eurel     Sociological and legal data on religions in Europe and beyond
You are here : Home » France » Social and religious data » Sources of data

Sources of data

Information and statistical data

In France it is forbidden, since 1872, to differenciate people on the ground of their religious belonging in a census. It is therefore impossible to include questions regarding religious (...)

In France it is forbidden, since 1872, to differenciate people on the ground of their religious belonging in a census. It is therefore impossible to include questions regarding religious affiliation in a demographic study. Thus, no information regarding religion, but only general demographic information can be found on the website of the French National Institute of Economic and Statistical Information (INSEE).

INSEE publishes thematical studies concerning religion. Unfortunately, the most recent one was issued in 1998 (Xavier Niel, Etat de la pratique religieuse en France). More recently, the July 2008 edition of the journal Populations et Société of the National Institute of Demographical Studies (INED) dealt with religious practice (pratique religieuse). In 2008, INED also led an important survey on trajectories and origins (Trajectoires et origines), which has a chapter dealing with religious belonging.

A new website, the portail de la statistique publique (portal of public statistics), has been set up upon demand of the Conseil national de l’Information statistique to allow public access to all statistical information provided by public institutions (Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, services statistiques ministériels, and others). It provides access to available information concerning religious practice (chapter 8.5 - INSEE statistics 2008).

Any other information regarding religious affiliation is found through surveys carried out by specialised institutes, generally at the request of newspapers or magazines. The results of these surveys are usually available, at least in part, on the institutes’ websites: CSA polling organisation, IFOP polling organisation, BVA polling organisation, TNS-SOFRES polling organisation, IPSOS polling organisation.
Besides, the website valeurs-France provides the results of the European Values Study (EVS concerning the French, and the website ISSP France the results of the ISSP (International Social Survey programme) concerning France.

Article 8 of the Law of January 6, 1978 modified forbids to collect any personal data showing, directly or indirectly, racial or ethnic origin, political, religious or philosophical opinions, belonging to Trade unions - or related to health or sexual behavior of individuals ("interdit de collecter des données à caractère personnel qui font apparaître, directement ou indirectement, les origines raciales ou ethniques, les opinions politiques, philosophiques ou religieuses ou l’appartenance syndicale des personnes, ou qui sont relatives à la santé ou à la vie sexuelle de celles-ci.")

See a full article on the question of religious belonging (pdf file).

D 5 June 2017    AAnne-Laure Zwilling

Statistics and main surveys 2024

– What young French people think about secularism
Fondation Jean Jaurès, March 2024

 What young French people think about secularism
Fondation Jean Jaurès, March 2024

D 25 March 2024    AAnne-Laure Zwilling

Statistics and main surveys 2023

– The French view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its consequences for France IFOP and CRIF, December 2023 The French and Christmas Nativity scenes IFOP and La Vie, November 2023 Young (...)

 The French view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its consequences for France
IFOP and CRIF, December 2023

 The French and Christmas Nativity scenes
IFOP and La Vie, November 2023

 Young French people’s relationship with secularism in a globalised world
Kantar public, November 2023

 The ideal society of Tomorrow According to the French
Ipsos-Sopra steria, November 2023

 French people’s relationship with death and funerals through their beliefs
IFOP / Death plate, October 2023

 The French view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its consequences for France
Ifop for the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, October 2023

 The French position on banning the wearing of the abaya and qamis in schools
IFOP / Charlie Hebdo, September 2023
Report published also in LDDV

 French people and pornography at a time when conditions of access to X-rated sites are being restricted
IFOP / O1.net, September 2023

 Poll of practising Catholics and Protestants on the climate
IFOP for Parlons climat and Arocha France, September 2023

 How the French view the wearing of traditional clothing in schools
IFOP for Fiducial and Sud-Radio, June 2023

 Public school teachers and secularism->https://www.ifop.com/publication/les-enseignants-du-public-et-la-laicite/]
IFOP / CNAL, June 2023

 How the French view secularism (laïcité) - opinion poll #227
IFOP for Fiducial and Sud-Radio, May 2023

 One French person in 5 has heard of reikiology
IPSOS for Fédération française de Reiki traditionnel, June 2023

 Beliefs in France and in the world
Ipsos Global Advisor survey, June 2023

 The relationship of the French to religion - opinion poll #219
IFOP for Fiducial and Sud Radio, April 2023

