Religion in France is diverse, with the largest religious group being Christianity. A very significant part of the population is not religious, and significant minorities profess Islam and other religions. Freedom of religion and freedom of thought are warranted by the legacy of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and by the principle of laïcité (or "freedom of conscience") enforced by the 1880s Jules Ferry laws and the 1905 law on the Separation of the Churches and the State. Catholicism was the major religion in the realm of the French monarchy for more than a millennium, and it also held the role of state religion; the monarchy had such close ties to the Roman papacy that France was called the "eldest daughter of the Church" (French: fille aînée de l'Église).
>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier
Religion in France in the context of Islam in France
Islam is the second-largest religion in France after Christianity. As of the most recent estimates, it is followed by approximately 10% of the population aged 18-59 in 2019-2020—according to data from INSEE.
The majority of Muslims in France belong to the Sunni denomination and are of foreign origins. Sizeable minorities of Shia and non-denominational Muslims also exist. The French overseas region of Mayotte has a majority Muslim population, with 97% of the population following Islam.