This report analyzes the status of religious freedom in 27 Western democracies, using 2023 data from Round 4 of the Religion and State Project. It evaluates religious freedom across four core dimensions: the separation of religion and state, government discrimination against religious minorities, regulation of all religions (including majority faiths), and societal discrimination, including physical violence.
While all Western democracies uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion or belief, state favoritism toward historical majority churches (especially Catholic and Protestant traditions) remains widespread. These privileges are often symbolic but can influence state funding, education, and public representation. […]
Overall, the findings suggest that Western democracies are moving toward a model in which religion is increasingly regulated and socially contested. Safeguarding the future of religious freedom will depend on ensuring that state neutrality does not evolve into cultural marginalization, and that democratic societies remain capable of protecting both religious and non-religious beliefs equally.