 Racist, xenophobic and anti-religious offences in 2022
Interstats Analyse N°57 for Ministry of the Interior, March 2023

 Religious diversity in France : intergenerational transmission and practices according to origins>
INSEE, March 2023

 The French view of obscurantism->https://www.ifop.com/publication/le-regard-des-francais-sur-lobscurantisme/]
IFOP / Association du corps préfectoral, February 2023

 Survey on the misinformation of young people and their relationship to science and the paranormal in the age of social networks
IFOP for the Reboot Foundation and the Jean Jaurès Foundation, January 2023

 Survey on the professional involvement of the French and their perception of the value of work->https://www.ifop.com/publication/enquete-sur-limplication-professionnelle-des-francais-et-leur-perception-de-la-valeur-travail/]
IFOP / Les makers, January 2023

D 8 December 2023   

Statistics and main surveys 2022

– Teachers facing the expression of religious facts in school and attacks on secularism IFOP for Ecran de veille, December 2022 The view of the French on end of life IFOP for Association pour (...)

 Teachers facing the expression of religious facts in school and attacks on secularism
IFOP for Ecran de veille, December 2022

 The view of the French on end of life
IFOP for Association pour le droit à mourir dans la dignité, October 2022

 French fractures 10
IPSOS- Sopra steria for Le Monde, la Fondation Jean Jaurès and Cevipof, October 2022

 The French and the end of life
IFOP for MGEN, July 2022

 The French and the Bible
IFOP for La Croix and ABF, June 2022

 The French and superstition
IFOP and Frédéric Esteban, May 2022

 The vote of confessional electorates in the second round of the presidential election
IFOP for La Croix and Le Pèlerin, April 2022

 Practising Catholics and the 2022 presidential election
IFOP for Ecrans de veille, March 2022

 The French facing the question of Islamism and Islamic communautarianism at the time of the presidential campaign
IFOP for Ecrans de veille, March 2022

 Public opinion on GPA and LGBT issues in the presidential campaign
IFOP for ADFH, March 2022

 Barometer on the fight against discrimination. Wave March 2022
Harris interactive for Pote à pote, March 2022

 Radiographie de l’antisémitisme en France- 2022 edition (Radiography of Antisemitism in France)
Fondapol, 2022

 Is France’s identity under threat?
IFOP for Vae solis, January 2022

D 18 July 2022   

Statistics and main surveys 2021

– Christmas 2021, the race for toys IFOP for Les dénicheurs, December 2021 The French view on different societal issues IFOP for Franc tireur, December 2021 High school students, the right to (...)

 Christmas 2021, the race for toys
IFOP for Les dénicheurs, December 2021

 The French view on different societal issues
IFOP for Franc tireur, December 2021

 High school students, the right to criticize religions and forms of contestation of secularism at school
IFOP for LICRA and Droit de vivre, December 2021

 Evangelical families (and first results of the survey)
Fédération nationale des associations familiales protestantes (FNAFP) and Conseil national des évangéliques de France (CNEF), November 2021

 The French and the teaching of religion
IFOP for IREL – EPHE, November 2021

 Barometer on the combat against discrimination
Harris interactive for La maison des potes, October 2021

 Death at school. Overlapping views between students, teachers and parents
IFOP for MAIF and MGEN, October 2021

 The Catholics and the Sauvé report (on sexual violences in the French Catholic church)
IFOP for La Croix, October 2021

 The Catholics and the presidential election
IFOP for Le Pèlerin, October 2021

 Observatory of "Zemmourism" - radioscopy of a new national-populist electorate
IFOP for LICRA - DDV, October 2021

 Religion in companies
Harris interactive for IST - CRIF, October 2021

 The French view of the murder of Samuel Paty, one year after
IFOP for Fiducial and Sud Radio, October 2021

 The view of the 18-30 years-old on the murder of Samuel Paty
IFOP for Marianne, October 2021

 The French relationship with religion
IFOP for AJIR, September 2021

 The relationship of missionary Christians to their faith
IFOP for Mission, September 2021

 The relationship of missionary Christians to their faith
IFOP for Mission, September 2021

 Survey of French women on the obstacles to exposing their bodies on beaches and in public places in summer
IFOP with XCams, July 2021

