View source for Religion:State religion

{{Short description|Religion or creed endorsed by the state}}
[[File:State Religions.svg|thumb|upright=1.6|Confessional states{{efn|Bhutan,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.academia.edu/4109874|title = The Inscrutable Guardian of Thunder and Silence: the Dragon (Druk) in Himalayan Symbology}}</ref> Mauritania,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mauritania/|title=Mauritania|work=CIA World Factbook|date=22 November 2021}}</ref> Western Sahara (via Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book|last=Shelley|first=Toby|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXFo3b-07NgC|title=Endgame in the Western Sahara: What Future for Africa's Last Colony|date= 2004|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-341-3|language=en|page=174}}</ref> and Morocco,<ref name=morocco /> which divide control), Morocco,<ref name=morocco>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/morocco/|title=Morocco|work=CIA World Factbook|date=23 November 2021}}</ref> Tunisia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tunisia/|title=Tunisia|work=CIA World Factbook|date=24 November 2021}}</ref> Egypt,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-02-09|title=The 2012 Constitution of Egypt|translator=Nivien Saleh|url=https://niviensaleh.info/constitution-egypt-2012-translation/|access-date=2023-01-02|website=Nivien Saleh|language=en-US|at=Article 2}}</ref> {{wipe|England}},<ref>[https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Kingdom_2013.pdf?lang=en United Kingdom's Constitution of 1215 with Amandments through 2013]</ref> Jordan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jordan/|title=Jordan|work=CIA World Factbook|date=24 November 2021}}</ref> Iraq,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iraq/|title=Iraq|work=CIA World Factbook|date=22 November 2021}}</ref> {{wipe|Pakistan}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/pakistan/|title=Pakistan|work=CIA World Factbook|date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Bangladesh,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bermuda/|title=Bangladesh|work=CIA World Factbook|date=16 November 2021}}</ref> United Arab Emirates,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-arab-emirates/|title=United Arab Emirates|work=CIA World Factbook|date=23 November 2021}}</ref> Oman,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/oman/|title=Oman|work=CIA World Factbook|date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Yemen,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/yemen/|title=Yemen|work=CIA World Factbook|date=24 November 2021}}</ref> Maldives,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/maldives/|title=Maldives|work=CIA World Factbook|date=23 November 2021}}</ref> Iran,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iranian Constitution|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.servat.unibe.ch|language=en|at=Article 12|quote=The official religion of Iran is Islam and the Twelver Ja'fari school, ...}}</ref> Algeria,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/|title=Algeria|work=CIA World Factbook|date=18 November 2021}}</ref> Saudi Arabia,<ref>[http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/laws/The_Basic_Law_Of_Governance.aspx The Basic Law of Governance] (Chapter one, Article one), [http://www.saudiembassy.net saudiembassy.net], "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic State. Its religion is Islam. Its constitution is Almighty God's Book, The Holy Qur'an, and the Sunna (Traditions) of the Prophet (PBUH). Arabic is the language of the Kingdom. The City of Riyadh is the capital."</ref> Sri Lanka,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sri-lanka/|title=Sri Lanka|work=CIA World Factbook|date=3 October 2022}}</ref> Afghanistan,<ref>[http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html The Constitution of Afghanistan] (Chapter one, Article two), [http://www.afghan-web.com afghan-web.com]</ref> Somalia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/somalia/|title=Somalia|work=CIA World Factbook|date=19 November 2021}}</ref> Malaysia,<ref>[http://www.agc.gov.my/images/Personalisation/Buss/pdf/Federal%20Consti%20(BI%20text).pdf Federal Constitution], [http://www.agc.gov.my agc.gov.my]</ref> Brunei,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Ibp Usa|author2=International Business Publications, USA|title=Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'Izzaddin Waddaulah Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9q0_LcWREVMC|year=2007|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=978-1-4330-0444-5|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9q0_LcWREVMC&pg=PA133 133]}}</ref> Greece,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greece/|title=Greece|work=CIA World Factbook|date=29 November 2021}}</ref> {{wipe|Denmark}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/denmark/|title=Denmark|work=CIA World Factbook|date=30 November 2021}}</ref> Costa Rica,<ref>[http://www.costaricalaw.com/legalnet/constitutional_law/engtit6.html Title VI, Article 75] of [http://www.costaricalaw.com/legalnet/constitutional_law/constitenglish.html The Constitution of Costa Rica], [http://www.costaricalaw.com costaricalaw.com].</ref> Zambia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Zambia_2009.pdf?lang=en|title=Zambia's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2009|work=CIA World Factbook}}</ref> See also [[:File:State Religions.svg#Notes|here]].}}
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{{legend|#1600FF|[[Religion:Christianity|Christianity]] (unspecified)}}
{{legend|#04E3F1|[[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]]}}
{{legend|#0774F1|[[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Church]]}}
{{legend|#062A87|[[Religion:Protestantism|Protestantism]]}}
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{{legend|#158706|[[Religion:Islam|Islam]] (unspecified)}}
{{legend|#0F5D05|Sunni Islam}}
{{legend|#2FEB16|Shi'a Islam}}
{{legend|#EBCF16|[[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]]}}
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]]
A '''state religion''' (also called '''official religion''') is a [[Religion:Religion|religion]] or [[Religion:Creed|creed]] officially endorsed by a [[Earth:Sovereign state|sovereign state]]. A state with an official religion (also known as [[Religion:Confessional state|confessional state]]), while not a [[Philosophy:Secular state|secular state]], is not necessarily a [[Social:Theocracy|theocracy]]. State religions are official or government-sanctioned establishments of a religion, but the state does not need to be under the control of the [[Social:Clergy|clergy]] (as in a theocracy), nor is the state-sanctioned religion necessarily under the control of the state.

Official religions have been known throughout [[History:Human history|human history]] in almost all types of cultures, reaching into the [[History:Ancient Near East|Ancient Near East]] and [[History:Prehistory|prehistory]]. The relation of religious cult and the state was discussed by the [[History:Ancient Rome|ancient Latin]] scholar Marcus Terentius Varro, under the term of ''theologia civilis'' ({{Literal translation|civic theology}}). The first state-sponsored [[Religion:Church (congregation)|Christian church]] was the Armenian Apostolic Church, established in 301 CE.<ref>''The Journal of Ecclesiastical History''. p. 268 by Cambridge University Press, Gale Group, C.W. Dugmore</ref> In [[Religion:Christianity|Christianity]], as the term ''church'' is typically applied to a place of worship for [[Religion:Christians|Christians]] or organizations incorporating such ones, the term ''state church'' is associated with Christianity as sanctioned by the government, historically the state church of the Roman Empire in the last centuries of the Empire's existence, and is sometimes used to denote a specific modern national branch of Christianity. Closely related to state churches are ecclesiae, which are similar but carry a more minor connotation.

In the [[Place:Middle East|Middle East]], the majority of states with a predominantly [[Religion:Muslims|Muslim]] population have [[Religion:Islam|Islam]] as their official religion, though the degree of religious restrictions on citizens' everyday lives varies by country. Rulers of Saudi Arabia use both secular and religious power, while [[Religion:Iran|Iran]]'s secular presidents are supposed to follow the decisions of religious authorities since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]], which also has Muslim-majority population, became a secular country after Atatürk's Reforms, although unlike the Russian Revolution of the same time period, it did not result in the adoption of [[Philosophy:State atheism|state atheism]].

The degree to which an official national religion is imposed upon citizens by the state in contemporary society varies considerably; from high as in Saudi Arabia and Iran, to none at all as in Greenland, Denmark, England, Iceland, and Greece.

==Types==
The degree and nature of state backing for denomination or creed designated as a state religion can vary. It can range from mere endorsement (with or without financial support) with freedom for other faiths to practice, to prohibiting any competing religious body from operating and to persecuting the followers of other sects.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shiffrin |first1=Steven H. |title=The Religious Left and Church-State Relations |date=26 August 2012 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-3383-2 |language=en |pages=160–161}}</ref> In Europe, competition between [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Religion:Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations for state sponsorship in the 16th century evolved the principle ''[[Religion:Cuius regio, eius religio|Cuius regio, eius religio]]'' (states follow the religion of the ruler) embodied in the text of the treaty that marked the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. In {{wipe|England}}, [[Biography:Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] broke with Rome in 1534, being declared the Supreme Head of the Church of England,{{efn|The headship was administrative and jurisdictional but did not include the ''potestas ordinis'' (the right to preach, ordain, administer the sacraments and rites of the Church which were reserved to the clergy).<ref>Bray, Gerald. ''Documents of the English Reformation'' James Clarke & Cº (1994), p. 114</ref>}} the official religion of England continued to be "Catholicism without the Pope" until after his death in 1547.<ref>Neill, Stephen. ''Anglicanism'' Penguin (1960), p. 61</ref>

In some cases, an administrative region may sponsor and fund a set of religious denominations; such is the case in Alsace-Moselle in {{wipe|France}} under its local law, following the pre-1905 French concordatory legal system and patterns in {{wipe|Germany}}.<ref>The concerned religious communities are the dioceses of Metz and of Strasbourg, the Lutheran EPCAAL and the Reformed EPRAL and the three Israelite consistories in Colmar, Metz and Strasbourg.</ref>

===State churches===
[[File:Elizabeth II national mourning period - 04.jpg|thumb|upright|Westminster Abbey is responsible directly to the British monarch. The Church of England is the established church in England.]]
A state church (or "established church") is a state religion established by a state for use exclusively by that state. In the case of a ''state church'', the state has absolute control over the church, but in the case of a ''state religion'', the church is ruled by an exterior body; for example, in the case of Catholicism, the [[Organization:Holy See|Vatican]] has control over the church. As of 2024, there are only five state churches left.<ref>{{cite web |author=((The Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica ))|title=Established church |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/established-church |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=5 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

===Disestablishment===
<!--This section is linked from Liberal Party (UK)-->
{{Further|Philosophy:Secular state}}
Disestablishment is the process of repealing a church's status as an organ of the state. In a state where an established church is in place, opposition to such a move may be described as [[Social:Antidisestablishmentarianism|antidisestablishmentarianism]]. This word is, however, most usually associated with the debate on the position of the Anglican churches in the [[Place:British Isles|British Isles]]: the Church of Ireland (disestablished in [[Religion:Irish Church Act 1869|1871]]), the Church of England in Wales (disestablished in 1920), and the Church of England itself (which remains established in England).{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

==Current states with a state religion==

===Buddhism===
Governments where [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]], either a specific form of it, or Buddhism as a whole, has been established as an official religion:
* {{flagicon|Bhutan}} Bhutan: The Constitution defines Buddhism as the "spiritual heritage of Bhutan". The Constitution of Bhutan is based on [[Philosophy:Buddhist philosophy|Buddhist philosophy]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-07-15|title=Background|url=http://www.constitution.bt/html/sources/background.htm|access-date=2021-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715193437/http://www.constitution.bt/html/sources/background.htm|archive-date=15 July 2010}}</ref> It also mandates that the Druk Gyalpo (King) should appoint the Je Khenpo and Dratshang Lhentshog (The Commission for Monastic Affairs).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.constitution.bt/draft_constitution_3rd_en.pdf |title=Draft of Tsa Thrim Chhenmo |date=1 August 2007 |publisher=constitution.bt |access-date=2007-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127125443/http://www.constitution.bt/draft_constitution_3rd_en.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2007}}

