Christianity is the predominantreligion in Liberia, withProtestantism being its largest denomination.[2]Liberia is asecular state and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion. While most Liberians have religious affiliations, traditional belief systems are widespread.
Muslims are the largest minority group, largely coming from theMandingo, Fula andVai ethnic groups;[2][3]traditional indigenous religions are practiced by 0.5% of the population, while 2.6% has no religion.
Christianity is by far the most common faith in Liberia, with recent surveys showing Christians making up 83-86% of the population, up significantly from surveys in the 1980s. By contrast, Islam has declined slightly from 14-15% in the 1980s to 11-12% in recent surveys. Traditional religions and non-religious individuals have seen greater declines.
| Christian | Muslim | Traditional | Other/ Unknown | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Census[4] | 67.7% | 17.4% | 18.1% | ||
| 1986 DHS Survey[4] | 54.2% | 17.2% | 12.5% | 18.9% | |
| 2007 DHS Survey[5] | 83.3% | 14.1% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 3.4% |
| 2008 Census[6] | 85.5% | 15.2% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| 2013 DHS Survey[7] | 84.2% | 14.8% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 2.8% |
Christian denominations includeBaptist,African Methodist Episcopal andAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion churches,Presbyterian,Nazarene,Anglican,Lutheran, and a variety of Pentecostal churches. Some of the Pentecostal movements are affiliated with churches outside the country, while others are independent. There are also adherents ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons),Seventh-day Adventists, and theCatholic Church. Christians live throughout the country.
In a religious context, the termkwi connotes a style of worship of a particular Christian church which is marked by formality and decorum.[8][better source needed] Kwi is a Liberian term used to connoteWesternization.[9][better source needed] Services in churches considered to be non-kwi have more outward spiritualist expression, with dancing and even street processions in colorful costumes as key elements. Non-kwi churches also have self-proclaimed prophets who interpret dreams and visions, and prioritize a direct experience with the Holy Spirit. Liberia's educated elite have historically regarded the apostolic churches as churches of the uneducated and thus non-kwi.[8][better source needed]
The Lutheran hymn 'Come, Let Us Eat' was translated from Loma, a language spoken in Liberia. It was composed in the 1960s byBillema Kwillia, who converted to Christianity.[10]
TheMuslim population is mainly found among theMandingo,Gola and theVai ethnic groups.[11] The Vai and Gola live predominantly in the west. Mandingo reside throughout the country.
Regardless of public statements of identification with Christianity, a "vast majority"[12] of Liberians believe in a supernatural world of ancestral and bush spirits that impact daily life.[12] Ethnic groups in all regions of Liberia participate in the traditional religious practices of thePoro andSande secret societies, with the exception of theKrahn ethnic group, who have their own secret society.[13]
"Liberian religious culture is characterised by a predisposition towards secrecy (encapsulated in the concept ofifa mo - "do not speak it") and an ingrained belief in the intervention of mysterious forces in human affairs".[13] "Both elite and non-elite Liberians usually attribute events to the activities of secret powers and forces".[14]
"Beliefs include the conviction that there are deep and hidden things about an individual that only diviners, priests, and other qualified persons can unravel.[12] This presupposes that whatever exists or happens in the physical realm has foundations in the spirit world".[12]
TheSande society is a female secret society found inLiberia,Sierra Leone,Guinea and theIvory Coast that initiates girls into adulthood, confersfertility, instills notions of morality and proper sexual comportment, and maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives. In addition, Sande champions women's social and political interests and promotes their solidarity vis-a-vis thePoro society, a complementary institution for men. Today this social institution is found among theBassa,Gola,Kissi,Kpelle,Loma,People andVai of Liberia.
Throughout the region, the complementarity of men's and women'sgender roles – evident in such diverse activities as farming, cloth production, and musical performances – reach full expression. The women's Sande and men's Poro associations alternate political and ritual control of "the land" (a concept embracing the natural and supernatural worlds) for periods of three and four years respectively. During Sande's sovereignty, all signs of the men's society are banished.[15][16]
At the end of this three-year period, the Sande leadership "turns over the land" to its counterparts in the Poro Society for another four years, and after a rest period the ritual cycle begins anew. The alternating three- and four-year initiation cycles for women and men respectively are one example of the widespread use of the numbers 3 and 4 to signify the gender of people, places and events; together the numbers equal seven, a sacred number throughout the region.[15][16]
The Bahá'í Faith in Liberia begins with the entrance of the first member of the religion in 1952.[17] By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies[18] and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their firstNational Spiritual Assembly in 1975.[19] The community was somewhat disrupted by theFirst Liberian Civil War[20] but re-established their National Spiritual Assembly in 1998.[21] Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been inLiberia in 2006.[22]
A large number of foreignmissionary groups work openly and freely in the country. The Constitution provides forfreedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. Despite frequent interaction among religious groups, some tensions remain. Some societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice occur.
In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[23]
