Religion in Solomon Islands
The
Demographics
Religious makeup of the population of Solomon Islands as of 2019:[3]
- Christianity 93%
- Protestant73%
- Anglican Church of Melanesia 32%
- South Seas Evangelical Church 17%
- Seventh-day Adventist Church 12%
- United Methodists10%
- Catholic Church 20%
- Animism 5%
- Other 3%
'Other' groups include
An estimated 5 percent of the population, consisting primarily of the Kwaio community on the island of Malaita, practice indigenous animistic religions.[3]
Christianity was brought to the country in the 19th and early 20th centuries by
Religious freedom
The constitution of Solomon Islands establishes the freedom of religion, although it also allows for this freedom to be curtailed when "reasonably required" by other laws.[3]
All religious organizations are required to register with the government.[3]
The public school curriculum includes an hour of optional weekly religious education, with the content determined by the Solomon Islands Christian Association. Non-Christian religious instruction is available by request. The government subsidizes schools and health centers operated by religious organizations, in addition to providing small grants to religious organizations.[3]
In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[5]
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Solomon Islands
- Islam in Solomon Islands
References
- ^ International Religious Freedom Report. 2018.
- ^ "Religious Beliefs In The Solomon Islands". worldatlas.com. 14 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e US State Dept 2022 report This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08