:Article 3, Spiritual Heritage
:#Buddhism is the spiritual heritage of Bhutan, which promotes the principles and values of peace, non-violence, compassion and tolerance.
:#The ''Druk Gyalpo'' is the protector of all religions in Bhutan.
:#It shall be the responsibility of religious institutions and personalities to promote the spiritual heritage of the country while also ensuring that religion remains separate from politics in Bhutan. Religious institutions and personalities shall remain above politics.
:#The ''Druk Gyalpo'' shall, on the recommendation of the Five ''Lopon''s, appoint a learned and respected monk ordained in accordance with the ''Druk-lu'', blessed with the nine qualities of a spiritual master and accomplished in ''ked-dzog'', as the ''Je Khenpo''.
:#His Holiness the ''Je Khenpo'' shall, on the recommendation of the ''Dratshang Lhentshog'', appoint monks blessed with the nine qualities of a spiritual master and accomplished in ''ked-dzog'' as the Five ''Lopon''s.
:#The members of the ''Dratshang Lhentshog'' shall comprise:<br />{{pad|2em}}(a) The ''Je Khenpo'' as Chairman;<br />{{pad|2em}}(b) The Five ''Lopon''s of the ''Zhung Dratshang''; and<br />{{pad|2em}}(c) The Secretary of the ''Dratshang Lhentshog'' who is a civil servant.
:#The ''Zhung Dratshang'' and ''Rabdeys'' shall continue to receive adequate funds and other facilities from the State.{{cite web|title=Bhutan's Constitution of 2008|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org/|access-date=29 October 2017}}
</ref>
* {{flagicon|Cambodia}} Cambodia: The Constitution declared Buddhism as the official religion of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cambodia.org/facts/?government=The+Constitution+of+Cambodia |title=Constitution of Cambodia |publisher=cambodia.org |access-date=2011-04-13 }} (Article 43).</ref> About 98% of Cambodia's population is Buddhist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cambodia/|title=East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Cambodia – The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|website=cia.gov|date=24 November 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Myanmar}} Myanmar: Section 361 of the Constitution states that "The Union recognizes special position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the Union."<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008) |url=https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/download/file/fid/137 |website=Constitutional Tribunal of the Union |access-date=}}</ref> The 1961 State Religion Promotion and Support Act requires : to teach Buddhist lessons in schools, to give priority to Buddhist monasteries in founding of primary schools, to make Uposatha days holidays during [[Philosophy:Vassa|Vassa]] months, to broadcast Buddhist sermons by State media on Uposatha days, and other promotion and supports for Buddhism as State Religion.<ref>{{cite web |title=၁၉၆၁ ခုနှစ်၊ နိုင်ငံတော်ဘာသာသာသနာချီးမြှောက်ထောက်ပံ့ရေးအက်ဥပဒေ|trans-title=1961 year, State Religion Promotion and Support Act|url=https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/law/764|website=Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, Law Library|quote=}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka: The constitution of Sri Lanka states under Chapter II, Article 9, "The Republic of Sri Lanka declares Buddhism as the state religion and accordingly it shall be the duty of the Head of State and Head of Government to protect and foster the [[Philosophy:Śāsana|Buddha Sasana]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sri-lanka/|title=Sri Lanka}}</ref>

In some countries, Buddhism is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status:
* {{flagicon|Thailand}} Thailand: Article 67 of the Thai constitution: "The State should support and protect Buddhism". In supporting and protecting Buddhism, the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism, and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms.<ref>Article 67:<br />"The State should support and protect Buddhism.
In supporting and protecting Buddhism, [...] the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism [...], and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms."{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-05/CONSTITUTION%2BOF%2BTHE%2BKINGDOM%2BOF%2BTHAILAND%2B%28B.E.%2B2560%2B%282017%29%29.pdf|website=constitutionnet.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Laos}} Laos: According to the Lao Constitution, Buddhism is given special privilege in the country. The state respects and protects all the lawful activities of Buddhism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lao People's Democratic Republic's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2003|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Laos_2003.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017|quote=Article 9: The State respects and protects all lawful activities of Buddhists and of followers of other religions, [and] mobilises and encourages Buddhist monks and novices as well as the priests of other religions to participate in activities that are beneficial to the country and people.}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kalmykia}} Kalmykia ({{wipe|Russia}}): The local Government supports Buddhism and also encourages Buddhist teachings and traditions. It also builds various Buddhist temples and sites. Various efforts are taken by the Government for the revival of Buddhism in the republic.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sinclair|first=Tara|date=2008|title=Tibetan Reform and the Kalmyk Revival of Buddhism|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23615096|journal=Inner Asia|volume=10|issue=2|pages=241–259|doi=10.1163/000000008793066713|jstor=23615096|issn=1464-8172}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Buddhism in Russia: challenges and choices in the post-Soviet period|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273961382|access-date=2021-02-03|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kalmykia: few complaints over Kalmykia's state support for Buddhism|url=https://english.religion.info/2003/04/15/kalmykia-few-complaints-over-kalmykias-state-support-for-buddhism/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=english.religion.info}}</ref>

===Christianity===
The following states recognize some form of [[Religion:Christianity|Christianity]] as their state or official religion or recognize a special status for it (by denomination):

====Non-denominational Christianity====
* {{flag|Samoa}}: In June 2017, Parliament voted to amend the wording of Article{{nbsp}}1 of the constitution, thereby making Christianity the state religion. Part 1, Section (1)(3) reads "Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." The status of the religion had previously only been mentioned in the preamble, which Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi considered legally inadequate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wyeth|first1=Grant|title=Samoa Officially Becomes a Christian State|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/|work=The Diplomat|date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu|first1=Joyetter|title=Constitutional Amendment Passes; Samoa Officially Becomes 'Christian State'|url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/06/08/constitutional-amendment-passes-samoa-officially-becomes-christian-state|publisher=Pacific Islands Report|date=8 June 2017|access-date=16 June 2017|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111223748/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/06/08/constitutional-amendment-passes-samoa-officially-becomes-christian-state|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Zambia}}: The preamble to the Zambian Constitution of 1991 declares Zambia to be "a Christian nation", while also guaranteeing freedom of religion.<ref>[https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/26620/90492/F735047973/ZMB26620.pdf Constitution of Zambia]. Retrieved 19 October 2016.</ref>

====Catholicism====
Jurisdictions where [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholicism]] has been established as a state or official religion:
* {{Flag|Costa Rica}}: Article 75 of the Constitution of Costa Rica confirms that "The Catholic and Apostolic Religion is the religion of the State, which contributes to its maintenance, without preventing the free exercise in the Republic of other forms of worship that are not opposed to universal morality or good customs."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.costaricalaw.com/Constitutional-Law/costa-rica-constitution-in-english.html|title=Costa Rica Constitution in English – Constitutional Law – Costa Rica Legal Topics|work=costaricalaw.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906224713/http://costaricalaw.com/Constitutional-Law/costa-rica-constitution-in-english.html|archive-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Holy See}}: It is an [[Social:Elective monarchy|elective]], [[Social:Theocracy|theocratic]] (or [[Earth:Sacerdotal state|sacerdotal]]), [[Social:Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchy]] ruled by the [[Religion:Pope|Pope]], who is also the [[Religion:Vicar of Christ|Vicar of Christ]].<ref name="pages">{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-pages.com/vatican/vatican_city.asp |title=Vatican City |publisher=Catholic-Pages.com |access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref> The highest state functionaries are all [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic]] clergy of various national origins. It is the sovereign territory of the [[Organization:Holy See|Holy See]] ({{lang-la|Sancta Sedes}}) and the location of the Pope's official residence, referred to as the Apostolic Palace.
* {{Flag|Liechtenstein}}: The Constitution of Liechtenstein describes the Catholic Church as the state religion and enjoying "the full protection of the State". The constitution does however ensure that people of other faiths "shall be entitled to practice their creeds and to hold religious services to the extent consistent with morality and public order".<ref name="LiechtensteinConstitution">{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326162534/http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/pdf-fl-staat-verfassung-sept2003.pdf |date=26 March 2009 |title=Constitution Religion }} (archived from [http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/pdf-fl-staat-verfassung-sept2003.pdf the original] on 2009-03-26).</ref>
* {{Flag|Malta}}: Article 2 of the Constitution of Malta declares that "the religion of Malta is the Catholic and Apostolic Religion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mjha.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8566|title=Constitution of Malta (Article 2)|publisher=mjha.gov.mt}} </ref>
* {{Flag|Monaco}}: Article 9 of the Constitution of Monaco describes the "Catholic, and [[Religion:Apostolic succession|apostolic]] religion" as the religion of the state.<ref name="MonacoReligion">{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927091747/http://www.gouv.mc/devwww/wwwnew.nsf/1909$/036c62fe5f92f2efc1256f5b0054fa42gb?OpenDocument&3Gb |date=27 September 2011 |title=Constitution de la Principaute}} (French): Art. 9., Principaute De Monaco: Ministère d'Etat (archived from [http://www.gouv.mc/devwww/wwwnew.nsf/1909$/036c62fe5f92f2efc1256f5b0054fa42gb?OpenDocument&3Gb the original] on 2011-09-27).</ref>

