Religion in Nauru, based on the 2011 census [1]
Christianity is the largest religion in Nauru , with Nauru Congregational Church being the largest denomination, encompassing 35.71% of the population as of the 2011 census.
Freedom of religion is a constitutional right, and the country's laws and society uphold this right without any significant breaches.
According to the 2011 census, the island was 95% Christian; one-third of Christians were Catholic. [2]
The largest Protestant denomination was the Nauru Congregational Church, while the Nauru Independent Assembly of God and the Nauru Independent Church both had 10% or more of the island as members. [2]
The ethnic Chinese people living on the island (approximately 5% of the population) were mainly Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, or nonreligious. [2]
Members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made up the final 1% of the population.
The largely Christian communities of Tuvaluan and I-Kiribati expatriates were repatriated in late 2006 following the near cessation of phosphate mining in the country. [3]
Nauruan indigenous religion was the predominant religion in Nauru before the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when foreign missionaries introduced Christianity to the island. [3] In the early 2000s, there were a few active Christian missionary organisations, including representatives of Anglicanism, Methodism, and Catholicism. [3]
According to data from Pew Research, the religions of Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam had a small presence in the island, with about 0.1% of the population (fewer than ten people), adhering to each faith. With the exception of detainees in Nauru Regional Processing Centre, in which majority are Muslims, with significant minority of Buddhists and Hindus, although the population were slowly decreasing due to re-settlement program by the Australian Government. [4]
Estimates in 2020 suggested that 75% of the island had a Christian background, 10.5% of the population followed Chinese folk-religion, 9% were Baha'i and almost 5% had no religious beliefs. [5]
The constitution of Nauru provides for freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, as well as freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs. [2]
Religious groups are required to register with the government in order to proselytize, build houses of worship, hold religious services, or officiate marriages. As of 2022, religious groups are required to have 750 members to register. [2] In the past, local religious leaders noted that in practice the only activity which is restricted for unregistered groups is marriage officiation. [6]
Religious groups are allowed to operate private schools. In public schools, religious groups are allowed to provide religious studies courses once a week during school hours, but they are not required to do this. Students are expected to attend courses pertaining to their chosen religious denomination; other students are expected to use the time as an independent study period. [2]
According to a 2022 US government report, there are no significant societal limits on religious freedom in Nauru. [2] In the past, some elements of the Nauru Protestant and Roman Catholic communities have occasionally voiced discomfort with religious groups they perceived as foreign, in particular the LDS Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses. [3]
In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom. [7]
Demographics of American Samoa include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects. American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean.
The predominant religion in Brazil is Christianity, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. In 1891, when the first Brazilian Republican Constitution was set forth, Brazil ceased to have an official religion and has remained secular ever since, though the Catholic Church remained politically influential into the 1970s. The Constitution of Brazil guarantees freedom of religion and strongly prohibits the establishment of any religion by banning government support or hindrance of religion at all levels.
The Catholic branch of Christianity is the dominant religion in Mexico, representing 78% of the total population as of 2020. In recent decades the share of Catholics has been declining, due to the growth of other Christian denominations – especially various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism – which now constitute larger shares of the population. Conversion to non-Catholic denominations has been considerably lower than in Central America, and central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world.
Christianity is the most widely professed religion in the Dominican Republic. Historically, Catholicism dominated the religious practices of the country, and as the official religion of the state it receives financial support from the government. About 60% of Dominicans identify themselves as Catholic.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Uganda. According to the 2014 census, over 84 percent of the population was Christian, while about 14 percent of the population adhered to Islam, making it the largest minority religion. Anglicanism and Catholicism are the main Christian denominations in the country.
Christianity is the largest religion in Uruguay, with Catholics having the most adherents, but around 44.5% of the population is non-religious as of 2021. Church and state are officially separated since 1916.
When it comes to religion, the Ecuadorian society is relatively homogeneous, with Christianity being the primary religion. Roman Catholicism is the main Christian denomination in the country. There are also minorities of other religions.
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Christianity is the predominant religion in Solomon Islands, with Anglicanism being the single largest denomination.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Kiribati, with Catholicism being its largest denomination.
Christianity has been the main religion in the Marshall Islands ever since it was introduced by European missionaries in the 19th century.
Christianity is the predominant religion in the Federated States of Micronesia and represents an integral part of the nation's identity.
Christianity is the dominant religioninPalau, practiced by around 91.3% of the total population, according to the 2015 census. Freedom of religion is enshrined in Palau's constitution.
Christianity is the official and largest religion in Samoa, with its various denominations accounting for around 98% of the total population. The article 1 of the Constitution of Samoa states that "Samoa is a Christian nation founded of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".
Christianity is the predominant religion in Tonga, with Methodists having the most adherents.
The predominant religion in Panama is Christianity, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. Before the arrival of Spanish missionaries, the various ethnic groups residing in the territory of modern day Panama practiced a multitude of faiths.
Religion in Suriname is characterized by a range of religious beliefs and practices due to its ethnic diversity. The government is vocally supportive of religious diversity and tolerance, and these attitudes are present in general society as well. According to the most recent census (2012), 48.4 percent of the population is Christian 22.3 percent is Hindu, 13.9 percent is Muslim, 1.8 percent follows Winti, and 0.8 percent is Kejawen. In addition 2.1 percent of the population follows other faiths, 7.5 percent are atheist or agnostic, and 3.2 percent did not answer the question about their religion. Later estimates suggest that Christians made up just over half the population in 2020.
The Constitution of Panama provides for freedom of religion.
Religion in the Falkland Islands is predominantly Christianity, of which the primary denominations are Church of England, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, and Lutheran. In the 2006 census most islanders identified themselves as Christian, followed by those who refused to answer or had no religious affiliation. The remaining 1.3 percent were adherents of other faiths.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nauru refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Nauru. A branch was organized in 1984 with 16 members. It now has 133 members.
