Brussels has more practising Muslims than Catholics, study shows

Brussels is increasingly diverse when it comes to religious beliefs and practices, according to a poll by Ipsos-Orela, commissioned by Le Soir and RTBF. One in four Brussels residents is Muslim, 40% are Catholic and 30% are non-believers, the study shows. In the group of practising believers, there are more than twice as many Muslims as Catholics, writes Brusselnieuws.

The study reveals that 23% of Brussels residents are Muslim, and most of them are also practising (19% say they practise their faith in an active way, while only 4% are “passively religious”).

While 40% of those surveyed are Catholic, only 12% are practising. The study also reveals that 30% of the Brussels population is atheist, agnostic or indifferent, and that young people tend to be less religiously inclined than older people.

The results show that the proportion of Muslims and non-believers in Brussels is higher than in other parts of Belgium, where the number of practicing Catholics is significantly higher.