Jurisdictions that give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions to Roman Catholicism without establishing it as the State religion:
* {{flag|Andorra}}<ref>{{cite book|first1=Jeroen|last1= Temperman|title=State–Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance|publisher=Brill|year=2010|isbn=978-9004181496|quote=... guarantees the Roman Catholic Church free and public exercise of its activities and the preservation of the relations of special co-operation with the state in accordance with the Andorran tradition. The Constitution recognizes the full legal capacity of the bodies of the Roman Catholic Church which have legal status in accordance with their own rules.}}</ref>
* {{flag|Argentina}}: Article 2 of the Constitution of Argentina explicitly states that the government supports the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith, but the constitution does not establish a state religion.<ref>
* {{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Argentina_1994.pdf?lang=en|title=Argentina's Constitution of 1853, Reinstated in 1983, with Amendments through 1994|work=constituteproject.org}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.argentina.gob.ar/pais/56-religion.php|title=Argentina – Religión|work=argentina.gob.ar|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008102111/http://www.argentina.gob.ar/pais/56-religion.php|archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> Before its 1994 amendment, the Constitution stated that the President of the Republic must be a Roman Catholic.
* {{flag|East Timor}}: While the Constitution of East Timor enshrines the principles of freedom of religion and [[Religion:Separation of church and state|separation of church and state]] in Section 45 Comma 1, it also acknowledges "the participation of the Catholic Church in the process of national liberation" in its preamble (although this has no legal value).<ref name="constitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste|url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Constitution_RDTL_ENG.pdf|publisher=Governo de Timor-Leste}}</ref>
* {{flag|El Salvador}}: Although Article 3 of the Constitution of El Salvador states that "no restrictions shall be established that are based on differences of nationality, race, sex or religion", Article 26 states that the state recognizes the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] and gives it legal preference.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.constitution.org%2Fcons%2Felsalvad.htm&edit-text=&act=url|title=Google Translate|access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador (as Amended to 2003)  |url=http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/ElSalvador1983English.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103200933/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/ElSalvador1983English.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2015|date=3 January 2015}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Guatemala}}: The Constitution of Guatemala recognises the juridical personality of the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]]. Other churches, cults, entities, and associations of religious character will obtain the recognition of their juridical personality in accordance with the rules of their institution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Guatemala_1993.pdf|quote=The juridical personality of the Catholic Church is recognized. The other churches, cults, entities, and associations of religious character will obtain the recognition of their juridical personality in accordance with the rules of their institution[,] and the Government may not deny it[,] aside from reasons of public order. The State will extend to the Catholic Church, without any cost, [the] titles of ownership of the real assets which it holds peacefully for its own purposes, as long as they have formed part of the patrimony of the Catholic Church in the past. The property assigned to third parties or those|title=Guatemala's Constitution of 1985 with Amendments through 1993|publisher=Constitution Project}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Italy}}: The Constitution of Italy does not establish a state religion, but recognizes the state and the Catholic Church as "independent and sovereign, each within its own sphere".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senato.it/documenti/repository/istituzione/costituzione_inglese.pdf|quote=The State and the Catholic Church are independent and sovereign, each within its own sphere. Their relations are regulated by the Lateran pacts. Amendments to such Pacts which are accepted by both parties shall not require the procedure of constitutional amendments.|title=Constitution of the Italian Republic |publisher=Senato.it|access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref> The Constitution additionally reserves to the Catholic faith singular position in regard to the organization of worship, as opposed to all other confessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senato.it/documenti/repository/istituzione/costituzione_inglese.pdf|quote=All religious denominations are equally free before the law. Denominations other than Catholicism have the right to self-organisation according to their own statutes, provided these do not conflict with Italian law. Their relations with the State are regulated by law, based on agreements with their respective representatives.|title=Constitution of the Italian Republic |publisher=Senato.it|access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Panama}}: The Constitution of Panama recognizes Catholicism as "the religion of the majority" of citizens but does not designate it as the official state religion.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/222609.pdf Executive Summary – Panama], 2013 Report on International Religious Freedom, United States Department of State.</ref>
* {{Flag|Paraguay}}: The Constitution of Paraguay recognizes the Catholic Church's role in the nation's historical and cultural formation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/pa00000_.html|quote=The role played by the Catholic Church in the historical and cultural formation of the Republic is hereby recognized.}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Peru}}: The Constitution of Peru recognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in the historical, cultural, and moral formation of Peru and lends it its cooperation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of Peru|url=http://www.congreso.gob.pe/_ingles/CONSTITUTION_29_08_08.pdf|quote=Within an independent and autonomous system, the State recognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in the historical, cultural, and moral formation of Peru and lends it its cooperation. The State respects other denominations and may establish forms of collaboration with them.|access-date=28 October 2009|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724084722/http://www4.congreso.gob.pe/_ingles/CONSTITUTION_29_08_08.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Poland}}<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Poland|date=1997-04-02|url=http://sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm|quote=The relations between the Republic of Poland and the Roman Catholic Church shall be determined by international treaty concluded with the Holy See, and by statute. The relations between the Republic of Poland and other churches and religious organizations shall be determined by statutes adopted pursuant to agreements concluded between their appropriate representatives and the Council of Ministers.}}</ref>
* {{flag|Spain}}: The Constitution of Spain of 1978 abolished [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholicism]] as the official state religion, while recognizing the role it plays in Spanish society.<ref name=es_CONSTITUTION>{{cite act |title=Spanish Constitution |type=Constitution |number= |date=29 December 1978 |article=14, 16 & 27.3 |articletype=Sections |url=http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Hist_Normas/Norm/const_espa_texto_ingles_0.pdf |quote=No religion shall have a state character. The public authorities shall take into account the religious beliefs of Spanish society and shall consequently maintain appropriate cooperation relations with the Catholic Church and other confessions. |access-date=5 March 2018 }}</ref>

====Eastern Orthodoxy====
* {{flag|Greece}}: The Church of Greece is recognized by the Greek Constitution as the prevailing religion in Greece<ref name="GreeceConstitution">{{Cite web|title=Constitution of Greece|url=http://www.hri.org/docs/syntagma/artcl25.html#A3|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.hri.org|at=Section II Relations of Church and State: Article 3}}</ref> and is the only country in the world where Eastern Orthodoxy is clearly recognized as a state religion.<ref name="EnyediMadeley2004">{{cite book|last1=Enyedi|first1=Zsolt|last2=Madeley|first2=John T.S.|title=Church and State in Contemporary Europe|year= 2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1135761417|page=228|quote=Both as a state church and as a national church, the Orthodox Church of Greece has a lot in common with Protestant state churches, and even with Catholicism in some countries.}}</ref><ref name="Meyendorff1981">{{cite book|last=Meyendorff|first=John|title=The Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World Today|year=1981|publisher=St Vladimir's Seminary Press|isbn=978-0913836811|page=155|quote=Greece therefore is today the only country where the Orthodox Church remains a state church and plays a dominant role in the life of the country.}}<!--|access-date=18 October 2015--></ref> However, this provision does not give exclusivity of worship to the Church of Greece, while all other religions are recognized as equal and may be practiced freely.<ref name="GreeceConstitution2">{{Cite web|title=Constitution of Greece|url=http://www.hri.org/docs/syntagma/artcl25.html#A13|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.hri.org|at=Part Two Individual and Social Rights: Article 13}}</ref>

The jurisdictions below give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions to Eastern Orthodoxy, but without establishing it as the state religion:
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}: In the Bulgarian Constitution, Eastern Orthodoxy is recognized as "the traditional religion" of the Bulgarian people, but the state itself remains secular.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.bg/en/const|title=The Bulgarian Constitution|publisher=Parliament of Bulgaria |access-date=20 December 2011}}</ref>
* {{flag|Cyprus}}: The Constitution of Cyprus states: "The Autocephalous Greek-Orthodox Church of Cyprus shall continue to have the exclusive right of regulating and administering its own internal affairs and property in accordance with the Holy Canons and its Charter in force for the time being and the Greek Communal Chamber shall not act inconsistently with such right."<ref name="CyprusConstitution">{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cyprus_2013.pdf?lang=en|title=Cyprus's Constitution of 1960 with Amendments through 2013|publisher=Constitution Project}}</ref>{{efn|The Constitution also states that "Any matter relating to divorce, judicial separation or restitution of conjugal rights or to family relations of the members of the Greek-Orthodox Church, shall be cognizable by family courts each of which is composed: For a divorce trial, of three judges, one of which is a lawyer ecclesiastical officer appointed by the Greek Orthodox Church and presides over the Court and the other two of high professional and moral standard belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church are appointed by the Supreme Court among lawyers. If no ecclesiastical officer is appointed as above, the Supreme Court appoints the President of the Court as well."<ref name="CyprusConstitution"/>}}
* {{flag|Finland}}: Both the [[Religion:Finnish Orthodox Church|Finnish Orthodox Church]] and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland are "national churches".<ref name="FinlandConstitution">{{Cite web|title=Finland Constitution|url=http://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html|access-date=2023-01-02|website=servat.unibe.ch|language=en|at=Section 76, The Church Act}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160099&nodeid=41800&culture=en-US |title=The Church in Finland today |author=Salla Korpela |date=May 2005|publisher=Finland Promotion Board; Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications and Culture}}</ref>
* {{flag|Georgia}}: The [[Religion:Georgian Orthodox Church|Georgian Orthodox Church]] has a constitutional agreement with the state, the constitution recognizing "the special role of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia in the history of Georgia and its independence from the state".<ref>[http://www.parliament.ge/en/kanonmdebloba/constitution-of-georgia-68 Constitution of Georgia] Article 9 (1&2) and 73 (1a{{sup|1}})</ref> (See also Concordat of 2002)

====Protestantism====
The following states recognize some form of [[Religion:Protestantism|Protestantism]] as their state or official religion:

====[[Organization:Commonwealth of Nations|The Commonwealth]]====
=====Anglicanism=====
The Anglican Church of England is the established church in England as well as all three of the Crown Dependencies:
* {{flag|England}}: The Church of England is the established church in England, but not in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}} as a whole.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/history/ |title=The History of the Church of England |publisher=The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England |access-date=2006-05-24 |archive-date=21 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221212004/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/history |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the only established Anglican church worldwide. The Anglican Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Ireland are not established churches and they are independent of the Church of England. The British monarch is the titular Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The 26 most senior bishops in the Church of England are [[Religion:Lords Spiritual|Lords Spiritual]] and have seats in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
* {{flag|Bailiwick of Guernsey|name=Guernsey}}: The Church of England is the established church in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and the leader of the Church of England in the territory is the Dean of Guernsey.<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.churchofengland.org.gg/about|website=Guernsey Deanery|publisher=Church of England}}</ref>
* {{flag|Isle of Man}}: The Church of England is the established church on the Isle of Man. The Bishop of Sodor and Man is an ex officio member of the Legislative Council (the upper house of Tynwald).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gell|first1=Sir James|title=Gell on Manx Church|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol31/gell.htm|website=Isle of Man Online|publisher=IOM Online|access-date=7 February 2017}}</ref>
* {{flag|Jersey}}: The Church of England is the established church in Jersey, and the leader of the church on the island is the Dean of Jersey, a non-voting member of the States of Jersey.

=====Calvinism=====
* {{flag|Scotland}}: The Church of Scotland is the [[Religion:National church|national church]], but not the United Kingdom as a whole.<ref name="Scotland">{{Cite web|date=2010-02-22|title=Our structure|url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-structure|access-date=2021-04-07|website=The Church of Scotland|language=en}}</ref>  Whilst it is the national church, it 'is not State controlled' and the monarch is not the 'supreme governor' as in the Church of England.<ref name="Scotland"/>
* {{flag|Tuvalu}}: The Church of Tuvalu is the state religion, although in practice this merely entitles it to "the privilege of performing special services on major national events".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refworld.org/docid/4cf2d05cc.html|title=Refworld – 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom – Tuvalu|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|last=Refugees|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> The Constitution of Tuvalu guarantees freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice, the freedom to change religion, the right not to receive religious instruction at school or to attend religious ceremonies at school, and the right not to "take an oath or make an affirmation that is contrary to his religion or belief".<ref>Constitution of Tuvalu, article 23.</ref>

