Religion in Malawi: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Religion in Malawi}} |
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{{Pie chart |
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|thumb = right |
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|caption = Religion in Malawi (2020 estimate<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=138c World Religion Database on the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref>) |
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|label1 = [[Christianity]] |
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*[[Islam in Malawi]] |
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|value1 = 79.3 |
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|color1 = DodgerBlue |
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|label3 = [[Traditional African religions|Traditional faiths]] |
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|value3 = 5.9 |
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|color3 = Purple |
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|label2 = [[Islam]] |
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|value2 = 14 |
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|color2 = Green |
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|label4 = None |
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|value4 = 0.5 |
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|color4 = Yellow |
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|label5 = Others |
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|value5 = 0.3 |
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|color5 = Grey |
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}} |
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[[File:Livingstonia_Mission_Church.jpg|thumb|left|[[Helena, mother of Constantine I|St. Helen's Cathedral]] in [[Livingstonia, Malawi|Livingstonia]]]] |
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[[Christianity]] is the most widely professed '''religion in Malawi''', with significant populations of the adherents of [[Islam]] and traditional faiths.<ref name="DHS 2016" /> Religious pluralism is both a prominent social value and enshrined in the country's constitution.<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[Malawi]] is a [[secular state]]. The Christian festivals of [[Christmas]] and [[Good Friday]] are recognised as the national holidays. |
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[[Category:Religion in Malawi|*]] |
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[[Category:Religion by country|Malawi]] |
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==Demographics== |
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[[Malawi]] is a majority Christian country, with a significant Muslim minority. Government surveys indicate that 87% of the country is Christian, with a minority 11.6% Muslim population.<ref name="DHS 2016">{{cite web|url=https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR319/FR319.pdf|title=Demographic and Health Survey: 2015–2016|publisher=Malawi National Statistical Office|page=36|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> According to the World Religion Database, Protestants made up the largest group of Christians in 2020.<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=138c World Religion Database on the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref> The largest Christian churches in Malawi are the Roman Catholic Church, of which 19% of Malawians are adherents, and the [[Church of Central Africa Presbyterian]] (CCAP) to which 18% belong.<ref name="DHS 2016" /> The CCAP is the largest Protestant denomination in Malawi with 1.3 million members. There are smaller [[Presbyterian]] denominations like the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Malawi]] and the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi]]. There are also smaller numbers of [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Baptists]], evangelicals, [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]], and the [[Lutheran Church of Central Africa|Lutherans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celc.info/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=180010197&cpage_id=180031340|title=Lutheran Church of Central Africa - Malawi|publisher=Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111005306/http://www.celc.info/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=180010197&cpage_id=180031340|archive-date=11 January 2017}}</ref> |
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Most of the Muslim population is [[Sunni]], of either the [[Shafi'i]] or [[Hanafi]] groups.<ref name=":2022"/><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyIpVV3FZlAC&pg=PA63 | title=Where Silence Rules: The Suppression of Dissent in Malawi | page=59 | author=Richard Carver | access-date=7 June 2014| isbn=9780929692739 | year=1990 }}</ref> |
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Other religious groups within the country include [[Presbyterians]], [[Seventh-day Adventist]], [[Anglicans]] and [[Pentecostals]], [[Rastafari movement|Rastafari]], [[Hindu]]s, [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]], (0.23%<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=138c The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref>) and a small number of [[Jews]] and [[Sikhs]];<ref name=":2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/malawi|title=US State Dept 2022 report on Malawi|work=International Religious Freedom Report 2022|access-date=8 August 2023|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=14 September 2022}}</ref> [[Atheism|atheists]] make up around 2% of the population. |
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== Legal status == |
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The [[constitution of Malawi]] prohibits discrimination based on religion and provides for freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and thought.<ref name=":2022"/> It also specifies that eliminating religious intolerance is a goal of education in Malawi. |
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Religious instruction is mandatory in public primary schools, with no opt-out provision, and is available as an elective in public secondary schools. In some schools, the religious curriculum is a Christian-oriented “Bible knowledge” course, while in others it is an interfaith “moral and religious education” course drawing from the Christian, Islamic, Hindu, and Baháʼí faiths. According to the law, local school management committees, elected at parent-teacher association meetings, decide on which religious curriculum to use. Private Christian and Islamic schools offer religious instruction in their respective faiths. Hybrid “grant-aided” schools are managed by private, usually religious, institutions, but their teaching staffs are paid by the government. In exchange for this financial support, the government chooses a significant portion of the students who attend. At grant-aided schools, a board appointed by the school's operators decides whether the “Bible knowledge” or the “moral and religious education” curriculum will be used.<ref name=":2022"/> |
