Christianity is the largestreligion in Tanzania, professed by around 63.1% of the total population as of 2020.[1]Protestantism andCatholicism are the main denominations in the country.
Christianity was introduced in the 16th century whenFranciscans established a mission inKilwa.[2]Spiritan missionaries arrived in the area in 1868.[3] TheAnglican mission was established in 1876.[4]
TheChristian Council of Tanzania was founded in 1934.[5]
A 2020 Pew Forum survey estimates that approximately 63% of the population identifies as Christian, 34% as Muslim, and 5% practitioners of other religions.[6] Most Christians areCatholics andLutherans, although there are also Anglicans,Pentecostals and other groups.
A 2010 Pew survey found 61.4 percent of respondents to be Christian, 35.2 percent to be Muslim, 1.8 percent to follow traditional African religions, 1.4 percent to be unaffiliated, and 0.1 percent to be Hindu.[7] TheEastern Orthodox Church claims an estimated 200,000 adherents in Tanzania.[8] TheUnited Methodist Church claims 8,371 members in Tanzania.[9] In 2020, the Vatican noted that 30.41% of the population are Catholic.[10]
A 2015 study estimates some 180,000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background living in the country, most of them Protestant.[11]
TheWorld Factbook produced by theCIA notes thatZanzibar is almost entirely Muslim.[12]
In 2023,Freedom House scored Tanzania at a 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[13]
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