====Nordic Countries====
=====Lutheranism=====
Jurisdictions where a [[Religion:Lutheranism|Lutheran]] church has been fully or partially established as a state recognized religion include the Nordic States.
* {{flag|Denmark}}: Section 4 of the Constitution of Denmark confirms the Church of Denmark as the established church.<ref name="DenmarkConstitution">{{Cite web|title=Denmark Constitution|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.servat.unibe.ch|language=en|at=Section 4, State Church}}</ref>
** {{flag|Faroe Islands}}: The Church of the Faroe Islands is the state church of the [[Biography:Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]], an autonomous administrative division within the Danish Realm.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Juergensmeyer|first1=Mark|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WwJzAwAAQBAJ&q=faroe%2520islands%2520state%2520church&pg=PA390|title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion|last2=Roof|first2=Wade Clark|date=2011|publisher=Sage Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-6656-5|language=en|page=390}}</ref>
** {{flag|Greenland}}: The Church of Denmark is the state church of [[Place:Greenland|Greenland]], an autonomous administrative division within the Danish Realm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.am/library/sahmanadrutyunner/dania.pdf|title=Constitution of Denmark – Section IV|quote=The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the Established Church of Denmark, and, as such, it shall be supported by the State.|access-date=22 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301205429/http://www.parliament.am/library/sahmanadrutyunner/dania.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Iceland}}: The Constitution of Iceland confirms the Church of Iceland as the state church of Iceland.<ref name="IcelandConstitution">{{Cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of Iceland|url=https://www.government.is/publications/legislation/lex/?newsid=89fc6038-fd28-11e7-9423-005056bc4d74|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.government.is|language=en-US|at= Article 62}}</ref>
* {{flag|Norway|size=23px}}: Until 2017, the Church of Norway was not a separate legal entity from the government. It was disestablished and became a [[Religion:National church|national church]], a legally distinct entity from the state with special constitutional status. The King of Norway is required by the Constitution to be a member of the Church of Norway, and the church is regulated by special canon law, unlike other religions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iheu.org/state-and-church-move-towards-greater-separation-norway|title=International Humanist and Ethical Union – State and Church move towards greater separation in Norway|access-date=18 March 2015|date=26 June 2012}}</ref>
Jurisdictions that give various degrees of recognition in their constitutions to Lutheranism without establishing it as the state religion:
* {{flag|Finland}}: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has a special relationship with the Finnish state, its internal structure being described in a special law, the Church Act.<ref name="LL.M">{{Cite web|last=LL.M.|first=Prof. Dr. Axel Tschentscher|title=ICL > Finland > Constitution|url=http://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html|access-date=2021-06-23|website=servat.unibe.ch|language=en}}</ref> The Church Act can be amended only by a decision of the synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and subsequent ratification by the Parliament of Finland. The Church Act is protected by the Constitution of Finland and the state cannot change the Church Act without changing the constitution. The church has the power to tax its members. The state collects these taxes for the church, for a fee. On the other hand, the church is required to give a burial place for everyone in its graveyards.<ref name="LL.M"/> The President of Finland also decides the themes for intercession days. The church does not consider itself a state church, as the Finnish state does not have the power to influence its internal workings or its theology, although it has a veto in those changes of the internal structure which require changing the Church Act. Neither does the Finnish state accord any precedence to Lutherans or the Lutheran faith in its own acts.
* {{flag|Sweden}}: The Church of Sweden was the state church of Sweden between 1527 when King Gustav Vasa broke all ties with Rome and 2000 when the state officially became secular. Much like in Finland, it does have a special relation to the Swedish state unlike any other religious organizations. For example, there is a special law that regulates certain aspects of the church<ref>{{Cite web|last=Riksdagsförvaltningen|title=Lag (1998:1591) om Svenska kyrkan Svensk författningssamling 1998:1998:1591 t.o.m. SFS 2009:1234 – Riksdagen|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-19981591-om-svenska-kyrkan_sfs-1998-1591|access-date=2021-06-23|website=www.riksdagen.se|language=sv}}</ref> and the members of the royal family are required to belong to it in order to have a claim to the line of succession. A majority of the population still belongs to the Church of Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Riksdagsförvaltningen|title=Successionsordning (1810:0926); Svensk författningssamling 1810:1810:0926 – Riksdagen|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/successionsordning-18100926_sfs-1810-0926|access-date=2021-06-23|website=www.riksdagen.se|language=sv}}</ref>

====Other/mixed====
* {{flag|Armenia}}: The Armenian Apostolic Church has a constitutional agreement with the [[Place:Armenia|State]]: "The Republic of Armenia shall recognise the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as a national church, in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.am/parliament.php?id=constitution&lang=eng|title=National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia|website=parliament.am}}</ref>
* {{flag|Dominican Republic}}: The constitution of the Dominican Republic specifies that there is no state church and provides for freedom of religion and belief. A [[Religion:Concordat|concordat]] with the [[Organization:Holy See|Holy See]] designates Catholicism as the official religion and extends special privileges to the Catholic Church not granted to other religious groups. These include the legal recognition of church law, use of public funds to underwrite some church expenses, and complete exoneration from customs duties.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2011 Report on International Religious Freedom – Dominican Republic|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/502105c67d.html|access-date=2023-01-02|website=Refworld|language=en}}</ref>
* {{flag|France}}: The local law in Alsace-Moselle accords official status to four religions in this specific region of France: [[Religion:Judaism|Judaism]], Roman Catholicism, [[Religion:Lutheranism|Lutheranism]] and [[Religion:Calvinism|Calvinism]]. The law is a remnant of the Napoleonic Concordat of 1801, which was abrogated in the rest of France by the law of 1905 on the [[Religion:Separation of church and state|separation of church and state]]. However, at the time, Alsace-Moselle had been [[Place:Alsace-Lorraine|annexed by Germany]]. The Concordat, therefore, remained in force in these areas, and it was not abrogated when France regained control of the region in 1918. Therefore, the separation of church and state, part of the French concept of [[Philosophy:Laïcité|Laïcité]], does not apply in this region.<ref>{{cite news|title= Church-state tie opens door for mosque
|work=The New York Times
|date=2008-10-07
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/world/europe/07iht-alsace.1.16744303.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
|access-date=2013-11-02}}</ref>
* {{flag|Haiti}}: While Catholicism has not been the state religion since 1987, a 19th-century [[Religion:Concordat|concordat]] with the [[Organization:Holy See|Holy See]] continues to confer preferential treatment to the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], in the form of stipends for clergy and financial support to churches and religious schools. The Catholic Church also retains the right to appoint certain amounts of clergy in Haiti without the government's consent.<ref name="Haiti">{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90257.htm |title=Haiti |publisher=State.gov |date=2007-09-14 |access-date=2014-01-04}}</ref><ref name=":usirf17">{{Cite web|title=International Religious Freedom Report for 2015|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281080|access-date=2023-01-02|publisher=US State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor}}</ref>
* {{flag|Hungary}}: The preamble to the Hungarian Constitution of 2011 describes Hungary as "part of Christian Europe" and acknowledges "the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood", while Article VII provides that "the State shall cooperate with the Churches for community goals." However, the constitution also guarantees freedom of religion and separation of church and state.<ref>[https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Hungary_2011.pdf Hungary's Constitution of 2011]. Retrieved 9 February 2016.</ref>
* {{flag|Nicaragua}}: The Nicaraguan Constitution of 1987 states that the country has no official religion, but defines "Christian values" as one of the "principles of the Nicaraguan nation".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Nicaragua_2014.pdf?lang=en|title=Nicaragua's Constitution of 1987 with Amendments through 2014|publisher=Constitute Project|accessdate=21 July 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Portugal}}: Although Church and State are formally separate, the Catholic Church in Portugal still receives certain privileges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.concordatwatch.eu/showtopic.php?org_id=1361&kb_header_id=4131|title=Concordat Watch – Portugal &#124; Concordat (2004) : text|website=concordatwatch.eu}}</ref>

===Islam===
Many Muslim-majority countries have constitutionally established Islam, or a specific form of it, as a state religion. Proselytism (converting people away from Islam) is often illegal in such states.<ref name="dpn">{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia imposes death sentence for Bible smuggling|url=http://deathpenaltynews.blogspot.com/2014/11/saudi-arabia-imposes-death-sentence-for.html|website=deathpenaltynews|date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/saudi-arabias-new-law-imposes-death-sentence-for-bible-smugglers-131352/#!|title=Saudi Arabia's New Law Imposes Death Sentence for Bible Smugglers?|work=The Christian Post|date=18 December 2014 |access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=18309927|title=Saidi Arabia Imposes Death Sentence for Bible Smuggling |access-date=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408000107/http://www.handsoffcain.info/news/index.php?iddocumento=18309927|archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref><ref>Sheen J. ''Freedom of Religion and Belief: A World Report.'' (Routledge, 1997) p. 452.</ref>
* {{flagicon|Afghanistan}} Afghanistan: Officially, Afghanistan has continuously been an Islamic state under various constitutions since at least 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aisa.org.af/laws/I.1%20Constitutions,Constituent%20%20docs/1357-%201380%20Republics/660%20E%201987%20Constitution%20(Najibullah).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703074851/http://www.aisa.org.af/laws/I.1%20Constitutions,Constituent%20%20docs/1357-%201380%20Republics/660%20E%201987%20Constitution%20(Najibullah).pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-07-03|year=1987|title=The Constitution of Afghanistan|access-date=30 July 2009|location=Afghanistan}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Algeria}} Algeria: "Islam shall be the religion of the State."<ref>Article 2 of the Algerian Constitution of 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Avant Projet de Revision de la Constitution |url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/algeria_french.pdf|website=constitutionnet.org|language=fr|date=28 December 2015}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Bahrain}} Bahrain: "The religion of the State is Islam."<ref>Article 2 of the Constitution of Bahrain:</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bahrain's Constitution of 2002 with Amendments through 2012|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Bahrain_2012.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} Bangladesh: Article (2A) of the Constitution of Bangladesh declares: "Islam is the state religion of the republic".<ref name="bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd">{{Cite web|url=http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-367/section-24549.html|title=The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh &#124; 2A. The state religion|website=bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Brunei}} Brunei: Article 3 of the Constitution of Brunei: "The official religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Islamic Religion{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Brunei_2006.pdf?lang=en|title=Brunei Darussalam's Constitution of 1959 with Amendments through 2006|date=6 June 2017|website=constituteproject.org}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Comoros}} Comoros: Preamble to the 2001 Constitution of the Comoros: "...{{nbsp}}to draw from Islam, the religion of the state{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Comoros_2009.pdf?lang=en|title=Comoros's Constitution of 2001 with Amendments through 2009|date=6 June 2017|website=constituteproject.org}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Djibouti}} Djibouti: Article 1 of the Constitution of Djibouti: "Islam is the Religion of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=Djibouti's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2010|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Djibouti_2010.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|date=6 June 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Egypt}} Egypt: Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution of 2014: "Islam is the religion of the State".<ref>[http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf Unofficial translation of the 2014 constitution]</ref>
* {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran: Article 12 of the Constitution of Iran: "The official religion of Iran is Islam and the [[Religion:Twelver|Twelver]] Ja'farî school [in usul al-Dîn and fiqh], and this principle will remain eternally immutable."<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran (Islamic Republic of)'s Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1989|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> Islam has been Iran's state religion since 1501 dating back to the Safavid dynasty and has continued ever since, excluding the period of breaks in the Pahlavi dynasty.
* {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraq: Article 2 of the Constitution of Iraq: "Islam is the official religion of the State and is a foundation source of legislation{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraqi Constitution |url=http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128152712/http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-11-28 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Jordan}} Jordan: Article 2 of the Constitution of Jordan: "Islam is the religion of the State and Arabic is its official language."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan|url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426230052/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/constitution_jo.html|archive-date=26 April 2013|date=1 January 1952}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kuwait}} Kuwait: Article 2 of the Constitution of Kuwait: "The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Law shall be a main source of legislation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Kuwait's Constitution of 1962, Reinstated in 1992|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Kuwait_1992.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Libya}} Libya: Article 1 of the Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration: "Islam is the Religion of the State and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Shari'a)."<ref>{{cite web|title=Draft Constitutional Charter For the Transitional Stage|url=http://portal.clinecenter.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/114/w1R3bTIKElG95H3MH5nvrSxchm9QLb8T6EK87RZQ9pfnC4py47DaBn9jLA742IFN3d70VnOYueW7t67gWXEs3XiVJJxM8n18U9Wi8vAoO7_24166.pdf|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425112207/http://portal.clinecenter.illinois.edu/REPOSITORYCACHE/114/w1R3bTIKElG95H3MH5nvrSxchm9QLb8T6EK87RZQ9pfnC4py47DaBn9jLA742IFN3d70VnOYueW7t67gWXEs3XiVJJxM8n18U9Wi8vAoO7_24166.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysia: Article 3 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Constitution Incorporating all amendments up to P.U.(A) 164/2009|url=http://www.jac.gov.my/images/stories/akta/federalconstitution.pdf|publisher=Laws of Malaysia|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614105535/http://www.jac.gov.my/images/stories/akta/federalconstitution.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Maldives}} Maldives: Article 10 of the Maldives's Constitution of 2008: "The religion of the State of the Maldives is Islam. Islam shall be the one of the bases of all the laws of the Maldives."<ref>{{cite web|title=Maldives's Constitution of 2008|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Maldives_2008.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Mauritania}} Mauritania: Article 5 of the Constitution of Mauritania: "Islam is the religion of the people and of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=Mauritania's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2012|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mauritania_2012.pdf|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Morocco}} Morocco: Article 3 of the Constitution of Morocco: "Islam is the religion of the State, which guarantees to all the free exercise of beliefs [cultes]."<ref>{{cite web|title=Morocco Draft Text of the Constitution Adopted at the Referendum of 1 July 2011|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/morocco_eng.pdf|website=constitutionnet.org|publisher=William S. Hein & Co., Inc.|location=Buffalo, New York|year=2011}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman: Article 2 of the Constitution of Oman: "The religion of the State is Islam and Islamic Sharia is the basis for legislation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Oman's Constitution of 1996 with Amendments through 2011|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Oman_2011.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan: Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan: "Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part1.html |title=Part I: "Introductory" |publisher=Pakistani.org |access-date=4 June 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Palestine}} Palestine: Article 4 of the Basic Law of the State of Palestine: "Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Respect and sanctity of all other heavenly religions shall be maintained."<ref name="mideast">{{Cite web|title=Palestine Basic Law|url=http://www.mideastweb.org/basiclaw.htm|access-date=2023-01-02|website=www.mideastweb.org}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Qatar}} Qatar: Article 1 of the Constitution of Qatar: "Qatar is an independent sovereign Arab State. Its religion is Islam and Shari'a law shall be a main source of its legislations."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution|url=http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024231923/http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80|archive-date=24 October 2004}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia: Article 1 of the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia: "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic State. Its religion is Islam."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Basic Law of Governance|url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/laws/The_Basic_Law_Of_Governance.aspx|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323165604/http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/laws/The_Basic_Law_Of_Governance.aspx|archive-date=23 March 2014}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}: Article 2 of the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declares that Islam is the state religion and law origin.<ref name="books.google.com"/>
* {{flagicon|Somalia}} Somalia: Article 2 of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia: "Islam is the religion of the State."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Federal Republic of Somalia Provisional Constitution|url=http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Aug_12/Somalia_Constitution_English_FOR_WEB.pdf|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124010543/http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Aug_12/Somalia_Constitution_English_FOR_WEB.pdf|archive-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}} United Arab Emirates: Article 7 of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates: "Islam shall be the official religion of the Union."<ref>{{cite web|title=United Arab Emirates's Constitution of 1971 with Amendments through 2004|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Yemen}} Yemen: Article 2 of the Constitution of Yemen: "Islam is the religion of the state, and Arabic is its official language."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Yemen As amended on 20 February 2001|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2001_constitution_of_the_republic_of_yemen.pdf|website=constitutionnet.org|access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>

