Luxembourg

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in northwest Europe bordered by Belgium, France and Germany. Its modern-day borders were agreed in 1839 and it finally regained independence from its neighbors in 1867, although it was occupied by Germany during both world wars. The country’s economy historically grew from steel manufacturing, but today Luxembourg is recognized as one of Europe’s strongest financial centres and a founding member of several international organizations – including the European Union and NATO.¹

Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy and executive power technically lies with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, who appoints the Prime Minister. In reality the powers of the Grand Duke are largely symbolic and executive power lies with the Prime Minister and his ministerial cabinet. The cabinet answers to the Chamber of Deputies, who are elected to five-year terms by popular vote.²

According to Government regulations on the use of personal data in information processing, the national statistics office does not have the right to ask questions about religious, political and philosophical affiliation and trade-union membership in population censuses from 1981 onwards.³ As such there are no official and reliable statistics on religious affiliation in Luxembourg. However, according to a survey from 2022 commissioned by the Alliance of Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics Luxembourg (AHA Lëtzebuerg) and conducted by TNS ILres, 51% of residents self-identify as “non-religious”, although approximately 59% considered themselves as “belonging to a religion” (53% adhering to Catholicism, 2% to Protestantism, 3% to Islam, 3% other). 41% of those surveyed “do not belong to a religion” (23% having quit religion and 18% having never belonged to a religion).⁴

Constitution and government

Constitutional guarantees

Luxembourg’s Constitution (revised in 2023)⁵ protects freedom of thought, religion or belief (FoRB). Under Article 14, it is stated that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”. Article 24 of the Constitution guarantees:

“The freedom to manifest one’s philosophical or religious beliefs, and the freedom to adhere, or not to adhere, to a religion, are guaranteed, except for offenses committed in the exercise of these freedoms.

Freedom of worship and the freedom to practice it are guaranteed, except for offenses committed in the exercise of these freedoms.

No one may be compelled to participate in any way in the acts and ceremonies of a religion or to observe its days of rest.”⁶

There is no state religion and the secular nature of the state is guaranteed under Article 120:

“Churches and religious communities are separate from the state.

The law regulates relations between the state and churches and religious communities.

Within the limits and measures determined by law, agreements to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies may specify the relations between the state and churches and religious communities.”⁷

Recognition & registration of belief groups

Luxembourg operates a selective recognition model and has established conventions with a number of religious communities which, despite the Constitution’s declared secularism, include state funding. In January 2015, the government reached an overarching agreement to reorganize relations and public funding with several religious communities – Catholic, Protestant, Reformed, Anglican, Orthodox,⁸ and Jewish – as well as to extend recognition and funding to the Muslim community (Shoura) for the first time.⁹ These conventions have led to the restructure of the Catholic Church’s historic bodies – as exemplified by the creation of a fund to manage religious buildings – demonstrating a shift from direct salary payments to institutional funding. Parliament approved the relevant conventions between July 2015–July 2016¹⁰ and groups that do not have a convention – such as the New Apostolic Church and the Bahá’ís – may operate freely, but do not receive state funding.

Religious privilege within government

The Prime Minister traditionally holds the portfolio of Minister of Religious Affairs and signs and oversees the conventions – acting as the institutional channel for religious affairs within government. Conventions confer public-law status and budgetary support to selected religions, plus arrangements for chaplaincy and representation. Non-recognized world-view groups – such as humanist associations – register under the general law on non-profit associations and foundations¹¹ without equivalent public privileges or funding.

Religious taxes

Unlike some of its neighbors, Luxembourg does not levy a church tax. Historically, support has come from the state budget and since 2015, lump-sum public funding is allocated via the conventions rather than individual clergy salaries. A church-tax was floated in 2014 but was not adopted.¹²

Education and children’s rights

Curriculum & religious education

Public schools no longer offer confessional religious education. From 2016 (secondary) and 2017 (primary) the state introduced a common, compulsory, non-confessional subject “Vie et société / Leben & Gesellschaft (VIESO)” that has replaced both religious instruction and education about ethics and morals. The course is framed around citizenship, critical thinking, and social competencies. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Childhood (MENJE) regularly publishes the framework and materials.

Collective worship in schools

There is no legal requirement for collective worship in public schools. A ministerial circular in 2014¹³ reiterates the religious neutrality of public education, restricts staff from proselytizing, and protects pupils’ individual expression within school rules.

