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Christianity is the dominantreligion inBelize.[1] The single largest denomination is theCatholic Church with about 40.1% of the population (129,456 adherents), a reduction from 49.6% of the population in 2000, 57.7% in 1991 and 61.9% in 1980, although absolute numbers have still risen.[1][2] Other major groups includePentecostal with 8.4% of the population up from 7.4% in 2000 and 6.3% in 1991,Seventh-day Adventists with 5.4% of the population up from 5.2% in 2000 and 4.1% in 1991. The following of theAnglican Church has been steadily declining, with only 4.7% of the population in 2010 compared to 6.95% in 1991.[1][2] About 12,000Mennonites (3.7% of the population)[1] live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk. People who declared they belong to no religion make up 15.5% of the population (just under 50,000 people) in 2010, more than double their 2000 census numbers.[1] 11.2% adhere to other religions which include theMaya religion,Afro-Caribbean religions (Garifuna religion,Obeah and Myalism),Mormons,Hindus,Buddhists,Muslims,Baháʼís,Rastafarians and others.
There were 1,333Mormons in 2010[1] thoughthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 4,807 members as of 2015 (in 11 congregations).[3]
The 2010 census also found 216 followers of theBaháʼí Faith (down slightly from the 2000 census, which counted 219). It also found small numbers ofBuddhists (820 or 0.3% of the population),Hindus (about 650), andMuslims (about 620).[1]However, theAssociation of Religion Data Archives states that as of 2005, 2.5% of the population identifies as Baháʼí, 2.0% identifies asHindu, 1.1% identifies asJewish, 1.0% identifies asspiritists, 0.6% identifies as followers ofindigenous religions, 0.5% identifies asMuslim, and 0.5% identifies asBuddhist.[4] They estimate there were 7,776 Baháʼís in Belize in that year, as well as the highest proportion of Baháʼís in any country (though not nearly the highest absolute number).[5] The 2010 Belize Population Census, however, recorded only 202 Baháʼís out of a total population of 304,106,[6][7] yielding a proportion of 0.066%, far less than 2.5%. .
Belizean Catholic churches belong to theDiocese of Belize City-Belmopan; Anglican churches belong to theDiocese of Belize, part of theChurch in the Province of the West Indies. Catholics frequently visit the country for special gospel revivals. TheGreek Orthodox Church has a presence inSanta Elena.[8] Muslims have been in Belize since the 18th century. Activism of the 1960s saw many converts toIslam. It is also common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among someKriols.Mosques continue to be built in major cities. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in Belize City built Masjid Noor Mosque at the beginning of 2020. It remains one of the fastest growing sect of Islam in Belize.[9]Hinduism is followed by most Indian immigrants.
TheConstitution of Belize establishes the freedom of religion. Discrimination on religious grounds is illegal. A law against blasphemy is unenforced. TheBelize Council of Churches and theBelize Association of Evangelical Churches appoint one senator to thesenate of Belize with the approval of theGovernor-General. The law also establishes that prisoners in jails must have their religious beliefs respected and accommodated.[10]
Religious groups are required to register with the government in order to operate in the country. Religious groups are exempt from certain taxes. Foreign religious workers are required to purchase a religious worker's permit and register with the government.[10]
The public school curriculum for primary schools includes nondenominational "spirituality" classes that introduce world religions, as well as ethics and morals associated with religion;[10] in 2022 there were issues regarding children with traditional Rastafari hairstyles attending some schools. Most public schools are managed by Christian churches. A few schools are run by non-Christian religious groups.
