Countries with the highest number of churches per square KM (2024)

Reviewed by Soliu.

The countries with the highest number of churches per square KM are Vatican City, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Palau, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands.

According to some studies, a country’s number of churches per square kilometer is a significant indicator of that country’s religious environment and cultural makeup. 

This piece details the countries with the highest number of churches per square KM. It examines the reasons for this and what it means for communities and culture. 

We want to discover why the number of churches varies worldwide by examining the different religions, history, government policies, and social factors. 

We will also talk about the connection between the number of churches and religious freedom, as well as the problems and debates that come with having a lot of churches. 

Ultimately, we want to learn more about the different types of church density worldwide. There are always a lot of churches in every Christian country. These are the places where Christians in this country go to pray. 

In the world, there are more churches in some places than in others. But in some of these countries with many churches, there is more than one church in the same place. 

Countries with the highest number of churches

Here’s a list of the countries with the highest number of churches per square KM:

1. Vatican City

1155  Churches per sq km; Land Area  0.44 (sq km). The Catholic Church has experienced significant growth in Vatican City, with the faithful increasing by over 20% in the past decade. 

2.  San Marino

190  Churches per sq km; Land Area 61.2 (sq km).  The Catholic Church is the dominant religion in San Marino, and churchgoers have steadily increased in recent years. 

3.  Andorra

75 Churches per sq km; Land Area 468(sq km) . The Catholic Church is the official religion of Andorra, and there is a strong tradition of church attendance in the country. 

 4.  Liechtenstein

63 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 160 (sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Liechtenstein, and there has been a slight increase in churchgoers in recent years. 

 5  Malta

57 Churches per sq km; Land Area 316 (sq km). The Catholic Church is the official religion of Malta, and there is a strong tradition of church attendance in the country. 

 6. Kiribati

53 Churches per sq km; Land Area  811 (sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Kiribati, and there has been a significant increase in churchgoers in recent years.

7. Tuvalu

47 Churches per sq km; Land Area 26 sq km. The Congregational Christian Church is the largest religious denomination in Tuvalu, and the country has a strong tradition of church attendance. 

8. Palau

40 Churches per sq km; Land Area 193 (sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Palau, and churchgoers have steadily increased in recent years. 

9. Nauru

  

39 Churches per sq km. Land Area  21(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Nauru, and the country has a strong tradition of church attendance. 

10. Marshall Islands

34 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 18 (sq km).  Christianity is the dominant religion in the Marshall Islands, and the number of churchgoers has significantly increased in recent years. 

11. Samoa

32 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  1912(sq km).  Christianity is the dominant religion in Samoa, and churchgoers have steadily increased in recent years.

12. Tonga

31 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  747(sq km).  Christianity is the dominant religion in Tonga, and the country has a strong tradition of church attendance.

13. Micronesia

29 Churches per sq km; Land Area  690(sq km).  Christianity is the dominant religion in Micronesia, and churchgoers have significantly increased in recent years.

14.  Cook Islands

28 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  236  (sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in the Cook Islands, and churchgoers have steadily increased in recent years. 

15.  Niue

27 Churches per sq km  Land Area 260 (sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Niue, and the country has a strong tradition of church attendance.

16.  Montenegro

26 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  13812 (sq km).  The Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Montenegro, and there has been a slight increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years. 

17.  Greece

25 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 131959(sq km) .  The Orthodox Church is the official religion of Greece, and there is a strong tradition of church attendance in the country. 

18.  Romania

24 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  238391(sq km).  The Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Romania, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

19.  Moldova

23 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  33843(sq km). The Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Moldova, and there has been a significant increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years. 

20. Belarus

22 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 207600 (sq km).  The Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Belarus, and there has been a slight increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years. 

21. Portugal

21 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  92212(sq km).  The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Portugal, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years. 

22. Italy

20 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  301336(sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Italy, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

23. Belgium

19 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  30528(sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Belgium, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

24. Ukraine

18 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  603550(sq km). The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, and there has been a significant increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

25. Spain

17  Churches per sq km;  Land Area  505992 (sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Spain, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

26. Poland

16 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  312679 (sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Poland, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

27. Czech Republic

15 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  78867(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in the Czech Republic, and there has been a slight decrease in churchgoers in recent years.

28. Hungary

14 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  93030 (sq km). The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Hungary, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

29. Austria

13 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  83855(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Austria, and there has been a slight increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

30. Bulgaria

12 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 110994(sq km). The Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Bulgaria, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

31. Serbia

11 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 88361(sq km). The Serbian Orthodox Church is the largest religious denomination in Serbia, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

32. Finland

10 Churches per sq km; Land Area 33800(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Finland, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

33. Slovakia

9 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 49035(sq km). The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in Slovakia, and there has been a slight increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

34. Denmark

8 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  43094(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Denmark, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

35. Netherlands

7 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 42439(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in the Netherlands, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

36. Germany

6 Churches per sq km;  Land Area  35578(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Germany, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

37. France

5 Churches per sq km; Land Area 357022(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in France, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

38. Switzerland

4 Churches per sq km;  Land Area 43997(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Switzerland, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

39. Norway

3 Churches per sq km  Land Area 42833(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Norway, and there has been a steady increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

40. Sweden

2 Churches per sq km; Land Area 450295(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Sweden, and there has been a slight decrease in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

41. Iceland

1 Church per sq km; Land Area 450295(sq km). Christianity is the dominant religion in Iceland, and there has been a slight increase in the number of churchgoers in recent years.

FAQs

Why is the density of churches per square kilometer critical?

You can learn about a country’s religious environment and cultural fabric by looking at how many buildings are in each square kilometer. 

It helps us determine how common and noticeable religious buildings are in a particular area. This shows how religion affects culture, society, and even urban planning.

What factors contribute to high church density in certain countries?

There are a lot of churches in a small area because of historical and cultural factors, religious practices, and government policies. 

There are often a lot of churches in a country because of its deeply held practices and views, as well as how much the government supports religious groups.

How does high church density impact society and culture?

Many churches in a small area can change society and culture in many ways. It can help unite people by giving them a feeling of community and their shared ideals. 

It can also help the economy by attracting religious tourists. But it could also bring up problems with tolerance, urban planning, and the possibility of religious radicalism, which could cause arguments and disagreements in society.

Is there a correlation between church density and religious freedom?

There is a complicated link between the number of churches and religious freedom. 

Many churches may mean that there are many religious people, but that does not mean that everyone is free to practice their religion. 

Other vital things decide the level of religious freedom in a country, such as religious tolerance, variety, and the presence of other religious organizations.

Conclusion

The world has diverse cultures, beliefs, and religions, reflected in the number of churches per square kilometer in different countries. 

The countries with highest number of churches per square KM generally have a solid religious tradition or where there has been a recent influx of immigrants from religious communities. 

While the numbers may vary depending on the definition of a “church” and the data source, the trend is clear. There is a strong correlation between religious affiliation and the presence of churches.