Churchgoers are a minority in Helsinki
Parish pastor Marja Malvaranta serves the Maundy Thursday mass to her parishioners via webcast from the Espoo Cathedral in Espoo, Finland. Photo AFP, Vesa Moilanen
Northern Europe
For the first time in history, people who go to church are a minority in Helsinki. The congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church now include less than half of the residents of the Finnish capital.
The number of churchgoers in Helsinki has declined sharply since the start of the 21st century Seurakuntaleinen reports. In comparison: in 1970, 85.5% of the population belonged to a church. Around the year 2000, this percentage was around 75%. In November 2021, only 49.3% of the city's population belonged to a church. It is the first time that less than 50% of the Helsinkians have a church membership.
This number is less than the Church Research Center predicted. Earlier, the Center expected that about 66.6% of the population would still go to church by the end of 2021. The year before, 67.7% of the Fins belonged to a church.
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