In some countries, Islam is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status:
* {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} Tajikistan: Although there is a separation of religion from politics, certain aspects of law also privilege Islam. One such law declares "Islam to be a traditional religion of Tajikistan, with more rights and privileges given to Islamic organizations than to religious groups of non-Muslim origin".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2009-04-03/tajikistan-new-law-on-religious-organizations/|title=Tajikistan: New Law on Religious Organizations|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Tunisia}} Tunisia: Article 5 of the Constitution declares that "Tunisia is part of the [[Religion:Muslim world|Muslim world]], and the state alone must work to achieve the goals of pure Islam in preserving honourable life of religious freedom". Although, Islam has been given special privileges by the Constitution, though it  is no longer the state religion.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://groundreport.in/why-tunisia-abandoning-islam-as-a-state-religion/|title=Why Tunisia abandoning Islam as a state religion?|website=GR|date=24 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Factbox: What's in Tunisia's new constitution? |website={{wipe|Reuters}} |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/whats-tunisias-new-constitution-2022-07-25/|access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey: The Republic of Turkey is officially a secular country. Although the current governing party has a close affinity with Sunni Islam, the latest Constitution of 1982 neither recognizes an official religion nor promotes any.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anayasa.gov.tr/en/legislation/turkish-constiution/|title=Turkish Constitution &#124; Anayasa Mahkemesi|website=www.anayasa.gov.tr}}</ref> [[Religion:Islam|Islam]] has been referred as the country's main religion, and it plays a major dominant role in the life of the Turkish people.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yfu-turkey.org/welcome-to-turkey/religion/ | title=Religion – Youth for Understanding Türkiye }}</ref> The Directorate of Religious Affairs, an official state institution established by [[Biography:Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] in 1924,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diyanet.gov.tr/tr-TR/Kurumsal/Detay/1#|title=Kurumsal}}</ref> expresses opinions on religious matters and is responsible for all administration of the Sunni institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=Turkey may have reclaimed the leadership of Sunni Islam from Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200730-turkey-may-have-reclaimed-the-leadership-of-sunni-islam-from-saudi-arabia/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Middle East Monitor|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Turkish government oversees Muslim religious facilities and education through its Directorate of Religious Affairs, under the authority of the President (previously Prime Minister). The directorate regulates the operation of the country's hundreds of thousands of registered mosques and employs local and provincial imams (who are civil servants). Sunni imams are appointed and paid by the state.<ref name="US2008">{{cite web
  | title = 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom – Afghanistan
  | publisher = United States Department of State
  | date = 19 September 2008
  | url = http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/48d5cbf4c.html
  | access-date = 2 July 2009}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} Turkmenistan: The Constitution claims to uphold a secular system in which religious and state institutions are separate. However, in Turkmenistan, the state actively privileges a form of traditional Islam. The culture, including Islam, is a key facet, contributes to the Turkmen national identity. The state encourages the conceptualization of "Turkmen Islam".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://isdp.eu/publication/religion-and-the-secular-state-in-turkmenistan/|title=Religion and the Secular State in Turkmenistan - Silk Road Paper|website=Institute for Security and Development Policy}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} Uzbekistan: Since independence, Islam has taken on an altogether new role in the nation-building process in Uzbekistan. The government affords Islam in special status and declared it as a national heritage and a moral guideline.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/1527|title=Islam and Secular State in Uzbekistan: State Control of Religion and its Implications for the Understanding of Secularity|first=Henrik|last=Ohlsson|date=12 December 2011|journal=Cahiers d'Asie centrale|issue=19–20|pages=485–493|via=journals.openedition.org}}</ref>

===Status of religion in Israel===
* {{flag|Israel}} is defined in several of its laws as a "Jewish and democratic state" (''medina yehudit ve-demokratit''). However, the term "Jewish" is a [[Philosophy:Polysemy|polyseme]] that can describe the Jewish people as either an ethnic or a religious group. The debate about the meaning of the term "Jewish" and its legal and social applications is one of the most profound issues with which Israeli society deals. The problem of the status of religion in Israel, even though it is relevant to all religions, usually refers to the status of [[Religion:Judaism|Judaism]] in Israeli society. Thus, even though from a constitutional point of view Judaism is not the state religion in Israel, its status nevertheless determines relations between religion and state and the extent to which religion influences the political center.<ref>''Trouble in Utopia: The Overburdened Polity of Israel'', by Dan Horowitz and Moshe Lissak, pp. 51–52</ref> The Law of Return, was passed on 5 July 1950, gives the global diaspora [[Religion:Jews|Jews]], the right to relocate to Israel and acquire Israeli citizenship. Section - (1) of that law declares that "Every Jew has the right to come to this country as an Oleh, "(Immigrant)". In the Law of Return, the State of Israel gave effect to the [[Social:Zionism|Zionist movement]]'s "credo" which called for the establishment of Israel as a [[Social:Sovereign|Sovereign]] [[Place:Jewish state|Jewish state]] with [[Social:Democracy|Democratic]] setups, ideals and values.<ref>International Commission of Jurists
https://www.icj.org › 2013/06PDF
The Law of Return, 5710-1950 1. Right of "aliya" Every Jew has the ...</ref>

The State of Israel supports religious institutions, particularly [[Religion:Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] ones, and recognizes the "religious communities" as carried over from those recognized under the British Mandate—in turn derived from the pre-1917 Ottoman system of ''millets''. These are Jewish and Christian ([[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], Latin Catholic, Gregorian-Armenian, Armenian-Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Chaldean, Melkite Catholic, Maronite Catholic, and [[Organization:Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox]]). The fact that the Muslim population was not defined as a religious community does not affect the rights of the Muslim community to practice their faith. At the end of the period covered by the 2009 U.S. International Religious Freedom Report, several of these denominations were pending official government recognition; however, the Government has allowed adherents of not officially recognized groups the freedom to practice. In 1961, legislation gave Muslim Shari'a courts exclusive jurisdiction in matters of personal status. Three additional religious communities have subsequently been recognized by Israeli law: the [[Philosophy:Druze|Druze]] (prior under Islamic jurisdiction), the Evangelical Episcopal Church, and followers of the [[Social:Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí Faith]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-10-29|title=Israel and the occupied territories|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127349.htm|access-date=2023-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029164133/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127349.htm |archive-date=29 October 2009|publisher=U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor }}</ref>

===Political religions===
In some countries, there is a [[Social:List of political ideologies|political ideology]] sponsored by the government that may be called [[Religion:Political religion|political religion]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Gentile |first=Emilio |year=2006 |orig-year=2001 |title=Le religioni della politica. Fra democrazie e totalitarismi |trans-title=Politics as Religion |publisher=Princeton University Press }}</ref>