 Teachers, secularism and the place of religions in schools
Ifop for Observatory of Education of the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, July 2021

 Fraternity Barometer
IFOP for Labo de la fraternité, May 2021

 Religion at work: believe in dialogue
OFRE and Institut Montaigne, May 2021

 The French and the review of the bioethics law in Parliament
IFOP for La manif pour tous, April 2021

 Study on the maintenance of the concordat regime and the financing of places of worship in Alsace-Moselle
IFOP for Le Grand Orient de France, April 2021

 The French view on the end of life
IFOP for Association pour le Droit de Mourir dans la Dignité (ADMD), April 2021

 The state of opinion on racism and antisemitism
Ifop for UEJF and SOS Racisme, March 2021

 The French view of the Republic and republican principles
IFOP for Havas Paris, March 2021

 The French and the end-of-life
IFOP for "Soulager mais pas tuer", March 2021

 The French and the concept of ’islamo-gauchisme’
Odoxa forLe Figaro, France info and Backbone Consulting, March 2021

 Right to blasphemy, secularism, freedom of education... survey on the place of religions in schools and in society
IFOP for LICRA, March 2021

 The French and the notion of ’Islamogauchisme’
IFOP for Fiducial, CNews, Sud Radio, February 2021

 Perception of antisemitism today in France
IPSOS forCRIF, February 2021

 The French, the police and separatism
IPSOS / Sopra Steria for Vous Avez La Parole, February 2021

 Beacons of opinion n° 25 ("separatism")
IFOP for Fiducial, CNews, Sud Radio, January 2021

 Challenges to secularism and forms of religious separatism in schools
IFOP for Fondation Jean Jaurès, January 2021

 State of the art of laïcité in France
Viavoice for Observatoire de la laïcité, January 2021

D 15 November 2021   

Statistics and main surveys 2020

– The French and parasciences IFOP for Women Today, December 2020 Survey on the health of working priests Conference of the Bishops of France, December 2020 How the French are going to spend (...)

 The French and parasciences
IFOP for Women Today, December 2020

 Survey on the health of working priests
Conference of the Bishops of France, December 2020

 How the French are going to spend Christmas this year
IFOP for Odero, November 2020

 The French and immigration
IFOP for Le Figaro, November 2020

 The French, reconfinement and the anniversary of the attacks of 13 November 2015
IFOP for Fiducial, Cnews, Sud Radio, November 2020

 The relation to secularism at a time of struggle against Islamism and the bill against separatism
IFOP for Comité Laïcité République, November 2020

 The French and suicide
IFOP for Fondation Jean Jaurès, November 2020

 The French view of the terrorist threat and Islamism 2
IFOP for Fiducial, Cnews, Sud Radio, October 2020

 Muslims and consumption of halal food
IFOP for Express, October 2020

 The French view of the terrorist threat and Islamism
IFOP for Fiducial, Cnews, Sud Radio, October 2020

 Bill strengthening laïcité (secularism) and republican principles
Odoxa for Le Figaro, October 2020

 The French and voluntary termination of pregnancy
IFOP for Alliance Vita, October 2020

 What is proper attire for a young girl at school?
IFOP for Marianne, September 2020

 French fractures
Ipsos/Sopra Steria for Le Monde, Fondation Jean Jaurès and Institut Montaigne, September 2020

 The French, rising insecurity and the "ensauvagement" of society
IFOP and Avostart, September 2020

 Right to blasphemy, caricatures, freedom of expression... Are the French still Charlie?
IFOP for Charlie Hebdo, September 2020

 The French and the animal condition
IFOP for Brigitte Bardot Foundation, August 2020

 The French and Christian culture
IFOP for Le Monde, August 2020

 The "No Bra" tendency, deep effect or fashion ?
IFOP for Xcams, July 2020

 The practice of Catholic religious celeration during the confinement of spring 2020
La Maison-Dieu, July 2020

 Discriminations in Seine-Saint-Denis Barometer
Sondage Harris Interactive done in June-July 2019 for the Conseil départemental de Seine-Saint-Denis, June 2020

 Do the french support the "referendum for the animals"
IFOP for Caniprof, June 2020

 Fraternity barometer
IFOP and Labo de la fraternité, May 2020

 A year after the fire at Notre-Dame, what do the French think ?
IFOP, Fondation Jean-Jaurès and Conspiracy Watch, April 2020

