Religion in Russia

March 18, 2015 · updated December 18, 2023

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Fast Facts on Russia
Area 6,601,670 sq mi
Population 142,320,790 2021
Religions (%) Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%
Christianity 101,900,000 2020
Unaffiliated 21,190,000 2020
Islam 15,940,000 2020
Indigenous/Folk Religions 300,000 2020
Judaism 200,000 2020
Buddhism 170,000 2020
Hinduism 60,000 2020
Other Religions 10,000 2020

Religion in Russia Fast Facts

  • Russian Orthodox 15-20%
  • Muslim 10-15%
  • Other Christian 2%

Note: Estimates are of practicing worshipers.

Summary of Religion in Russia

While religion in Russia today is becoming more multifaceted, the largest religion remains Orthodox Christianity. 95% of Orthodox churches in Russia belong to the Russian Orthodox Church (yet other Orthodox churches exist there as well, for example, the Armenian Orthodox Church).

Yet, statistically, the majority of Russians who belong to the Russian Orthodox Church don’t attend regularly.

Russia also contains a growing number of Muslims, Shi’a and Sunni and unaffiliated.

There are also small percentages of Christians who don’t belong to an Orthodox church as well as adherents of paganism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.

Approximately, 12% of Russians are atheists.

Sources

CIA Factbook