Increases in people identifying as non-religious are linked to increases in urban living, higher educational levels, and younger generations. The vicars have maintained a church record of persons born, married and deceased in their parishes since at least the 1660s, constituting one of the oldest population records in Europe. Some people believe this percentage is actually higher, but there is still a cultural stigma associated with being atheist or otherwise non-Christian.Laestadianism is related to the Lutheran church in that it was part of a revival movement that began in northern Finland during the 1800’s. Estimates suggest that roughly 1,000 people have converted to this faith, the majority being women who have married Muslim men.Other religions practiced in Finland (each by less than 1% of the population) include Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Baha’i Faith.All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com It was only replaced by a computerised central population database in 1971, while the two state churches continued to maintain population registers in co-operation with the government's local register offices until 1999, when the churches' task was limited to only maintaining a membership register.Between 1919 and 1970, a separate Civil Register was maintained of those who had no affiliation with either of the state churches. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 2 percent of its members attend church services weekly. Although Finnish regulation allows for religious freedom, this church is considered one of two national churches in the country as a way to promote nationalism among the Finnish population. As this country continues to receive international immigrants who bring with them different religions and cultures, the number of people identifying as atheist or agnostic is likely to continue growing as they are faced with more conflicting religious information as well. The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland is an episcopal church, that is governed by bishops, with a very strong tradition of parish autonomy. These choices are protected against discrimination as well. This decline has been attributed to an attempt to avoid paying the tax and an increase in atheism and agnosticism.The number of people with no religious affiliation is approximately 22% of the population. Its followers make up 70.9% of the population. Since 1923, Finland has ensured religious freedom under the national constitution. Buddhism in Finland represents a very small percentage of that nation's religious practices. Since the late 1990’s, the country has seen an increase in construction of mosques.
This number has increased 100% over the last 20 years although, secularist ideology has existed in the country since the 1800’s. This ethnic group administers the Finnish Islamic Congregation which has the distinction of being the first government-recognized Muslim organization in the western world. This movement has reached Tatars first introduced Islam to Finland when they immigrated to the area from Eastern Europe in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.