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[[Rastafari|Rastafarian]] children face obstacles to obtaining education, as school children in Malawi are generally required to shave their heads, and Rastafarian religious practice requires them to wear [[dreadlocks]]. This has resulted in several Rastafarian children being denied access to public schools, although the majority concede to shaving their heads and complying with the school's rules. Litigation is ongoing in 2023, but in the meantime, a High Court injunction was issued in 2020, compelling the Ministry of Education to allow all Rastafarian children to be enrolled in government schools. The MOE is also looking at a policy for [[Muslim]] children who wish to wear a [[hijab]].<ref name=":2022"/> |
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In 2007, it was noted that [[religious pluralism]] is enshrined by Malawi society, and members of Christian, Muslim, and [[Hindu]] faiths regularly engage in business and [[civil society]] together.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90107.htm|title=Malawi|work=International Religious Freedom Report 2007|access-date=18 December 2008|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=14 September 2007}}</ref> |
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==Religious freedom== |
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In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.<ref>[https://freedomhouse.org/country/malawi/freedom-world/2022 Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref> |
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==See also== |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 11:05, 17 February 2024
Religion in Malawi (2020 estimate[1])
Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Malawi, with significant populations of the adherents of Islam and traditional faiths.[2] Religious pluralism is both a prominent social value and enshrined in the country's constitution.[3]
Malawi is a secular state. The Christian festivals of Christmas and Good Friday are recognised as the national holidays.
Demographics
Malawi is a majority Christian country, with a significant Muslim minority. Government surveys indicate that 87% of the country is Christian, with a minority 11.6% Muslim population.[2] According to the World Religion Database, Protestants made up the largest group of Christians in 2020.[4] The largest Christian churches in Malawi are the Roman Catholic Church, of which 19% of Malawians are adherents, and the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) to which 18% belong.[2] The CCAP is the largest Protestant denomination in Malawi with 1.3 million members. There are smaller Presbyterian denominations like the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Malawi and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi. There are also smaller numbers of Anglicans, Baptists, evangelicals, Seventh-day Adventists, and the Lutherans.[5]
Most of the Muslim population is Sunni, of either the Shafi'i or Hanafi groups.[6][7]
Other religious groups within the country include Presbyterians, Seventh-day Adventist, Anglicans and Pentecostals, Rastafari, Hindus, Baháʼís, (0.23%[8]) and a small number of Jews and Sikhs;[6] atheists make up around 2% of the population.
Legal status
The constitution of Malawi prohibits discrimination based on religion and provides for freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and thought.[6] It also specifies that eliminating religious intolerance is a goal of education in Malawi.
Religious instruction is mandatory in public primary schools, with no opt-out provision, and is available as an elective in public secondary schools. In some schools, the religious curriculum is a Christian-oriented “Bible knowledge” course, while in others it is an interfaith “moral and religious education” course drawing from the Christian, Islamic, Hindu, and Baháʼí faiths. According to the law, local school management committees, elected at parent-teacher association meetings, decide on which religious curriculum to use. Private Christian and Islamic schools offer religious instruction in their respective faiths. Hybrid “grant-aided” schools are managed by private, usually religious, institutions, but their teaching staffs are paid by the government. In exchange for this financial support, the government chooses a significant portion of the students who attend. At grant-aided schools, a board appointed by the school's operators decides whether the “Bible knowledge” or the “moral and religious education” curriculum will be used.[6]
Rastafarian children face obstacles to obtaining education, as school children in Malawi are generally required to shave their heads, and Rastafarian religious practice requires them to wear dreadlocks. This has resulted in several Rastafarian children being denied access to public schools, although the majority concede to shaving their heads and complying with the school's rules. Litigation is ongoing in 2023, but in the meantime, a High Court injunction was issued in 2020, compelling the Ministry of Education to allow all Rastafarian children to be enrolled in government schools. The MOE is also looking at a policy for Muslim children who wish to wear a hijab.[6]
In 2007, it was noted that religious pluralism is enshrined by Malawi society, and members of Christian, Muslim, and Hindu faiths regularly engage in business and civil society together.[3]
Religious freedom
In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[9]
See also
References
- ^ World Religion Database on the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ a b c "Demographic and Health Survey: 2015–2016" (PDF). Malawi National Statistical Office. p. 36. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Malawi". International Religious Freedom Report 2007. U.S. Department of State. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
- ^ World Religion Database on the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ "Lutheran Church of Central Africa - Malawi". Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "US State Dept 2022 report on Malawi". International Religious Freedom Report 2022. U.S. Department of State. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Richard Carver (1990). Where Silence Rules: The Suppression of Dissent in Malawi. p. 59. ISBN 9780929692739. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08