries took place in the Church of Sweden. It is the highest figure since the church began keeping statistics.

According to the preliminary statistics, the entry figures are the highest since 2004, Swedish newspaper Dagen writes. But while more people choose to become members of the church, the number of people who actively left the church is higher. During the first four months of the year, 12,512 people resigned from their membership.

However, this trend is downwards. During the same period in 2017, 23,503 people left the church. Since then, the numbers have steadily declined.

"It is great that the number of people who choose to become members of @svenskakyrkan is increasing!", writes Archbishop Antje Jackelén on Twitter. "In addition, more people feel that the Church of Sweden is relevant in society – an increase from 40 to 58 per cent," she adds.

The Church of Sweden has also presented confirmation statistics for 2021. The figures show that 19.7 per cent of all 15-year-olds were confirmed last year. In 2020, the corresponding figure was 19.9 per cent, while 22.3 of the 15-year-olds were confirmed in 2019. The Church of Sweden supposes that the pandemic has continued to affect the level.

The total number of confirmations in 2021 was 24,073.

Chain

Newsletter

Subscribe for an update, and receive a documentary and e-book for free.

Choose your subscriptions*

You may subscribe to multiple lists.