The Constitution of Andorra provides for freedom of religion; it also names the Roman Catholic Bishop of

Urgell Modern-day Urgell (), also known as ''Baix Urgell'' (''baix'' meaning "lower", by contrast with Alt Urgell "Higher Urgell"), is a ''comarca'' (county) in Catalonia, Spain, forming only a borderland portion of the region historically known as Ur ...

as joint head of state with the President of France, offering the Catholic Church privileges not available to other religious groups.US State Dept 2022 report
/ref>

Religious demography

The country has an area of and in 2021, it had a population of 81,588. Few official statistics are available on religion; estimates of the Catholic population range from 89.5% and 99.21%. The population consists largely of immigrants from Spain, Portugal, and France, with full citizens representing less than 36% of the total. The immigrants are also generally Catholic. It is estimated that, of the Catholic population, half are active church attendees. Other Christian groups include the New Apostolic Church; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons); the Anglican Church; the Reunification Church; and Jehovah's Witnesses. It is estimated that about 100 Jews and 2000 Muslims live in the country, as well as a small group of Hindus.

Status of religious freedom

The Catholic religious celebration on September 8 of the Verge de Meritxell (Virgin of Meritxell) is a national holiday. Non-Catholic faiths do not have legal status as religious groups. Groups wishing to build property or receive government funding must register with the government as a cultural organization. In spite of negotiations for some years between the Muslim community and the Government, no mosque has been built. Nevertheless, the country's Muslims have "prayer spaces" and there appear to be no restrictions on the number of these places of worship scattered throughout the country. Instruction in the tenets of the Catholic faith is available in public schools on an optional basis. In 2022, parliament banned the use of conspicuous religious symbols in public schools and approved a decree providing an online schooling option for students who choose not to attend in person due to this ban.

Societal abuses and discrimination

In 2022, the law provides for fines of up to 24,000 euros ($26,000) in cases of discrimination. In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom;Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
/ref> talks continue regarding creating a burial ground for Muslims and Jews.

References

* United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Andorra: International Religious Freedom Report 2007
''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable. Because those rights have expired, ...

.'' * United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Andorra: International Religious Freedom Report 2015
''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

.''
US State Dept 2022 report
''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the

.'' {{Europe topic, Freedom of religion in

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

Human rights in Andorra Religion in Andorra

Religious demography

Status of religious freedom

Societal abuses and discrimination

See also

References