Religion in Namibia is dominated by various branches ofChristianity, with more than 90 percent ofNamibian citizens identifying themselves asChristian. According to the government's survey, in 2013 up to two-thirds of the country wasProtestant, including as much as 44%Lutheran.[2]
According to the NamibiaDemographic and Health Surveys (2023), the proportions in the age group between 15 and 49 years are:[1]
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion.[2]
The largest Christian group in Namibia is theLutheran church, which consists of 3 church denominations.
TheEvangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) grew out of the work of theFinnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (earlier known as theFinnish Missionary Society) which began in 1870 among theOvambo andKavango people. It hasepiscopal polity and consists of twodioceses.
TheEvangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) grew out of the work of theRhenish Missionary Society from Germany which began working in the area in 1842. It operates the Evangelical Lutheran Church AIDS program, a business trust operating retreat centres, and a training centre for women which provides training for female leadership roles in society including nursery nurses.[3]
TheGerman-speaking Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN-GELC) is the smallest of the three churches (approximately 4,500 members). It has episcopal polity, with a single bishop as its leader.
In 2007 the three Lutheran denominations established the United Church Council of the Lutheran Churches in Namibia, with the ultimate aim of becoming one church.[4] The two English-speaking denominations (ELCIN and ELCRN) train their clergy together at a single united seminary, and operate a number of common social programmes.
The second-largest Christian denomination is Roman Catholicism, and accounts for more than 20% of the population. It consists of three jurisdictions - the two dioceses ofWindhoek andKeetmanshoop, and theApostolic Vicariate of Rundu which is in the process of becoming a third diocese.
An apostolic prefecture was established as early as 1892, but the current metropolitan province and ecclesiastical structure was erected more recently, in 1994.
TheHoly See maintains diplomatic relations with Namibia through a titularApostolic Nunciature, but it is unstaffed, and in practice is vested in the Apostolic Nunciature toSouth Africa inPretoria.
The Anglican Church consists of a single diocese (Anglican Diocese of Namibia), forming part of theMetropolitan province ofSouthern Africa. It is strongest in the north of the country. The Namibian Anglican church gave strong opposition to the imposition ofapartheid policies during South African occupation, as a result of which a succession of Anglican diocesan bishops, suffragan bishops, and vicars-general were deported. The Anglican church worships principally in the English and Kwanyama languages.
Smaller numbers are affiliated with theBaptist Church, theMethodist Church,the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), theSeventh-day Adventist Church, a number ofZionist Churches (practicing a mixture oftraditional African beliefs), andPentecostal Christianity.[2]
Practitioners of other religions are predominantly immigrants, descendants of immigrants, or recent converts. They reside primarily in urban areas.
Islam is practised by a minority, with Muslims in Namibia being mainlySunni.[2]
Other religions practised in the country includeJudaism (with about 100 members[5]),Buddhism, and theBaháʼí Faith.[2]
Indigenous religions are practiced by the smallHimba andSan ethnic groups, which comprised less than 1% and 3% respectively of the population in 2007.[6]
Atheists make up 0.02% of the country in 2020.[7]
Government schools include classes on “religious and moral education” which includes moral principles and human rights.[2]
In the early 2000s it was reported that senior church officials and pastors in Namibia are involved in mismanagement of the churches' funds of millions of Namibian dollars. Many pastors were involved in scams and other serious criminal activities such as rape or handling of counterfeit currency of millions of U. S. dollars.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] The Namibian government is to investigate and combat such illegal practices so as to maintain the integrity, dignity, esteemed purpose, and high standards of such religious institutions in Namibia.[15][16]
In 2022, Namibia police shut down what they called “fake churches” - this was based on allegations that they promoted civil unrest, engaged in unsafe practices, and committed fraud.[2]
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