Islam is practiced by 12.2% of the population. English is the official language, although 16 tribal languages, each with numerous dialects, are also spoken. [19] Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been in Liberia in 2006.[20]. Religions: Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.) Islam is the next most popular religion and Muslims account for 12.2% of the population. [13][14], At the end of this three-year period, the Sande leadership "turns over the land" to its counterparts in the Poro Society for another four years, and after a rest period the ritual cycle begins anew. Total area is the sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines of Liberia. Regardless of public statements of identification with Christianity, a "vast majority"[10] of Liberians believe a supernatural world of ancestral and bush spirits that impact daily life. In a religious context, the term kwi connotes a style of worship of a particular Christian church which is marked by formality and decorum. According to the 2008 National Census, 85.5% of Liberia's population practices Christianity. The groups listed below are not included in overall Joshua Project people group counts. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia, "International Religious Freedom Report 2010: Liberia", "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity", "Liberia: Demographic and Health Survey, 1986", "Liberia: Demographic and Health Survey, 2007", "2008 Population and Housing Census: Final Results", "Liberia: Demographic and Health Survey, 2013", Liberia Country Study, "The Christianity of Indigenous Africans", GlobalSecurity.org, "The Bahá'í Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religion_in_Liberia&oldid=991302478, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 November 2020, at 10:23. Islam is practiced by 12.2% of the population. Christian denominations include the Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and AME Zion denominations, and a variety of Pentecostal churches. The alternating three- and four-year initiation cycles for women and men respectively are one example of the widespread use of the numbers 3 and 4 to signify the gender of people, places and events; together the numbers equal seven, a sacred number throughout the region. Christians live throughout the country. Regardless of public statements of identification with Christianity, a "vast majority" of Liberians believe a supernatural world of ancestral and bush spirits that impact daily life. In addition, Sande champions women's social and political interests and promotes their solidarity vis-a-vis the Poro society, a complementary institution for men. By contrast, Islam has declined slightly from 14-15% in the 1980s to 11-12% in recent surveys. The Sande society is a is a female secret society found in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast that initiates girls into adulthood, confers fertility, instills notions of morality and proper sexual comportment, and maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives. The largest number of Christians are Kpelle, followed by the Bassa. Non-Protestant denominations were brought to the area by freed slaves that were relocated to the area. Liberia is the only African country that has not been ruled by Europeans. The Vai are dominant on the Western part of the country while the Mandingo people can be found throughout Liberia. 85.5% of the population of Liberia adheres to Christianity. The present pattern of population distribution in Liberia is both a reflection of its migration history and a response to such social, economic, and cultural factors as war, employment, and superstition. Doe’s government was brutal and used military force to repress the people. Other religious groups in Liberia include the Bahá'ís, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus. The President is the head of the state and the government. Infoplease has everything you need to know about Liberia. If estimates are to be believed, there are about 9,500 followers in Liberia. The Muslim community in this African nation is mostly of the Sunni sect. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. There are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Seventh-day Adventists. Majority of the population of Liberia (85.5% of the national population) practice Christianity. Despite frequent interaction among religious groups, some tensions remain. During Sande's sovereignty, all signs of the men's society are banished. Liberia traces its official state history to 1822 when freed African-American slaves immigrated to the West African coastline. A coup led by Samuel Doe took control of the government in 1980. Liberia. Total area is the sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines of Liberia. Other religions like Buddhism, Hinduism and the Sikhs, including the Baha’I Faith account for only about 5% of the population. Today this social institution is found among the Bassa, Gola, Kissi, Kpelle, Loma, People and Vai of Liberia. The Kpelle ethnic group is one of the largest in Liberia, and occupy the central part of the country and extend to the neighboring country of Guinea. Liberia (/ l aɪ ˈ b ɪər i ə / ()), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. The vast majority of Muslims are Malikite Sunni, with sizeable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. 0.5% of the population subscribes to traditional religions of Liberia, while 0.4% are atheists. [8] Kwi is a Liberian term used to connote Westernization. Liberia population density is 45.4 people per square kilometer (117.5/mi 2) as of December 2020. Demographic profile: Liberia’s high fertility rate of nearly 5 children per woman and large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – will sustain a high dependency ratio for many years to come. Christianity is by far the most common faith in Liberia, with recent surveys showing Christians making up 83-86% of the population, up significantly from surveys in the 1980s. A large number of foreign missionary groups work openly and freely in the country. Religions: Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.) The Bahá'í Faith in Liberia begins with the entrance of the first member of the religion in 1952 By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1975. [15] By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies[16] and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1975. The women's Sande and men's Poro associations alternate political and ritual control of "the land" (a concept embracing the natural and supernatural worlds) for periods of three and four years respectively. There are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Seventh-day Adventists. Some of the Pentecostal movements are affiliated with churches outside the country, while others are independent. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. Liberia spans an area of 43,000 square miles and has a population of about 4.9 million people. Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been in Liberia in 2006. [11] "Both elite and non-elite Liberians usually attribute events to the activities of secret powers and forces". 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liberia population by religion

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liberia population by religion 2020