 The French, the Mila affair, and the right to blasphemy
IFOP for Charlie Hebdo, February 2020

 State of play of "laïcité" in France
Viavoice for Observatoire de la laïcité, February 2020

 The French and the « Charlie spirit », 5 years after the attack of the Charlie-hebdo premises
Ifop for Printemps républicain, January 2020

 Islam and the French Society
IPSOS for Nilaya Productions, January 2020

 Radiographie de l’antisémitisme en France (Radiography of Antisemitism in France)
Fondapol, January 2020

 Secularism and religion at schools and in society
CNESCO, January 2020

D 2 December 2020   

Statistics and main surveys 2019

– The French and their expectations for family gatherings at Christmas: happiness and disapointment Ifop for Pèlerin Magazine, November 2019 The French and marriage IFOP for Monfairepart, (...)

 The French and their expectations for family gatherings at Christmas: happiness and disapointment
Ifop for Pèlerin Magazine, November 2019

 The French and marriage
IFOP for Monfairepart, December 2019

 State of the art of discriminations and aggressions against Muslims of France
Ifop for DILCRAH and Fondation Jean-Jaurès, November 2019

 Religion at the workplace : believe in dialogue
Institut Montaigne and OFRE, November 2019

 Men and masculinity in the post-#Metoo era
IFOP for Elle, November 2019

 The French and the Hereafter
IFOP for Atlantico, November 2019

 Catholics in the face of clericalism
Conférence Catholique des Baptisé-e-s Francophones, June 2019

 The French and the funerary
IFOP for France Tombale, October 2019

 The French and the combat against Islamism
IFOP for Le journal du Dimanche, October 2019

 The French and the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols by school field trip supervisors
IFOP-Fiducial for C-News et Sud Radio, October 2019

 The French and the controversy on the FCPE (federation of student parents) poster
IFOP-Fiducial for Sud-Radio, October 2019

 Musulims in France, 30 years after the Creil head scarf affair
IFOP for Le Point and Fondation Jean Jaurès, September 2019

 The French, medically assisted procreation and surrogate motherhood
IFOP for CNews, September 2019

 Women and the exhibition of their bodies on beaches and in public spaces in summer
IFOP for VieHealthy.com, July 2019

 The French view of homosexuality and the place of LGBT in society
IFOP for Fondation Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais, June 2019

 The French view of medically assisted procreation and surrogate motherhood
IFOP for ADFH, June 2019

 The French view of the electoral future of Les Républicains
IFOP forLe journal du dimanche, June 2019

 European Observatory on Female Infidelity
IFOP for Gleeden, June 2019

 The French in the face of gamete donation
IFOP for ADFH, June 2019

 The vote of denominational electorates for the European elections
IFOP for La Croix, May 2019

 Barometer of fraternity
Opinionway for Le Labo de la fraternité, May 2019

 The LGBTphobies Observatory - State of play 2019
IFOP for Fondation Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais, May 2019

 The French view of paedophilia and cases of sexual assault in the catholic Church
Odoxa for Témoignage chrétien, March 2019

 Followers of Macron and "laïcité" (secularism)
Ifop for Fondation Jean Jaurès, March 2019

 Survey on conspiracy theory 2
IFOP for Fondation Jean Jaurès, February 2019

 Secularism
Viavoice for Observatoire de la laïcité, January 2019

 Republican integration
Ipsos for Association du Corps Préfectoral, January 2019

 Full results of the ISSP survey for France (in French).

D 13 December 2019   

Information for 2017 and previous years

The lists of surveys previous to 2018 are downloadable:
– list for 2018
– list for 2017
– list for 2016
– list for 2015
– list for 2014
– list for 2013
– list for 2012.
– list for 2011. (...)

The lists of surveys previous to 2018 are downloadable:
 list for 2018
 list for 2017
 list for 2016
 list for 2015
 list for 2014
 list for 2013
 list for 2012.
 list for 2011.
 list for 2010.
 list for 2009.
 list for 2008.
 list for 2007.
 list for 2006.
 list for 2005.
 list for 2004.
 list prior to 2004.

D 4 September 2017   

CNRS Unistra Dres Gsrl

Follow us:
© 2002-2024 eurel - Contact