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Which religious groups lived in the German Empire?

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Map showing the German Empire as it existed from 1871 to 1918, with its borders outlined and regions color-coded. The map highlights the Kingdom of Prussia in green and the full extent of the German Empire in yellow, including regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia, and East Prussia. Neighboring countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria-Hungary, and the Russian Empire are also labeled. Major cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are marked. — German Empire The German Empire, 1871–1918.

The religious composition of the German Empire (1871–1918) was primarily divided between two major Christian denominations, with a smaller Jewish population. According to demographic data from the period, the religious makeup of the empire was as follows:12

Protestant: 63 percent12
Roman Catholic: 36 percent12
Jewish: 1 percent12

During this era, religious identity played a significant role in the nation's social and political life. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, a staunch Protestant, viewed the Roman Catholic minority with suspicion, leading to the Kulturkampf—a period of intense struggle between the state and the Roman Catholic Church to assert government control over ecclesiastical affairs and education. While these tensions eventually eased, the conflict left a lasting impact on the relationship between Roman Catholics and the German state.3