Funding for religious schools

Luxembourg recognizes private schools that follow national curricula on a contractual basis. These institutions, including several Catholic schools, receive state contributions under the Law of 13 June 2003 on relations between the State and private education,¹⁴  as well as through related legal instruments. Examples include the self-described Catholic schools, École Privée Fieldgen and École Privée Sainte-Anne, which operate under contract. By contrast, private international schools that fall outside the contract do not receive subsidies or routine pedagogical inspection.

In employment and admissions, EU Directive 2000/78/EC (found in the Law of 28 Nov 2006) prohibits discrimination on grounds including religion or belief. “Genuine and determining occupational requirement” exceptions can apply – such as for positions related to a specific ethos. However, any difference of treatment must be objective, proportionate, and legitimate. Overall, contract schools are bound by equality norms and there is no blanket exemption permitting faith-based discrimination during staffing or pupil selection.

Family, community & society

Luxembourg is broadly tolerant and increasingly non-religious in everyday culture. A 2022 survey by the Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics Alliance found a slight majority (51%) identify as non-religious, with very high endorsement of broadly humanist values (freedom of expression, equality, secularism). While the sample is modest, the trend aligns with long-term secularization and the legal neutrality of public institutions.¹⁵

International monitoring reports no pattern of societal harassment against the non-religious and documents largely cooperative state–religion relations under the convention system. The government presents itself as a neutral guarantor of FoRB.

Religious minorities (Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, etc.) participate in the convention framework and are generally free to worship. The government adopted a comprehensive National Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism (2023)¹⁶ that spans education, victim support, and data collection – an explicit acknowledgement of risk factors even in a relatively safe environment.

Women’s rights

In 2024, a parliamentary initiative proposed amending Luxembourg’s Constitution to explicitly guarantee the right to abortion y and the right to contraception, with the law determining conditions for “free and effective access” to these rights. The Council of State, in a July 2025 opinion, welcomed the proposal. They noted that while it would not fundamentally alter existing abortion law, it would provide more durable legal protection against potential future regressions. Civil society organizations such as Planning Familial and the Consultative Commission on Human Rights have strongly supported constitutional enshrinement, and public demonstrations have called on Parliament to act.¹⁷ Political reactions have been largely positive, while the Catholic Church has been firmly opposed to the initiative.¹⁸ The proposal reflects a broader European trend — exemplified by France’s 2024 constitutional amendment — to safeguard reproductive rights at the highest legal level against shifting political or ideological pressures.

Luxembourg permits abortion on request up to 12 weeks of pregnancy In July 2025, Parliament abolished the mandatory 3-day reflection period, removing a symbolic and logistical barrier to timely care.¹⁹ Conscientious objection among individual doctors persists in practice, but objectors must refer the patient to a willing provider.

Harmful traditional practices

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is explicitly criminalized in Article 409 of the Penal Code²⁰ and child marriage is not permitted under Article 144 of Luxembourg’s Civil Code.²¹

As of March 2025, in line with World Health Organization recommendations,²² the Luxembourg government declared its intention to prohibit virginity testing and certificates, and also to ban hymenoplasty (a surgical procedure to “restore” the hymen). A draft law has been approved (by the Government Council) that would criminalize “all virginity testing procedures and certificate issuance” and make “attempts to perform or arrange a virginity test or hymenoplasty” punishable offences. The proposal also includes amendments to the Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure and new schemes for prosecuting offences even when committed abroad.²³

LGBTI+ rights

Luxembourg ranks among Europe’s more protective jurisdictions. Same-sex marriage and joint adoption have been legal since 2015 and anti-discrimination protections on sexual orientation (and legal gender change without surgical requirements) are established in law and practice. The government announced in 2025 that it would introduce a law to ban “conversion therapy”, as part of an updated national action plan.²⁴

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

Freedom of expression is broadly respected in law and practice. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), journalists in Luxembourg operate in a generally safe environment.²⁵

Luxembourg retains criminal defamation provisions in the Penal Code. While the provisions are seldom used against public-interest journalism, they remain a potential constraint. The United Nations (UN) have recommended that Luxembourg decriminalize defamation²⁶ and the Council of Europe has urged all member states to review and amend defamation laws to align with the European Court of Human Rights.²⁷

No “blasphemy” offence exists in Luxembourg law. However, hate-speech and discrimination provisions cover religion among protected characteristics, and anti-religious statements may be punishable when they meet statutory thresholds – such as incitement and insults targeting protected groups. Recent updates strengthened penalties for crimes motivated by factors listed in Criminal Code Article 454 (including religion).²⁸