===Additional notes===
* {{Flag|China}}: The government of China officially espouses [[Philosophy:State atheism|state atheism]],<ref name="Dillon2001">{{cite book |last1=Dillon |first1=Michael |title=Religious Minorities and China |date=2001 |publisher=Minority Rights Group International |language=en}}</ref> and officially recognizes only five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism).<ref>Rowan Callick. ''Party Time: Who Runs China and How''. Black Inc, 2013. p. 112</ref> Despite limitations on certain forms of religious expression and assembly, religion is not banned, and religious freedom is nominally protected under the Chinese constitution. Among the general Chinese population, there are a wide variety of religious practices.<ref name="French">{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/world/asia/04iht-web0304.china.4786768.html |title= Religious surge in once-atheist China surprises leaders |newspaper= {{wipe|The New York Times}} |date= 2007-03-03|access-date=2013-11-25 |first=Howard |last=French}}</ref> The Chinese government's attitude to religion is one of skepticism and non-promotion.<ref name="French"/><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ |title= A surprising map of where the world's atheists live |newspaper= {{wipe|The Washington Post}} |access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Party's-secret-directives-on-how-to-eradicate-religion-and-ensure-the-victory-of-atheism-2029.html
|title= Party's secret directives on how to eradicate religion and ensure the victory of atheism |publisher= Asian News|access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/monitoring/253345.stm|title= China announces "civilizing" atheism drive in Tibet  |publisher= BBC |date= 1999-01-12|access-date=2013-11-25}}</ref>
* {{flag|Indonesia}} is officially a presidential republic and a [[Earth:Unitary state|unitary state]] that does not declare or designate a state religion. Officially, the government only recognizes six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in Indonesia {{!}} Indonesia Investments |url=https://www.indonesia-investments.com/culture/religion/item69 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.indonesia-investments.com}}</ref> Pancasila comes from the Jakarta Charter whose first article was changed from "Divinity, with the obligation to carry out Islamic law for its adherents" to "the One Divinity", to respect other religions. The Constitution of Indonesia guarantees freedom of religion and the practice of other religions and beliefs, including traditional animistic beliefs. Indonesians who are practicing other unrecognized religions such as [[Religion:Sikhism|Sikhs]] and [[Philosophy:Jainism|Jains]] are often counted as "Hindu" while Indonesians practicing [[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]] are often counted as "Christian" for governmental purposes. Atheism, although not prosecuted, is discouraged by the state ideology of ''Pancasila''. In addition, the province of Aceh receives a special status and a higher degree of autonomy, in which it may enact laws (''[[Religion:Qanun (law)|qanuns]]'') based on the [[Religion:Sharia|Sharia]] and enforce it, especially to its Muslim residents.
* {{flag|Lebanon}}: There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and set of religious courts.<ref>"Women in Personal Status Laws". Retrieved 26 March 2013.</ref> Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite, the Prime Minister must be a Sunni, and the Speaker of Parliament must be a [[Religion:Lebanese Shia Muslims|Shia]].<ref>{{cite book|author=R. Rabil|title=Religion, National Identity, and Confessional Politics in Lebanon: The Challenge of Islamism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3fHMCwAAQBAJ|year=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|isbn=978-0-230-33925-5}}</ref>
* {{flag|Luxembourg}} is a secular state, but the Grand Duchy recognizes and supports several denominations, including the Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Anglican and some Protestantism denominations as well as to [[Religion:Judaism|Jewish]] congregations.<ref>{{cite book|title=State-Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Khag6tbsIn4C&pg=PA226 |author=Jeroen Temperman|publisher=Brill|isbn= 978-9004181489|year = 2010}}</ref>
*{{flag|Nepal}} is a secular nation, and secularism in Nepal under the interim constitution (Part 1, Article 4) is defined as "religious and cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial." That is, "the state government is bound for protecting and fostering Hindu religion" while maintaining "religious" and "cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights.
* {{flag|Russia}}: Though a [[Philosophy:Secular state|secular state]] under the constitution, Russia is often said to have [[Religion:Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]] as the ''de facto'' national religion, despite other minorities: "The Russian Orthodox Church is de facto privileged religion of the state, claiming the right to decide which other religions or denominations are to be granted the right of registration".<ref>{{cite book|last=Bourdeaux|first=Michael|chapter=Trends in Religious Policy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA46|title=Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia|publisher=Taylor and Francis|year=2003|isbn=978-1857431377|pages=46–52}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/russia-s-de-facto-state-religion.html|title=Russia's De-Facto State Religion|date=24 April 2008|work=[[Religion:The Christian Post|The Christian Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/uncategorized/18128/|title=Russian Orthodoxy now de facto state religion|publisher=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles|date=24 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/russian-orthodox-church-from-farce-to-tragedy/|title=The Russian Orthodox Church: from farce to tragedy?|publisher=openDemocracy|date=3 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gHmsAgAAQBAJ&q=russian+orthodox+church+de+facto+state+religion&pg=PA24|quote=the Russian Orthodox Church has become ''de facto'' state Church|title=Religion and Language in Post-Soviet Russia|first1=Brian P.|last1=Bennett|publisher=[[Company:Routledge|Routledge]]|isbn=978-1136736131|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/07/russia.ameliagentleman |first1=Amelia |last1=Gentleman |title=Backlash of faith shakes atheists|quote='It is only natural there has been a surge in interest in religion over the past decade, given the repression that went before,' Levinson said. 'But we are particularly concerned about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church - which has become the de facto state religion - to the exclusion of all other convictions.'|work={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=7 January 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608183532/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/07/russia.ameliagentleman |archive-date= Jun 8, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html |url-access=subscription |title=At Expense of All Others, Putin Picks a Church|quote=Just as the government has tightened control over political life, so, too, has it intruded in matters of faith. The Kremlin's surrogates in many areas have turned the Russian Orthodox Church into a de facto official religion|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|date=24 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608131607/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html |archive-date= Jun 8, 2023 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Singapore}} is officially a secular country and does not have a state religion, and has been named in one study as the "most religiously diverse nation in the world", with no religious group forming a majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5617068/a-surprising-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-religiously-diverse |website=Vox |first1=Max |last1=Fisher |title=This map of the world's most religiously diverse countries may surprise you|date=15 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231104042500/https://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5617068/a-surprising-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-religiously-diverse |archive-date= Nov 4, 2023 }}</ref> However, the government gives official recognition to ten different religions, namely Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism, Judaism, [[Religion:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]], Jainism, and the [[Social:Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí Faith]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iro.sg/|title=Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore |website=iro.sg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626023943/https://iro.sg/ |archive-date= Jun 26, 2023 }}</ref> and Singapore's penal code explicitly prohibits "wounding religious feelings". The Jehovah's Witnesses and [[Religion:Unification Church|Unification Church]] are also banned in Singapore, as the government deems them to be a threat to national security.
* {{flag|Switzerland}} is officially secular at the federal level but 24 of the 26 cantons support both the Swiss Reformed Church and the Roman Catholic Church in various ways.
* {{flag|Vietnam}} is officially [[Philosophy:State atheism|atheist]]<ref>{{Citation|title=9. Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' as the Science of Religion|date=1983-12-31|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9783110838589.359|work=Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' and the Study of Religion and Atheism in the USSR|pages=359–384|publisher=De Gruyter|doi=10.1515/9783110838589.359|isbn=978-3-11-083858-9|access-date=2021-01-29}}</ref> (although sometimes also referred as atheist-Buddhist),<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2015|title=Buddhism in Vietnam: An Education in Enlightenment|url=https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/07/23/buddhism-in-vietnam-an-education-in-enlightenment/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spiritual Guide: Religion in Vietnam |url=https://www.anywhere.com/vietnam/travel-guide/religion |website=www.anywhere.com |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204112805/https://www.anywhere.com/vietnam/travel-guide/religion |archive-date=Feb 4, 2023 |language=en |date=2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> but recognizes only 38 religious organizations and one ''dharma'' practice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vietnam|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/vietnam/|access-date=2021-01-27|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Former state religions==

=== Roman religion and Christianity ===
In Rome, the office of ''Pontifex Maximus'' came to be reserved for the Emperor, who was occasionally [[Religion:Apotheosis|declared a god]] posthumously, or sometimes during his reign. Failure to worship the Emperor as a god was at times punishable by death, as the Roman government sought to link emperor worship with loyalty to the Empire. Many Christians and Jews were subject to persecution, torture and death in the Roman Empire because it was against their beliefs to worship the Emperor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In 311, Emperor Galerius, on his deathbed, declared a religious indulgence to Christians throughout the Roman Empire, focusing on the ending of anti-Christian persecution. Constantine I and Licinius, the two ''Augusti'', by the [[Religion:Edict of Milan|Edict of Milan]] of 313, enacted a law allowing religious freedom to everyone within the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the Edict of Milan cited that Christians may openly practice their religion unmolested and unrestricted, and provided that properties taken from Christians be returned to them unconditionally. Although the Edict of Milan allowed religious freedom throughout the Empire, it did not abolish nor disestablish the Roman state cult (Roman polytheistic paganism). The Edict of Milan was written in such a way as to implore the blessings of the deity.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Constantine called up the [[Religion:First Council of Nicaea|First Council of Nicaea]] in 325, although he was not a baptized Christian until years later. Despite enjoying considerable popular support, Christianity was still not the official state religion in Rome, although it was in some neighboring states such as [[History:Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenia]], [[Place:Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]], and [[History:Kingdom of Aksum|Aksum]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

[[Religion:Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]] (Neoplatonic Hellenism) was restored for a time by the Emperor Julian from 361 to 363. Julian does not appear to have reinstated the persecutions of the earlier Roman emperors.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Catholic Christianity, as opposed to Arianism and other ideologies deemed [[Religion:Heresy|heretical]], was declared to be the state religion of the Roman Empire on 27 February 380<ref>{{cite web |title=The Theodosian Code |url=http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/latinlibrary/theod.html |work=The Latin Library at Ad Fontes Academy|publisher=Ad Fontes Academy |access-date=2006-11-23}}</ref> by the decree ''[[Religion:Edict of Thessalonica|De fide catolica]]'' of Emperor Theodosius I.<ref>{{cite web |title=Theodosian Code XVI.i.2 |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/theodcodeXVI.html |work=Medieval Sourcebook: Banning of Other Religions |first=Paul |last=Halsall |date=June 1997 |publisher=Fordham University |access-date=2006-11-23 |archive-date=27 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227120555/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/theodcodeXVI.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Han dynasty Confucianism ===
In China, the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) advocated [[Philosophy:Confucianism|Confucianism]] as the ''de facto'' state religion, establishing tests based on Confucian texts as an entrance requirement into government service—although, in fact, the "Confucianism" advocated by the Han emperors may be more properly termed a sort of Confucian [[Philosophy:Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalism]] or "State Confucianism". This sort of Confucianism continued to be regarded by the emperors, with a few notable exceptions, as a form of state religion from this time until the collapse of the Chinese monarchy in 1912. Note, however, there is a debate over whether Confucianism (including [[Philosophy:Neo-Confucianism|Neo-Confucianism]]) is a religion or purely a philosophical system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln471/Confucian%20religiosity%20bib.htm|title=Sources on Confucian religiosity}}</ref>

=== Yuan dynasty Buddhism ===
During the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty of China (1271–1368 CE), Tibetan Buddhism was established as the ''de facto'' state religion by the Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan dynasty. The top-level department and government agency known as the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs (Xuanzheng Yuan) was set up in Khanbaliq (modern [[Place:Beijing|Beijing]]) to supervise [[Philosophy:Buddhist monk|Buddhist monk]]s throughout the empire. Since Kublai Khan only esteemed the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism, other religions became less important. Before the end of the Yuan dynasty, 14 leaders of the Sakya sect had held the post of Imperial Preceptor (Dishi), thereby enjoying special power.<ref>''History of civilizations of Central Asia.: A.D. 750 to the end of the fifteenth century''. Part two: The achievements, p. 59</ref>

=== Golden Horde and Ilkhanate ===
The Mongol rulers Ghazan of Ilkhanate and Uzbeg of Golden Horde converted to [[Religion:Islam|Islam]] in 1295 CE because of the Muslim Mongol emir Nawruz and in 1313 CE because of Sufi [[Place:Bukhara|Bukhara]]n [[Religion:Sayyid|sayyid]] and [[Religion:Sheikh|sheikh]] Ibn Abdul Hamid respectively. Their official favoring of Islam as the state religion coincided with a marked attempt to bring the regime closer to the non-Mongol majority of the regions they ruled. In Ilkhanate, [[Religion:Christians|Christian]] and Jewish subjects lost their equal status with Muslims and again had to pay the poll tax; Buddhists had the starker choice of conversion or expulsion.<ref>''Medieval Persia 1040–1797'', David Morgan p. 72</ref>

