German churches see rising revenues despite mass exodus of believers

German churches are experiencing a significant paradox where religious membership is declining rapidly while tax revenues continue to rise. Since 2022, approximately 1.5 million people have officially left the Catholic Church in Germany. In 2025 alone, over 307,000 people formally exited the Catholic Church, while roughly 350,000 left regional Protestant churches.

Despite this exodus, the Catholic and Protestant churches collected more than 12.5 billion euros in church tax in 2025, compared to 12.4 billion euros in 2024. This increase is attributed to Germany’s progressive tax system and rising wages; as salaries increase, the 8% to 9% tax levied on members results in higher total revenue even with fewer contributors.

Demographic data indicates a decline in active participation. In 2025, only about 6.8% of Germany’s 19.2 million Catholics attended Sunday Mass, down from 10.9% in 2014. While baptisms are decreasing, there has been a 28% increase in the number of adult catechumens compared to 2024. Church funerals significantly outnumber baptisms, with over 203,000 funerals recorded in 2025.