Freedom of assembly and association

Constitutional guarantees protect peaceful assembly and civil society operates freely. Humanist or atheist groups may register as non-profit associations. A major reform—the Law of 7 Aug 2023 (as amended 4 Dec 2024)²⁹ —modernized and simplified the procedure, further easing restrictions on freedom of association. However, prior authorization is required for demonstrations organized in open-air, public spaces. The UN Human Rights Committee has recommended that Luxembourg should lift this ban on demonstrations that have not been notified in advance.³⁰

Advocating for humanist values

The Alliance of Humanists, Atheists and Agnostics Luxembourg, via its President, is invited to regularly share its views on current societal issues on two national radio stations (“Carte Blanche” on RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg and “Fräie Mikro” on Radio 100,7) and it has a monthly 1 hour radio show (“Iwwer Gott an d’Welt”) on the community media radio station RADIO ARA.

Testimonies

As an atheist in Luxembourg, I can live my life openly without fear of persecution or legal disadvantage. I do not have to hide my worldview at work, in public, or among friends. Most people are respectful, and many are themselves non-religious — even if they still identify culturally as Catholic. Conversations about religion and belief are generally calm and pragmatic rather than hostile. I do not face harassment from the state, and I can form associations or speak publicly about humanism without obstacles.

That said, traces of the country’s Catholic heritage are still woven into public life. Major public holidays follow the Christian calendar, religious symbols sometimes appear in official ceremonies, and political leaders often attend church events. These practices rarely feel oppressive, but they are reminders that religious traditions still enjoy a kind of “default” status. Occasionally I encounter assumptions — for example, that everyone celebrates religious holidays, or that children should take part in certain religious rituals — but declining is usually accepted without issue.

In everyday life, then, being an atheist in Luxembourg is easy and unremarkable. I can speak freely, raise my children without religious instruction, and advocate for secularism in public debate. If anything, the remaining challenges are subtle: not legal discrimination, but the persistence of habits and symbols that still give religion a privileged place in public life.

