Decrease in the number of Protestant and Catholic theology students in Germany by approximately a third
In a recent article published by Evangelical Focus, Europe, the decline of Protestant and Catholic theology students in Germany over the past five years has been highlighted. The decline, amounting to approximately a third, is believed to be influenced by broader trends in secularization, decreasing religiosity, and changing societal attitudes towards religion and academic study of theology.
Despite the lack of specific data or detailed analysis on this decline in Germany, several factors contributing to such a trend can be identified.
Across much of Europe, including Germany, church attendance and membership have been steadily decreasing, which reduces interest in religious vocations and studies related to theology. This secularization is accompanied by changing career preferences, with students increasingly choosing fields with clearer career paths and job prospects, such as STEM, business, or social sciences, over theology.
Cultural and social shifts also play a significant role. Younger generations tend to have more diverse beliefs or identify as non-religious or spiritual but non-affiliated, resulting in less interest in formal theological education.
Additionally, some theological faculties face funding cuts or restructuring, while the churches themselves may struggle to attract new clergy or scholars amid declining influence. This competition from interdisciplinary studies, such as religious studies, philosophy, or cultural studies, may also draw students away from traditional theology programs.
The crisis in theological education is causing issues in replacing retired pastors and establishing new churches. In 2023, there were only 262 graduates in Protestant religious studies in Germany, a decline from 400 in 2018. Similarly, the number of graduates in Roman Catholic theology fell from 271 in 2018 to 171 in 2023.
The decline in the number of students and graduates in theology in Germany has been consistent over the past five years, with around 5,400 students enrolled in Roman Catholic theology and 7,900 students enrolled in Protestant theology during the winter semester of 2023/24. Among Protestant students, women account for over 50% of the total number of students.
These trends suggest a shift in interest or priorities among young people in Germany, away from traditional Christian institutions in theological academia. While the search did not yield sources explicitly analyzing the German context, these factors are recognized broadly in Europe and North America as drivers behind fewer theology students.
[1] TikTok video on religion in Europe (source not provided)
- The decrease in the number of students enrolled in theological education in Germany, such as that highlighted in a recent article by Evangelical Focus, can be linked to general news trends about secularization and changing societal attitudes towards religion and academic study.
- The decline in Protestant and Catholic theology students in Germany is not only significant in the religious sphere but also affects education-and-self-development, since students are increasingly choosing fields with more promising career paths and job prospects, such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, and social sciences, over theology.
