Religion in Norway is mostly Christian with 55% of the population. Early Norwegians, like all of the people of Scandinavia, were adherents of Norse paganism; the Sámi having a shamanistic religion. Due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, Norway was gradually Christianized in a process starting at approximately 1000 and substantially finished by 1150. Prior to the Reformation, Norwegians were part of the Catholic Church with the conversion to Protestantism commencing in 1536.
In modern times, Norway – like many European countries – has seen a great decline in religiosity, at least among non-immigrant Norwegian endemics, and most Norwegians are irreligious: atheism and agnosticism are the most common metaphysical views according to Zuckerman.
Christian Orthodoxy is the fastest-growing religious tradition in Norway with a rate of 231.1% compared to Islam's 64.3% from 2000 to 2009.
According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2010
- 55% of Norwegian citizens responded "Christian".
- 3% answered "Buddhism".
- 18% answered " Non-religious".
- 2% answered that they "they do not know".
- 22% answered that "Islamic"