=== Former state churches in British North America ===

=== Other states ===
* {{Flag|Netherlands}}: Article 133 of the 1814 Constitution stipulated the Sovereign Prince should be a member of the Reformed Church; this provision was dropped in the 1815 Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denederlandsegrondwet.nl/9353000/1/j9vvihlf299q0sr/vi6ei64fdgg2|title=Artikel 133: Vorst belijdt de christelijke hervormde Godsdienst – Nederlandse grondwet|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> The 1815 Constitution also provided for a state salary and pension for the priesthood of established religions at the time (Protestantism, Catholicism and Judaism). This settlement, nicknamed ''de zilveren koorde'' (the silver cord), was abolished in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denederlandsegrondwet.nl/9353000/1/j9vvihlf299q0sr/vi6jejckwezy|title=Artikel 194: Traktementen, pensioenen en andere inkomsten – Nederlandse grondwet|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rug.nl/research/portal/files/14622151/Deontknopingvandezilverenkoorde21.pdf!null |title=Info |website=rug.nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0003640/1994-01-01|title=wetten.nl – Regeling – Wet beëindiging financiële verhouding tussen Staat en Kerk – BWBR0003640|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>
* {{flag|Nepal}} was the world's only Hindu state until 2015, when the new constitution declared it a [[Philosophy:Secular state|secular state]]. Proselytizing remains illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nepal-adopts-first-full-democratic-charter-today-1219574|title=Nepal Adopts New Constitution, Becomes a Secular State: 5 Facts|date=20 September 2015|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/np/np029en.pdf|title=The Constitution of Nepal|date=20 September 2015|website=wipo.int}}</ref>
* {{flag|Japanese Empire|1870}}: see details in the State Shintō article.
* {{flag|Sudan}} had Islam as the official religion during the rule of Omar al-Bashir according to the Constitution of Sudan of 2005.<ref>Constitution of Sudan, [https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Sudan_2005.pdf?lang=en Article 5, paragraph 1].</ref> It was declared a secular state in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/africa/sudan-ends-30-years-of-islamic-law-by-separating-religion-state-1.1599359147751|title=Sudan ends 30 years of Islamic law by separating religion, state|website=gulfnews.com|date=6 September 2020 }}</ref>
* The State of Deseret was an unrecognised provisional state of the United States, proposed in 1849, by Mormon settlers in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years, but attempts to gain recognition by the United States government floundered for various reasons. The Utah Territory which was then founded was under Mormon control, and repeated attempts to gain statehood met resistance, in part due to concerns that the principle of separation of church and state conflicted with the practice of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints placing their highest value on "following counsel" in virtually all matters relating to their church-centered lives. The state of Utah was eventually admitted to the union on 4{{nbsp}}January 1896, after the various issues had been resolved.<ref>[http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/statehood_and_the_progressive_era/struggleforstatehood.html Struggle For Statehood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110224120/http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/statehood_and_the_progressive_era/struggleforstatehood.html|date=10 January 2019}} Edward Leo Lyman, ''Utah History Encyclopedia''</ref>

==Established churches and former state churches==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Church
! Denomination
! Disestablished
|-
| Anhalt || Evangelical State Church of Anhalt || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| [[Place:Armenia|Armenia]] || Armenian Apostolic Church || Oriental Orthodox || 1921
|-
| Austria || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1918
|-
|rowspan="2"| Baden || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1918
|-
| United Evangelical Protestant State Church of Baden || united Protestant || 1918
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[History:Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]] || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1918
|-
| Protestant State Church in the Kingdom of Bavaria right of the Rhine || Lutheran and Reformed || 1918
|-
| United Protestant Evangelical Christian Church of the Palatinate || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Barbados || Church of England || Anglican || 1968
|-
| Bolivia || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 2009
|-
| Brazil{{efn|[http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleIII.html Brazilian Laws – the Federal Constitution – The Organization of State]. V-brazil.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012. Brazil had Roman Catholicism as the state religion from the country's independence, in 1822, until the fall of the Brazilian Empire. The new Republican government passed, in 1890, Decree 119-A {{cite web|title=Decreto 119-A|url=http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/decreto/1851-1899/d119-a.htm|quote=Prohibits federal and state authorities to intervene on religion, granting freedom of religion.}} (still in force), instituting the separation of church and state for the first time in Brazilian law. Positivist thinker Demétrio Nunes Ribeiro urged the new government to adopt this stance. The 1891 Constitution, the first under the Republican system of government, abolished privileges for any specific religion, reaffirming the separation of church and state. This has been the case ever since the 1988 Constitution of Brazil, currently in force, does so in its Nineteenth Article. The Preamble to the Constitution does refer to "God's protection" over the document's promulgation, but this is not legally taken as endorsement of belief in any deity.}} || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic ||1890
|-
| Brunswick || Evangelical Lutheran State Church in Brunswick || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Bulgaria || [[Religion:Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Bulgarian Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || 1946
|-
| Central African Empire || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1979
|-
| Chile || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1925
|-
| Colombia || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1936<ref>John Gunter, ''Inside Latin America'' (1941), p. 166</ref>
|-
| Cuba || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1902
|-
| Cyprus || Church of Cyprus || Eastern Orthodox || 1977, following the death of the Ethnarch Makarios III
|-
| Czechoslovakia || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1920
|-
| Denmark || Church of Denmark || Lutheran || Current
|-
| England || Church of England || Anglican || Current
|-
| Ethiopia || Ethiopian Orthodox Church || Oriental Orthodox || 1974
|-
| [[Biography:Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]] || Church of the Faroe Islands || Lutheran || Elevated from a diocese of the Church of Denmark in 2007 (the two remain in close cooperation)
|-
|rowspan="2"| Finland || Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland || Lutheran || 1867
|-
|[[Religion:Finnish Orthodox Church|Finnish Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || 1917
|-
|rowspan="3"| France || [[Philosophy:Cult of Reason|Cult of Reason]] || N/A || 1794 (established 1793)
|-
| [[Religion:Cult of the Supreme Being|Cult of the Supreme Being]] || N/A || 1794, officially banned in 1802
|-
|| Roman Catholic Church{{efn|In France the Concordat of 1801 made the Roman Catholic, Calvinist, Lutheran churches and [[Religion:Judaism|Judaism]] state-sponsored religions until 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State.}} || Catholic || 1905
|-
| [[Place:Georgia (country)|Georgia]] || [[Religion:Georgian Orthodox Church|Georgian Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || 1921
|-
| Greece || Church of Greece || Eastern Orthodox<ref name=GreeceConstitution/> || The Church of Greece is recognized by the Greek Constitution as the "prevailing religion" in Greece.<ref name=GreeceConstitution/> However, this provision does not give official status to the Church of Greece, while all other religions are recognized as equal and may be practiced freely.<ref name=GreeceConstitution2/>
|-
| [[Place:Greenland|Greenland]] || Church of Denmark || Lutheran || Under discussion to be elevated from The Diocese of Greenland in the Church of Denmark to a state church for Greenland, along‐the‐lines the Faroese Church took in 2007
|-
| Guatemala || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1871
|-
| Haiti || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1987
|-
| [[History:Kingdom of Hawaii|Hawaii]] || Church of Hawaii || Anglican || 1893
|-
| Hesse || Evangelical Church in Hesse || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Hungary{{efn|In Hungary the constitutional laws of 1848 declared five established churches on equal status: the Roman Catholic, Calvinist, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox and [[Religion:Unitarianism|Unitarian]] Church. In 1868 the law was ratified again after the Ausgleich. In 1895 [[Religion:Judaism|Judaism]] was also recognized as the sixth established church. In 1948 every distinction between the different denominations were abolished.<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220121400/http://www.legislationline.org/upload/legislations/cd/86/39b1e5cc4b9b9b6a97c2830f3608.htm |date=20 February 2008 |title=Constitution of the Republic of Hungary }} (archived from [http://www.legislationline.org/upload/legislations/cd/86/39b1e5cc4b9b9b6a97c2830f3608.htm the original] on 2008-02-20)</ref><ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523210720/http://www.magyarorszag.hu/english/keyevents/a_alpolg/a_allampolgarsagemberijogok/a_alapjog20050805/a_gondlelkiismjog20060627.html |date=23 May 2007 |title=The right of thought, the freedom of conscience and religion }} (archived from [http://www.magyarorszag.hu/english/keyevents/a_alpolg/a_allampolgarsagemberijogok/a_alapjog20050805/a_gondlelkiismjog20060627.html the original] on 2007-05-23)</ref>}} || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1946
|-
| Iceland || Lutheran Evangelical Church || Lutheran || Current
|-
|rowspan| Ireland{{efn|In the [[Place:Kingdom of Ireland|Kingdom of Ireland]] the Church of Ireland was established [[Religion:Reformation in Ireland|in the Reformation]].<ref name="LivingstoneSparks2013">{{cite book|last1=Livingstone|first1=E.A.|last2=Sparks|first2=M. W. D.|last3=Peacocke|first3=R.W.|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZecAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA286|year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199659623|page=286|chapter=Ireland}}</ref> The Act of Union 1800 created the [[History:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] with the United Church of England and Ireland established outside Scotland. The [[Religion:Irish Church Act 1869|Irish Church Act 1869]] demerged and disestablished the Church of Ireland,<ref name="LivingstoneSparks2013" /> and the island was partitioned in 1922. The Republic of Ireland's 1937 constitution prohibits an established religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html#article44|title=Constitution of Ireland|work=Irish Statute Book|pages=Article 44|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref> Originally, it recognized the "special position" of the Roman Catholic Church "as the guardian of the Faith professed by the great majority of the citizens", and recognized "the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, as well as the Jewish Congregations and the other religious denominations existing in Ireland at the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution".<ref name="KeoghMcCarthy2007">{{cite book|last1=Keogh|first1=Dermot|last2=McCarthy|first2=Dr. Andrew|title=The Making of the Irish Constitution 1937: Bunreacht Na HÉireann|date=2007-01-01|publisher=Mercier Press|isbn=978-1856355612|page=172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCCQAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> These provisions were deleted in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1972/en/act/cam/0005/index.html|title=Fifth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972.|work=Irish Statute Book|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref>}} || Church of Ireland || Anglican || 1871
|-
| Italy || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 18 February 1984 (into force 25 April 1985<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Andrea Mammone|author2=Giuseppe A. Veltri|title=Italy today: the sick man of Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YWKJ00Dw7QC|year=2010|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0415561594|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7YWKJ00Dw7QC&pg=PA168 168] (Note 1)}}</ref>)
|-
| [[Finance:Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]] || Roman Catholic Church<ref name=LiechtensteinConstitution /> || Catholic || Current
|-
| Lippe || Church of Lippe || Reformed || 1918
|-
| Lithuania || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1940
|-
| Lübeck || Evangelical Lutheran Church in the State of Lübeck || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Luxembourg || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || Not an official state church<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/171706.pdf|title=Luxembourg}}</ref>
|-
| Malta || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || Current
|-
| Mecklenburg-Schwerin || Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Mecklenburg-Schwerin || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Mecklenburg-Strelitz || Mecklenburg-Strelitz State Church || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Mexico || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1857 (reestablished between 1864 and 1867)
|-
| Monaco || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1999 (reestablished again in 2020–present).
|-
| Netherlands || Dutch Reformed Church || Reformed || 1795
|-
| Nicaragua || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 
|-
| North Macedonia || Macedonian Orthodox Church || Eastern Orthodox || 1921
|-
| Norway || Church of Norway || Lutheran || As of 2012 the Constitution of Norway no longer names Lutheranism as the official religion of the state and in 2017 the church became an independent legal entity,<ref name="regjeringen.no">[https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/offisielt-fra-statsradet/id2501869/ Offisielt frå statsrådet 27. mai 2016] regjeringen.no «Sanksjon av Stortingets vedtak 18. mai 2016 til lov om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.) Lovvedtak 56 (2015–2016) Lov nr. 17 Delt ikraftsetting av lov 27. mai 2016 om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.). Loven trer i kraft fra 1. januar 2017 med unntak av romertall I § 3 nr. 8 første og fjerde ledd, § 3 nr. 10 annet punktum og § 5 femte ledd, som trer i kraft 1. juli 2016.»</ref><ref name="snl.no">{{cite web|url=http://snl.no/religion_i_Norge|title=religion i Norge|first1=Tarald|last1=Rasmussen|first2=Sindre|last2=Bangstad|first3=Knut A.|last3=Jacobsen|first4=Bente|last4=Groth|date=23 April 2018|via=Store norske leksikon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kirken.no/nb-NO/om-kirken/aktuelt/2017---et-kirkehistorisk-merkear/|title=2017 – et kirkehistorisk merkeår|date=2017-12-30|website=Den norske kirke, Kirkerådet|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref> but article 16 says that "The Church of Norway [...] will remain the National Church of Norway and will as such be supported by the State."<ref name=":0">[https://lovdata.no/NLE/lov/1814-05-17/a16 The Constitution of Norway, Article 16] (English translation, published by the Norwegian Parliament)</ref> As of 1{{nbsp}}January 2017 the Church of Norway is a legal entity independent of the state.<ref name="regjeringen.no" /><ref name="stortinget.no">[https://stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Vedtak/Beslutninger/Lovvedtak/2015-2016/vedtak-201516-056/ Lovvedtak 56 (2015–2016) Vedtak til lov om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.)] Stortinget.no</ref>
|-
| Oldenburg || Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oldenburg || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Panama || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1904
|-
| Paraguay || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1992<ref>Under the 1967 Constitution, Roman Catholicism was the state religion as stated in Article 6: "The Roman Catholic Apostolic religion is the state religion, without prejudice to religious freedom, which is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Official relations of the republic with the Holy See shall be governed by concordats or other bilateral agreements." The 1992 Constitution, which replaced the 1967 one, establishes Paraguay as a secular state, as mentioned in section (1) of Article 24: "Freedom of religion, worship, and ideology is recognized without any restrictions other than those established in this Constitution and the law. The State has no official religion."</ref>
|-
| Peru || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1993
|-
| Philippines{{efn|The Philippines was among several possessions ceded by {{wipe|Spain}} to the United States in 1898; religious freedom was subsequently guaranteed in the archipelago. This was codified in the Philippine Organic Act (1902), section 5: "...{{nbsp}}That no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed." A similarly-worded provision still exists in the present Constitution. Catholicism remains the predominant religion, wielding considerable political and cultural influence.}} || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1898
|-
| Poland{{efn|Article 25 of [http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm the constitution] states: "1. Churches and other religious organizations shall have equal rights. 2. Public authorities in the Republic of Poland shall be impartial in matters of personal conviction". Article 114 of the Polish March Constitution of 1921 declared the Roman Catholic Church to hold "the principal position among religious denominations equal before the law" (in reference to the idea of ''[[Religion:Primus inter pares|first among equals]]''). The article was continued in force by article 81 of the April Constitution of 1935. The Soviet-backed PKWN Manifesto of 1944 reintroduced the March Constitution, which remained in force until it was replaced by the Small Constitution of 1947.}}|| Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1947
|-
| Portugal{{efn|Until 1910 Roman Catholic Church was considered as state religion. Between 1951 and 1976 Catholic religion was considered as religion of the Portuguese Nation.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}}}|| Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1910, 1976
|-
| [[History:Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]<br />pre 1866 provinces || Evangelical State Church of Prussia's older Provinces with nine ecclesiastical provinces || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br />Province of Hanover || Evangelical Reformed State Church of the Province of Hanover || [[Religion:Continental Reformed church|Reformed]] || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br /> Province of Hanover || Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br /> Province of Hesse-Nassau (partially)|| Evangelical State Church of Frankfurt upon Main || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br /> Province of Hesse-Nassau (partially)|| Evangelical Church of Electoral Hesse || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br /> Province of Hesse-Nassau (partially)|| Evangelical State Church in Nassau || united Protestant || 1918
|-
| Prussia<br /> Province of Schleswig-Holstein || Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schleswig-Holstein || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Romania || [[Religion:Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || [[Place:Socialist Republic of Romania|1947]]
|-
| Russia || [[Religion:Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || 1917
|-
| [[Place:Kingdom of Saxony|Saxony]] || Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Saxony || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Schaumburg-Lippe || Evangelical State Church of Schaumburg-Lippe|| Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Scotland{{#tag:ref|The modern Church of Scotland has always disclaimed recognition as an "established" church while remaining the national church. The Church of Scotland Act 1921 formally recognised the Kirk's independence from the state.}} || Church of Scotland || Presbyterian || Remains the national church; state control disclaimed since 1638. Formally recognised as not an established church by the Church of Scotland Act 1921.
|-
| Serbia || [[Religion:Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Church]] || Eastern Orthodox || 1920
|-
| {{wipe|Spain}} || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1978
|-
| Sweden || Church of Sweden || Lutheran || 2000
|-
| Thuringia || church bodies in principalities which merged in Thuringia in 1920 || Lutheran || 1918
|-
| Tuvalu || Church of Tuvalu || Reformed || Current
|-
| Uruguay || Roman Catholic Church || Catholic || 1918 (into effect in 1919)
|-
| United States{{efn|The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution explicitly forbids the federal government from enacting any law respecting a religious establishment, and thus forbids either designating an official church for the United States, or interfering with State and local official churches—which were common when the First Amendment was enacted. It did not prevent [[Social:State government|state government]]s from establishing official churches. Connecticut continued to do so until it replaced its colonial Charter with the Connecticut Constitution of 1818; Massachusetts retained an establishment of religion in general until 1833.<ref>{{Cite book|author=James H. Hutson|title=Religion and the new republic: faith in the founding of America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwW_g8qr68MC|year=2000|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0847694341|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=YwW_g8qr68MC&pg=PA22 22]}}</ref> Until its substitution by Article of Amendment XI in 1834, Article{{nbsp}}III of the Massachusetts constitution's bill of rights provided, "...{{nbsp}}the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily."<ref>[http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts], [https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution].</ref>

