Religion in Palau
Christianity is the dominant religion in Palau, practiced by around 91.3% of the total population, according to the 2015 census.[1][2] Freedom of religion is enshrined in Palau's constitution.[1]
Demographics
According to the 2020 census, 46.9% of the population is
In the 2015 census, of the population of 13,300 people over 18, 46% are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
In 2020, about 0.85% of the population was estimated to be Buddhist, 0.7% practiced the Baháʼí Faith and 0.25% was reported to be practicing elements of Chinese folk religion, alongside 0.5% following other traditional religions, 2% following Islam, 0.1% practicing Hinduism, and almost 5% identifying as agnostic or atheist.[5]
In 2022, there is a primarily Filipino Catholic expatriate community of over 3,000 people.[1]
History
Foreign missionaries were action since the arrival of
Religious freedom
The constitution of Palau establishes the freedom of religion and prohibits the government from taking any action to infringe upon it. It also states that the country has no state religion.[1]
Religious groups can obtain charters as
Religious instruction is prohibited in public schools, but religious groups are allowed to request government funds to run private schools.[1]
In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[11]
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands
- History of the Jews in Palau
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Palau
References
- ^ a b c d e f US State Dept 2022 report This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Palau Demographics Profile". indexmundi.com.
- ^ a b 2020 Census of Population and Housing of the Republic of Palau (PDF) (Report). Vol. I Basic Tables. Koror, Palau: Office of Planning and Statistics. August 2022. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ^ a b c Palau (2015). 2015 Census of Population, Housing and Agriculture Tables (PDF). p. 53. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives | National Profiles". Thearda.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Willard Price. Japan's Islands of Mystery. p. 111.
- ^ Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus (1981), p. 36
- ^ Lawyers: Uighurs agree to go to Palau
- ^ "Six former Gitmo detainees resettle in Palau". Dawn. Nov 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08