The Remarkable Story of the Catholic Church in Norway
The Catholic Church in Norway reached 170,983 registered members in 2026. A look at its history, the role of immigration and its three ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
Catholicism was outlawed for three centuries. Today, the Church has almost 171,000 registered members, three ecclesiastical jurisdictions and a community that has grown largely through immigration.
As at 1 January 2026, the Norwegian authorities recognised 170,983 registered members of the Catholic Church. This is the number of Catholics for whom the Ministry of Children and Families, which is responsible for religious communities, has agreed to pay an annual state grant. It is the highest figure ever recorded. It makes the Catholic Church the largest registered religious or belief community in Norway after the Church of Norway, the Lutheran denomination that was the state church until 2012 and still has 3.4 million members, roughly six in ten Norwegians. Catholics account …