– Anonymous, October 2025

1. “Luxembourg Country Profile”, BBC, accessed 9 October 2025 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17548470[↩]
2. “Luxembourg”, Britannica, accessed 9 October 2025 https://www.britannica.com/place/Luxembourg/Communications [↩]
3. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Loi relative à la protection des personnes à l’égard du traitement des données à caractère personnel, 2 August 2002; https://gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/fr/actualites/articles/2004/10/25cnpd/loi.pdf Loi du 31 mars 1979 réglementant l’utilisation des données nominatives dans les traitements informatiques https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/1979/03/31/n1/jo [↩]
4. AHA Lëtzebuerg, Les valeurs et croyances des résidents du Luxembourg en 2022, 21 June 2022 https://www.aha.lu/images/Pressemitteilungen/2022-06-21-AHA-Sondage.pdf; “Le rôle de la religion est devenu moins important au Luxembourg”, RTL Infos, 22 June 2022 https://infos.rtl.lu/actu/luxembourg/a/1931443.html;
   “La foi recule, faut-il continuer à la financer?”, L’Essentiel, 22 June 2022 https://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/story/la-foi-recule-faut-il-continuer-a-la-financer-198874054758 [↩]
5. Constitution du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Version consolidée applicable au 01/07/2023 https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/constitution/1868/10/17/n1/consolide/20230701 [↩]
6. “La liberté de manifester ses convictions philosophiques ou religieuses, celle d’adhérer ou de ne pas adhérer à une religion sont garanties, hormis les infractions commises à l’occasion de l’exercice de ces libertés.
   La liberté des cultes et celle de leur exercice sont garanties, hormis les infractions commises à l’occasion de l’exercice de ces libertés.
   Nul ne peut être contraint de concourir d’une manière quelconque aux actes et aux cérémonies d’un culte ni d’en observer les jours de repos.”[↩]
7. “Les églises et les communautés religieuses sont séparées de l’État.
   La loi règle les relations entre l’État et les églises et communautés religieuses.
   Dans les limites et formes déterminées par la loi, des conventions à approuver par la Chambre des Députés peuvent préciser les relations entre l’État et les églises et communautés religieuses.”[↩]
8. The Luxembourg Orthodox Church represents the Greek, Romanian, Serbian and Russian Orthodox communities [↩]
9. “Muslims welcome “dawn of new era” in Luxembourg”, Luxembourg Times, 27 January 2015 https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/muslims-welcome-dawn-of-new-era-in-luxembourg/1283820.html [↩]
10. “Accord du gouvernement avec les communautés religieuses établies au Luxembourg”, Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 20 January 2015 https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/articles/2015/01-janvier/20-cdp-accord.html [↩]
11. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Loi du 7 août 2023 sur les associations sans but lucratif et les fondations https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2023/08/07/a592/jo [↩]
12. “Luxembourg considering church tax”, Luxembourg Times, 11 September 2014
    https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/luxembourg-considering-church-tax/1263552.html;
    “C’est aux croyants de financer l’Église”, Virgule, 11 September 2014 https://www.virgule.lu/luxembourg/c-est-aux-croyants-de-financer-l-eglise/160881.html [↩]
13. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Circulaire ministérielle sur les principes de neutralité dans les écoles, 26 June 2014 https://men.public.lu/content/dam/men/fr/actualites/articles/communiques-conference-presse/2014/07/01-neutralite-religieuse/circulaire.pdf [↩]
14. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Loi du 13 juin 2003 concernant les relations entre l’Etat et l’enseignement privé et portant abrogation des articles 83 à 87 de la loi modifiée du 10 août 1912 concernant l’organisation de l’enseignement primaire https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2003/06/13/n1/jo[↩]
15. AHA Lëtzebuerg, Les valeurs et croyances des résidents du Luxembourg en 2022, 21 June 2022 https://www.aha.lu/images/Pressemitteilungen/2022-06-21-AHA-Sondage.pdf;
    “Le rôle de la religion est devenu moins important au Luxembourg”, RTL Infos, 22 June 2022 https://infos.rtl.lu/actu/luxembourg/a/1931443.html;
    “La foi recule, faut-il continuer à la financer?”, L’Essentiel, 22 June 2022 https://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/story/la-foi-recule-faut-il-continuer-a-la-financer-198874054758 [↩]
16. Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Plan d’action national
    de lutte contre l’antisémitisme, September 2023 https://gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/documents/actualites/2023/09-septembre/27-bettel-antisemitismus/brochure-panas-b5-fr-web-2023.pdf [↩]
17. “Rally Planned in Luxembourg for Constitutional Right to Abortion”, The Luxembourg Chronicle, 4 September 2025 https://chronicle.lu/category/things-to-see-do/56582-rally-planned-in-luxembourg-for-constitutional-right-to-abortion [↩]
18. “Statement by the Catholic Church: On Introducing the Right to Abortion in the Constitution”, Archevêché de Luxembourg, 26 September 2025 https://www.cathol.lu/en/news-display/stellungnahme-der-katholischen-kirche-zur-einschreibung-des-rechts-auf-abtreibung-in-die-verfassung [↩]
19. Marc Hoscheid, “Luxembourg MPs vote to abolish abortion ‘reflection period’”, RTL Today, 9 July 2025 https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2319761.html [↩]
20. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Code Pénal https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/code/penal/20240308 [↩]
21. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Code Civil https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/code/civil/20200101 [↩]
22. “United Nations agencies call for ban on virginity testing”, World Health Organization, 17 October 20218 https://www.who.int/news/item/17-10-2018-united-nations-agencies-call-for-ban-on-virginity-testing [↩]
23. Alex Witte, “La Commission des droits de l’homme salue le projet de loi sur l’interdiction des «tests de virginité»”, Virgule, 17 June 2025 https://www.virgule.lu/luxembourg/la-commission-des-droits-de-lhomme-salue-le-projet-de-loi-sur-l-interdiction-des-tests-de-virginite/72171132.html [↩]
24. Pierre Jans, “Government unveils 81-measure plan to advance LGBTIQ+ rights”, RTL Today, 22 July 2025 https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2323002.html [↩]
25. “Luxembourg”, Reporters Without Borders, accessed 9 October 2025 https://rsf.org/en/country/luxembourg [↩]
26. Compilation of information prepared by the Office of the United
    Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, A/HRC/WG.6/43/LUX/2, Human Rights Council, Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, Forty-third session
    1–12 May 2023 https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/43/LUX/2 [↩]
27. Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly,Recommendation 1814 (2007) https://pace.coe.int/en/files/17587/html [↩]
28. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Code Pénal https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/code/penal/20240308 [↩]
29. Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg,Loi du 4 décembre 2024 modifiant les articles 7 et 77 de la loi du 7 août 2023 sur les associations sans but lucratif et les fondations https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2024/12/04/a492/jo [↩]
30. Compilation of information prepared by the Office of the United
    Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, A/HRC/WG.6/43/LUX/2, Human Rights Council, Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, Forty-third session
    1–12 May 2023 https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/43/LUX/2 [↩]