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| It is estimated that about |
It is estimated that about 78% of the population of ] is ], mostly followers of ] and, to a lesser extent, ] and the rest are ]<ref name=report/> Approximately 2% of the population practice traditional ]<ref name=report>. United States ] (September 14, 2007). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the ].''</ref> and ], while others include ], ], ], and ]s.<ref name=report/> | ||
| ==Faiths== | ==Faiths== | ||
| The major religions of Eritrea are |
The major religions of Eritrea are Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism and Sunni Islam followed by 43%, 35% and 21% of the population respectively.<ref name=report/> Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include ]s, ]s, ], ], ], and ]s. Approximately 2 percent of the population practice traditional ]s. The population in the eastern and western lowlands is predominantly Muslim and predominantly Christian in the highlands. There are very few ]s. Religious participation is high among all ethnic groups.<ref name=report /> | ||
| ===Christianity=== | ===Christianity=== | ||
| Christianity is the religion of about |
Christianity is the religion of about 78 percent of the population of ].<ref name=report /> It was the first country in ] with ] and parts of ] to become Christian, and one of the first in the world turning Christian before most of ]. Most of them belong to the ], which used to belong to the formerly Coptic ]. In 1998 the Archbihshop of ] was elevated to the rank of patriarch. | ||
| The ] and ] has dioceses of ], ] and ]. Catholics in Eritrea, follow both the Latin rite and the Eritrean rite. There are three territorial jurisdictions in the country known as eparchies.<ref name=report /> | The ] and ] has dioceses of ], ] and ]. Catholics in Eritrea, follow both the Latin rite and the Eritrean rite. There are three territorial jurisdictions in the country known as eparchies.<ref name=report /> | ||
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| ===Islam=== | ===Islam=== | ||
| ] accounts for approximately |
] accounts for approximately 21 percent of the religious population. All Eritrean Muslims practice ]. | ||
| ===Other faiths=== | ===Other faiths=== | ||
Revision as of 00:01, 7 January 2011
It is estimated that about 78% of the population of Eritrea is Christian, mostly followers of Orthodox Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Roman Catholicism and the rest are Sunni Muslim Approximately 2% of the population practice traditional indigenous religions and Roman Catholic, while others include Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Bahá'ís.
Faiths
The major religions of Eritrea are Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism and Sunni Islam followed by 43%, 35% and 21% of the population respectively. Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, and Baha'is. Approximately 2 percent of the population practice traditional indigenous religions. The population in the eastern and western lowlands is predominantly Muslim and predominantly Christian in the highlands. There are very few atheists. Religious participation is high among all ethnic groups.
Christianity
Christianity is the religion of about 78 percent of the population of Eritrea. It was the first country in Africa with Ethiopia and parts of Egypt to become Christian, and one of the first in the world turning Christian before most of Europe. Most of them belong to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, which used to belong to the formerly Coptic Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. In 1998 the Archbihshop of Asmara was elevated to the rank of patriarch.
The Eritrean Catholic Church and Roman Catholic Church has dioceses of Asmara, Keren and Barentu. Catholics in Eritrea, follow both the Latin rite and the Eritrean rite. There are three territorial jurisdictions in the country known as eparchies.
Protestants in Eritrea make up 2% of the Christians. A minor church is the Kale Hiywot Church of Eritrea. Protestant denominations include Christian Brethren, Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea, Middle East General Mission, and Seventh-day Adventist Church. See Protestantism in Eritrea.
Islam
Islam accounts for approximately 21 percent of the religious population. All Eritrean Muslims practice Sunni Islam.
Other faiths
See also: History of the Jews in EritreaGroups that constitute less than 1 percent of the population includes Bahá'ís. Approximately less than 2 percent of the population practice traditional indigenous religions. The last native Jew in Eritrea, Sami Cohen, attends to the Asmara Synagogue and cemetery..
Religious affiliation by geography and by ethnic group
The population in the eastern and western lowlands is predominantly Muslim and predominantly Christian in the highlands. There are very few atheists. Religious participation is high among all ethnic groups.
Within geographic and ethnic groups, the majority of the Tigrinya are Orthodox Christian or Catholic. Most members of the Tigre, Saho, Nara, Afar, Rashaida, Beja, and Bilen ethnic groups are Muslim. Approximately 60 percent of the Bilen are Christian, the majority being Catholic. About 80% of the Kunama are Catholic, with a minority of Muslims and some who practice traditional indigenous religions. The central and southern highlands, which are generally more developed than the lowlands, are populated predominantly by Christian Tigrinyas and Saho. The Afar and Rashaida, as well as some Saho and Tigre, live in the eastern lowlands. The Bilen live on the border between the western lowlands and the central highlands and are concentrated in the Keren area, which also includes a significant minority of Tigre and Tigrinya speakers. The Beja, Kunama, Nara, and most Tigre live in the western lowlands.
References
- ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Eritrea. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- by country "Protestantism by country article".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - World Christian Encyclopedia, 2001 edition, Volume 1, page 263
- "Asmara's last Jew recalls 'good old days'". BBC News. 2006-04-30. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
- "Eritrea's last native Jew tends graves, remembers". Reuters. 2006-05-02. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
