What is Sierra Leone main religion?
Members of the IRC report that the country is approximately 60 percent Muslim (primarily Sunni), 30 percent Christian, and 10 percent animist. The 2010 Pew Global Religious Futures Report estimated the breakdown at 78 percent Muslim and 21 percent Christian.
Which religion has the highest population in Sierra Leone?
Islam
Islam is the largest and majority religion in Sierra Leone. Based on the 2015 Pew Research Center research, 78% of Sierra Leone’s population is Muslim. The vast majority of Sierra Leonean Muslims are adherent to the Sunni Islam.
What was the first religion in Sierra Leone?
Christianity was first introduced in Sierra Leone in 1792, however, Sierra Leone is a predominately Muslim country today.
Is Sierra Leone Islamic?
According to national government statistics, 77 percent of the population is Muslim, and 21.9 percent is Christian. Many individuals regularly blend Christian and Islamic practices with animism in their private and public worship.
How many Catholics are in Sierra Leone?
800,000 Catholics
There are approximately 800,000 Catholics in Sierra Leone – around 14% of the total population.
How did Islam come to Sierra Leone?
Islam was brought in to the Western Sudan by the Arab-Berbers from North Africa in the eighth century. By the eighteenth century it had reached Sierra Leone and was disseminated in this country by the Soso (Susu), Fulah and Mandinka tribes from Futa Jallon in Central Guinea.
What religion was in Mali before Islam?
The traditional religions of the Western Sudan were polytheistic and often referred to as animistic. The many ethnic groups in West Africa, traditionally believed in the “spirits of the land,” who were thought to ensure the success of their crops.
What religion is Somalia?
Islam is the official state religion of Somalia and the vast majority of the Somali population identifies as Muslim. Most belong to the Sunni branch of Islam and the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence.
What are the three main religions in Sierra Leone?
Sacrifices, rituals and celebrations are important parts of daily life. Sierra Leone, a small country on the western coast of Africa, has a unique history of religious diversity. The country is composed of three primary religious groups: Muslims, Christians and adherents to traditional African beliefs.
What kind of a country is Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is a West African country with an area of 71,740 square km and a population of 7,075,641 people. The country is a secular state with the constitution granting the people of the country the freedom to practice the religion of their choice.
Why was Islam so popular in Sierra Leone?
The faith was introduced to the country during the 18th century by small trading groups, and grew in popularity over the next two centuries. The residents of Sierra Leone were especially receptive to Islam because Islamic practices such as regular prayer and polygamy were compatible with traditional values.
Which is the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is home to about sixteen ethnic groups, each with its own language. The largest and most influential are the Temne at about 36%, and the Mende at about 33%. The Temne predominate in the Northern Sierra Leone and the areas around the capital of Sierra Leone.
