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Commentary

The proportion of those having a religious affiliation grows with the age groups. The average age of the population is 39.22, corresponding to the average age of Greek Catholics and those belonging to “other” denominations. The average age of Roman Catholics is 41.69, of Calvinists is 42.49, of Lutherans 44.79, whereas the age of those having no affiliation is only 28.85 and the average age of those not responding is 34.61.
Generally, women stated a higher affiliation to churches than men. Data also proved the shift in the proportion of denominations: the century-long decline of Protestants (especially that of Lutherans, who live in diasporas and consequently the percentage of mixed marriages is very high with them) in comparison with the Catholic population (especially the Greek Catholic minority) continued during the decades of communism. The affiliation to mainstream Christian denominations is stronger in rural areas than in towns. The proportion of people having no denomination or not responding to the question was the highest in Budapest, whereas the smaller a municipality becomes, the lower this percentage became too.
Women confessed a religious identity to a higher degree than men: most religions have more female adherents than males; consequently men constitute the majority of those having no denomination or not responding. Presumably Jews and adherents of some “new religious movements” are over-represented among those denying the answer (some estimations put the number of Jews ten times higher as the census results). Altogether the population stated affiliation to 260 different religious communities and beliefs. It is to be noted, that on the census the question was formulated in an open way, so that there were no pre-typed, possible answers listed.

Data were published indicating regions, municipalities, correlation to marital status and age. Központi Statisztikai Hivatal, 2001. évi népszámlálás. 5. Vallás, felekezet. Budapest, Központi Statisztikai Hivatal 2002.; Hungarian Central Statistical Office, Population census 2001. 5. Religion, denomination, Budapest, Hungarian Central Statistical Office, 2002.

D 20 September 2012    ABalázs Schanda

CNRS Unistra Dres Gsrl

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