| Religion | percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 31.8% | |||
| Protestant | 29.8% | |||
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 1.1% | |||
| Other religion | 6.3% | |||
| No religion | 31.0% | |||
| No response | 1.0% | |||
| 20001[citation needed] | 20102[citation needed] | 20223[citation needed] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Total population | 232,111 | 304,106 | 397,483 | |||
| Christian | 193,150 | 83.3 | 226,515 | 74.3 | 244,855 | 61.6 |
| -Catholic | 115,035 | 49.6 | 123,010 | 40.4 | 126,596 | 31.8 |
| - Total Protestant | 78,115 | 31.8 | 103,505 | 31.8 | 113,782 | 29.8 |
| -Anglican | 12,386 | 5.3 | 14,016 | 4.6 | 15,943 | 4.0 |
| -Baptist | 8,077 | 3.5 | 11,009 | 3.6 | 14,108 | 5.6 |
| -Mennonite | 9,497 | 4.1 | 11,658 | 3.8 | 15,440 | 3.9 |
| -Methodist | 8,024 | 3.5 | 8,821 | 2.9 | 6,623 | 1.7 |
| -Nazarene | 6,117 | 2.6 | 8,660 | 2.8 | 6,568 | 1.6 |
| -Pentecostal | 17,189 | 7.4 | 25,899 | 8.5 | 36,459 | 9.2 |
| -Seventh-day Adventist | 12,160 | 5.2 | 16,665 | 5.5 | 18,641 | 4.7 |
| -Salvation Army | 371 | 0.2 | 370 | 0.1 | - | - |
| -Jehovah’s Witnesses | 3,366 | 1.5 | 5,114 | 1.7 | 4,477 | 1.1 |
| -Mormon | 928 | 0.4 | 1,293 | 0.4 | - | - |
| No religious affiliation | 21,795 | 9.4 | 47,511 | 15.6 | 123 372 | 31.0 |
| Other | 15,799 | 6.8 | 29,324 | 9.6 | 25,116 | 6.3 |
| -Buddhist | - | - | 757 | 0.3 | 322 | 0.08 |
| -Hindu | 367 | 0.2 | 612 | 0.2 | 506 | 0.1 |
| -Muslim | 243 | 0.1 | 577 | 0.2 | 484 | 0.1 |
| - Other | 15,189 | 6.5 | 27,378 | 8.9 | 23,804 | 6.0 |
| No response | 1,367 | 0.6 | 756 | 0.3 | 4,134 | 1.0 |
| Religion[citation needed] | Corozal | Orange Walk | Belize | Cayo | Stann Creek | Toledo | 2022 | 2010 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 44,381 | 50,085 | 113,630 | 99,105 | 48,162 | 37,124 | 397,483 | 304,106 | 232,111 |
| Anglican | – | – | 9,797 | 2,378 | 1,573 | 476 | 14,224 | 14,016 | 12,386 |
| Bahai Faith | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 202 | 205 |
| Baptist | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11,009 | 8,077 |
| Buddhism | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 757 | n.a |
| Hinduism | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 612 | 367 |
| Islam | – | – | 1,272 | 1,920 | 931 | 476 | 4,599 | 577 | 243 |
| Jehovah's Witness | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5,114 | 3,366 |
| Mennonite | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11,658 | 9,497 |
| Methodist | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,821 | 8,024 |
| Mormon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,293 | 928 |
| Nazarene | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,660 | 6,117 |
| Pentecostal | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25,899 | 17,189 |
| Rastafarian | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 523 | n.a |
| Roman Catholic | 20,688 | 23,248 | 35,040 | 34,432 | 22,428 | 8,042 | 143,878 | 123,010 | 115,035 |
| Seventh Day Adventist | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 16,665 | 12,160 |
| Salvation Army | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 370 | 371 |
| Other | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 26,653 | 14,984 |
| None | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 47,511 | 21,795 |
| Don't know/not stated | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 756 | 1,367 |
Islam is one of the smallest minority faiths inBelize, which is a predominantlyChristian country. There is an estimated total Muslim population of 577,[12] representing 0.2 percent of the total population. There is an Islamic mission of Belize[13][14] (IMB) headquartered inBelize City. There is also a presence of fast growing dynamic worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat since 2013. They have a membership of about 200 from all over Belize. They have three mosques in Belize.[citation needed] Masjid Noor in Belize City is situated on George Price Highway. They have mosques in Belmopan and Orange Walk.[15]
The Muslim Community Primary School (MCPS) was recognised by the government in 1978 and offers Islamic as well as elementary level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children.[16]
Hinduism is a minority faith inBelize. According to 2010 census, 0.2% of Belize population isHindu.[17] Though 3.9% of the population of Belize areIndians, most of them are Christians. Only about 40% are still Hindus.[citation needed]
The Hindu community in Belize today consists mostly of families who arrived in the 1950s, when Belize was still a British colony. The community is composed almost entirely ofSindhis and so there are few cultural differences within it.[citation needed]
There are two Hindu temples in Belize, the Belize Hindu Temple on Albert Street, Belize city and Sukh Shanti Temple, Corozal.[18] Festivals likeDiwali,[19]
Media related toReligion in Belize at Wikimedia Commons
