Which countries give the most money to the church?

A recent comparative analysis conducted by MyCross examined how much religious followers contribute annually to their respective churches through the formal church tax system in various European countries. The study considered variables such as the percentage of income allocated to religious organizations (church tax), the average taxable income per person, and the number of individuals identifying as Christian in each country. This data-driven approach provided insight into the financial support offered to churches at a national level. The study’s methodology involved calculating the monthly church tax by multiplying the tax rate by taxable income, and then determining the annual total by multiplying the result by 12 and by the number of Christian individuals. This made it possible to produce a comparative indicator of total contributions per country, allowing for the assessment of which nations most economically support their churches. At the top of the ranking is Germany, where a 9% church tax applied to an average taxable income of $4,353 per person generates monthly contributions of about $391.80. With a Christian population of nearly 45 million, this translates into an impressive annual total of over $211 billion paid to churches. The high tax rate, combined with a large Christian population and relatively high average income, explains Germany’s top position.

Italy follows as one of the main contributors, despite having a much lower church tax of just 0.8%. Even with this modest rate, Italian churches receive nearly $15 billion annually. This figure is driven by the country’s vast Christian population of 53.2 million—the largest among all countries examined. Each religious individual contributes around $23.40 per month, showing how even a small percentage, when applied to a large population, can yield substantial sums. Sweden, Austria, and Finland also report significant contributions. Sweden imposes a 2% tax on an average taxable income of $3,982, leading to monthly contributions of around $79.60 and an annual total of $6.3 billion from 6.6 million Christians. Austria and Finland, with tax rates of 1.5% and 2.25% respectively, both exceed $4.3 billion annually. Interestingly, in both countries, monthly per-person contributions hover around $97, reflecting similar tax structures and income levels. Denmark, with the lowest tax rate in the group (0.7%), still manages to generate over $2.2 billion per year. Its Christian population is relatively smaller at 4.4 million, but a stable level of taxable income ensures a respectable per capita contribution.

The extended dataset also examined other countries such as Hungary, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. While these nations contribute lower overall totals, the analysis highlighted some interesting elements. For example, in Switzerland, a 0.17% tax rate combined with a high average income ($8,765) results in nearly $1 billion per year in contributions. Liechtenstein, despite its very small population, shows high per-person contributions thanks to a 1.5% tax on an average income of $6,472, translating to a monthly contribution of $97.10 per individual. In short, while Germany dominates in terms of absolute financial contribution due to a high tax rate and a strong economy, Italy stands out as a notable example of how widespread religious affiliation—even with a minimal tax—can generate highly significant collective support.