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, makes no mention of religious establishment, but forbids the states to "abridge the privileges or immunities" of U.S. citizens, or to "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law". In the 1947 case of Everson v. Board of Education, the United States Supreme Court held that this later provision incorporates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause as applying to the States, and thereby prohibits state and local religious establishments. The exact boundaries of this prohibition are still disputed, and are a frequent source of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court—especially as the Court must now balance, on a state level, the First Amendment prohibitions on government establishment of official religions with the First Amendment prohibitions on government interference with the free exercise of religion. See school prayer for such a controversy in contemporary American politics.

All current State constitutions do mention a Creator, but include guarantees of religious liberty parallel to the First Amendment. The constitutions of eight states (Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, {{wipe|Tennessee}}, and {{wipe|Texas}}) also contain clauses that prohibit atheists from holding public office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm |title=State Constitutions that Discriminate Against Atheists |publisher=godlessgeeks.com |access-date=2007-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/texas.htm
|title=Religious laws and religious bigotry – Religious discrimination in U.S. state constitutions |publisher=religioustolerance.com |access-date=2007-04-27}}</ref> However, these clauses were held by the U.S. Supreme Court to be unenforceable in the 1961 case of ''Torcaso v. Watkins'', where the court ruled unanimously that such clauses constituted a religious test incompatible with the religious test prohibition in Article{{nbsp}}6 Section{{nbsp}}3 of the United States Constitution.

The Church of Hawaii was the state church of Hawaii from 1862–1893.}}
 || none since 1776, which was made explicit in the Bill of Rights in 1792 || none || n/a; some state legislatures required all citizens in those states to be members of a church, and some had official churches, such as [[Religion:Congregational church|Congregationalism]] in some New England states such as {{wipe|Massachusetts}}. This eventually ended in 1833 when Massachusetts was the last state to disestablish its church.
|-
| Waldeck || Evangelical State Church of Waldeck and Pyrmont || united Protestants || 1918
|-
| Wales{{efn|The Church in Wales was split from the Church of England in 1920, by Welsh Church Act 1914; at the same time becoming disestablished.}} || Church of England || Anglican || 1920
|-
| Württemberg || Evangelical State Church in Württemberg || Lutheran || 1918
|}

==Former confessional states==
''Note: This only includes states that abolished their state religion themselves, not states with a state religion that were conquered, fell apart or otherwise disappeared.''

===Buddhism===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Denomination
! Disestablished
|-
| Laos
| Theravada Buddhism
| 1975<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://media.bloomsburyprofessional.com/rep/files/laos-constitution-1947-1949-englishx.pdf|title=Laos Constitution 1947/1949}}</ref>
|-
| [[History:Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Siam]]
| Theravada Buddhism
| 1932
|-
|}

===Hinduism===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Disestablished
|-
| [[History:Kingdom of Nepal|Nepal]]
| 2008 (''de facto'')<ref name="Nepal Trouw">{{Cite news |title=Nepal scheidt hindoe en staat |trans-title=Nepal separates Hindu and state |author=ANP |work=Trouw |date=15 September 2015 |access-date=24 March 2023 |url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nepal-scheidt-hindoe-en-staat~b5a1e16f/ |language=nl}}</ref><br />2015 (''de jure'')<ref name="Nepal Trouw"/>
|- 
|}

===Islam===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Denomination
! Disestablished
|-
| Sudan
| Sunni Islam
| 2020<ref name="Atit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.voanews.com/africa/south-sudan-focus/sudans-government-agrees-separate-religion-and-state |title=Sudan's Government Agrees to Separate Religion and State |author=Michael Atit |work=Voice of America |date=4 September 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Tunisia
| Sunni Islam
| 2022<ref name="auto"/>
|-
| [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]]
| Sunni Islam
| 1928{{efn|The Turkish Constitution of 1924 was amended for the first time on 10 April 1928, including removing ''inter alia'' Article 2 and the provision of "Religion of the Turkish state is Islam".<ref>beykent.edu.tr, [http://kampus.beykent.edu.tr/Paylasim/Dosyalar/Anayasalar_129807210772392500.pdf TC Anayasaları, 1921, 1924, 1961 ve 1982 Anayasalarını karşılaştırılması] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224041757/http://kampus.beykent.edu.tr/Paylasim/Dosyalar/Anayasalar_129807210772392500.pdf |date=24 February 2020 }} {{in lang|tr}}</ref>}}
|}

===Shamanism===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Denomination
! Disestablished
|-
| Silla
| Korean Shamanism
| 527 CE
|}

===Shinto===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Denomination
! Disestablished
|-
| [[Place:Empire of Japan|Japan]]
| [[Religion:State Shinto|State Shinto]]
| 1947 (''de facto'')<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=sjintô |encyclopedia=[[Software:Encarta|Encarta]] Encyclopedie Winkler Prins |date=2002 |publisher=Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum |language=nl}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* Blasphemy law
* Ceremonial deism
* Church tax
* [[Religion:Civil religion|Civil religion]]
* [[Religion:Confessional state|Confessional state]]
* Divine rule
* Elite religion
* [[Social:Institutional theory|Institutional theory]]
* Major religious groups
* [[Philosophy:Nonsectarian|Nonsectarian]]
* Religious education
* Religious law
* Religious toleration
* [[Religion:Secular religion|Secular religion]]
* [[Philosophy:Secularism|Secularism]]
* [[Philosophy:Secularity|Secularity]]
* [[Philosophy:Secularization|Secularization]]
* [[Religion:Separation of church and state|Separation of church and state]]
* Sociology of religion
* [[Philosophy:State atheism|State atheism]]
* Status of religious freedom by country
* [[Philosophy:Secular state|Secular state]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Rowlands, John Henry Lewis (1989). ''Church, State, and Society, 1827–1845: the Attitudes of John Keble, Richard Hurrell Froude, and John Henry Newman''. Worthing, Eng.: P. Smith [of] Churchman Publishing; Folkestone, Eng.: distr.{{nbsp}}... by Bailey Book Distribution. {{ISBN|1850931321}}

==External links==
* {{cite journal |last=McConnell |first=Michael W. |date=April 2003 |title=Establishment and Disestablishment at the Founding, Part I: Establishment of Religion |journal=William and Mary Law Review |volume=44 |issue=5 |page=2105 |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002019127&er=deny |access-date= |archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604032724/http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002019127&er=deny |url-status=dead }}
{{Relpolnav}}

[[Category:Religion and politics]]

{{Sourceattribution|State religion}}