The number of young Spaniards who identify as Catholic has surged by almost 50% in a mere five years, according to a new report.
The Marianist Mducational Foundation found the number of Spanish people aged 15 to 29 who identify as Catholic rose from 31.6% in 2020 to 45% in 2025. This tallies with polls in other countries, including Ireland, where two polls commissioned by The Iona Institute found increased interest in religion among 18-24-year-olds.
This increase coincides with a reduction in explicitly non-religious positions.
The Young Spaniards 2026 report, which analyses the main trends among young people in areas such as values, education, and politics, confirms a trend seen in many other countries around the world: the increased importance of religion and spirituality among the youth.
The report also found that 38.4% of young people consider religion “quite or very important” in their lives, the highest figure in the entire historical series.
