Religion in Botswana
Encyclopedia
An estimated 70 percent of Botswanan citizens identify themselves as Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
make up the majority of Christians. There are also congregations of Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Baptists, the Dutch Reformed Church
, Mennonites, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses
, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
, followers of Branhamism
, and other movements.
According to the 2001 census, the country's Muslim
community, primarily of South Asian origin, numbers slightly more than 5,000. The 2001 census also lists approximately 3,000 Hindus and 700 Bahá'ís. Members of each community estimate that these figures significantly understated their respective numbers. 6 percent of citizens are practitioners of Badimo
, an indigenous religion. Approximately 20 percent of citizens espouse no religion. The people in Botswana get offended when they are asked about religion Religious services are well attended in both rural and urban areas.
United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
The United Congregational Church in Southern Africa began with the work of the London Missionary Society, who sent missionaries to the Cape colony in 1799. Congregationalist missionaries from the American Board of Foreign Missions began work in KwaZulu-Natal in 1830, and several congregations of...
make up the majority of Christians. There are also congregations of Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Baptists, the Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
, Mennonites, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is a Pentecostal Christian organisation established in Brazil on July 9, 1977, with a presence in many countries...
, followers of Branhamism
Branhamism
Branhamism refers to the distinctive doctrines of William M. Branham , an American faith healer and preacher of the mid-twentieth century. The term is generally disliked by adherents, who typically refer to themselves as "Message Believers" or simply "Christians", and to Branham's teachings as The...
, and other movements.
According to the 2001 census, the country's Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community, primarily of South Asian origin, numbers slightly more than 5,000. The 2001 census also lists approximately 3,000 Hindus and 700 Bahá'ís. Members of each community estimate that these figures significantly understated their respective numbers. 6 percent of citizens are practitioners of Badimo
Badimo
Badimo is a name for the indigenous African Traditional Religion of Botswana. Although the CIA Factbook states that six percent of Botswanas are practitioners, in reality a great majority of Botswana follow at least some of the traditions deemed Badimo even if they are strong followers of another...
, an indigenous religion. Approximately 20 percent of citizens espouse no religion. The people in Botswana get offended when they are asked about religion Religious services are well attended in both rural and urban areas.
See also
- BadimoBadimoBadimo is a name for the indigenous African Traditional Religion of Botswana. Although the CIA Factbook states that six percent of Botswanas are practitioners, in reality a great majority of Botswana follow at least some of the traditions deemed Badimo even if they are strong followers of another...
- Christianity in BotswanaChristianity in BotswanaMore than 70% of the population of Botswana is Christian, with most being members of the Anglican, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, and African independent churches. Anglicans in Botswana are part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa...
- Roman Catholicism in BotswanaRoman Catholicism in BotswanaThe Roman Catholic Church in Botswana is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.There are about 80,000 Catholics in the country, representing about 5% of the total population....
- Roman Catholicism in Botswana
- Freedom of religion in BotswanaFreedom of religion in BotswanaThe Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice.-Religious demography:...
- Hinduism in BotswanaHinduism in BotswanaThe practise of Hinduism in Botswana is concentrated in and around Gaborone and Selebi-Phikwe. The community of Hindus began to form in the early 20th century with the beginning of immigration from India to Botswana. Most Hindus in Botswana are of Indian descent.The 2001 census of Botswana listed...
- Islam in BotswanaIslam in BotswanaIslam is the third largest religion in Botswana, following Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Islam came to the country through Muslim immigrants from South Asia, who settled in the area during the British colonial rule. Muslims comprise less than 1 percent of the population...