Religion in Tuvalu
Encyclopedia
The Church of Tuvalu
, which has historic ties to the Congregational Church and other churches in Samoa
, has the largest number of followers. Government estimates of religious affiliation as a percentage of the population include: Church of Tuvalu, 91 percent; Seventh-day Adventist, 3 percent; Bahá'í, 3 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses
, 2 percent; and Roman Catholic, 1 percent. There are also smaller numbers of Muslims, Baptists, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and atheists. The Tuvalu Brethren Church, a new charismatic Protestant group, is said to have as many as three hundred adherents, some 3 percent of the population, but this could not be confirmed by independent sources. Also the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
claims 400 members (3%) in Tuvalu.
All nine island groups have traditional chiefs who are members of the Church of Tuvalu. Most followers of other religions or denominations are found in Funafuti
, the capital, with the exception of the relatively large proportion of followers of the Bahá'í Faith on Nanumea Island. Missionaries are present and operate freely. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion
, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. Societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice occur, but are relatively infrequent.
Church of Tuvalu
The Christian Church of Tuvalu, in Tuvaluan - Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu - is the national church of Tuvalu. It comprises 92% of the 12,000 inhabitants of the archipelago....
, which has historic ties to the Congregational Church and other churches in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, has the largest number of followers. Government estimates of religious affiliation as a percentage of the population include: Church of Tuvalu, 91 percent; Seventh-day Adventist, 3 percent; Bahá'í, 3 percent; 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...
, 2 percent; and Roman Catholic, 1 percent. There are also smaller numbers of Muslims, Baptists, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and atheists. The Tuvalu Brethren Church, a new charismatic Protestant group, is said to have as many as three hundred adherents, some 3 percent of the population, but this could not be confirmed by independent sources. Also the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the larger of two communities that arose from the Ahmadiyya movement founded in 1889 in India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian . The original movement split into two factions soon after the death of the founder...
claims 400 members (3%) in Tuvalu.
All nine island groups have traditional chiefs who are members of the Church of Tuvalu. Most followers of other religions or denominations are found in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
, the capital, with the exception of the relatively large proportion of followers of the Bahá'í Faith on Nanumea Island. Missionaries are present and operate freely. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. Societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice occur, but are relatively infrequent.