Poland: Religious affiliation among high school students declines

A sociological study titled “Youth and Values 2026,” presented at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, reveals a significant decline in religious affiliation among Polish high school students aged 16 to 19. In 2026, 45.8 percent of respondents identified as believing or deeply believing, a sharp decrease from 82.3 percent in 1988 and 53.9 percent in 2017.

Religious practice has seen an even steeper decline, with only 30.1 percent of students reporting regular religious practice, compared to 86.3 percent in 1988. Conversely, the percentage of youth declaring religious indifference or non-belief is rising. In 2026, 17.1 percent reported religious indifference and 16.3 percent declared non-belief.

Despite the decline in institutional religious participation, research from the Integrated Prevention Institute suggests a continued interest in spirituality. Approximately 83 percent of teenagers report turning to God in their thoughts at least occasionally, and 62 percent consider faith and religion to be important or very important matters.