Religion in Eritrea

Religion in Eritrea mainly consists of Abrahamic faiths . Since May 2002, the Eritrean government has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church , the Eritrean Catholic Church , Evangelical Lutheran church, and Islam . All other faiths and denominations are in principle required to undergo a registration process; in practice they are not allowed to register. Among other things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship . There are two major religions in Eritrea, Christianity and Islam . However, the number of adherents is subject to debate. In 2010, the United States Department of State (USDoS) estimated that 50% of the population was Muslim and around 48% was Christian. According to the Pew Research Center , around 62.9% of Eritrea's population in 2010 adhered to Christianity, and 36.2% followed Islam. The remaining 0.9% of residents practiced other religions, including traditional faiths and animism . The Kingdom of Aksum , covering much of modern-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia , arose somewhere around the first or second centuries. The Aksumites erected a number of large stelae , which served a religious purpose in pre-Christian times. Over 200 years after the kingdom's formation, it adopted Christianity under King Ezana .

Religion in Eritrea Christianity (62.9%) Islam (36.6%) Others (1.00%) Enda Mariam Orthodox Church, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mosque in the capital Asmara . Religion in Eritrea mainly consists of Abrahamic faiths . Since May 2002, the Eritrean government has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church , the Eritrean Catholic Church , the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea , and Sunni Islam . All other faiths and denominations are in principle required to undergo a registration process; in practice they are not allowed to register. Among other things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship . There are two major religions in Eritrea, Christianity and Islam . However, the number of adherents is subject to debate. Pew research estimates that 63% are Christian , and 36% follows Islam , and the rest 3-4% follows other religions in its annual estimates for 2020. In 2018, the United States Department of State (USDoS) claimed that they do not have figures on religious affiliation of Eritrea, however they cite the figures of the Pew Research foundation in their report, they also state that some government, religious, and international sources estimate the population to be 49 percent Sunni Muslim and 49 percent Christians and that the rest follows other religions. . According to the ACS-Italia, around 51.6% of Eritrea's population in 2017 adhered to Islam, and 46.4% followed Christianity. The remaining 2% of residents practiced other religions, including traditional faiths and animism . . All communities in Eritrea are deeply religious and have coexisted peacefully and in harmony alongside each other for centuries. This is why there is a noticeable lack of religious extremism. The country straddles a region grappling with considerable fundamentalist and extremist tendencies. Furthermore, the State of Eritrea is a secular state . As such, there is no state religion ; the State does not proscribe or support one faith over others; and all religions are equally treated and operate independently from the State. The GOE has from the outset officially sanctioned and provided protocol status recognition to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, the Eritrean Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Islam. Since 2002, all other faiths and denominations are required by law to undergo registration process. The Pentecostal groups did not comply with the registrations requirements, while other Protestant denominations such as Presbyterians still officially maintain their offices with pending approval. Generally, the government discourages proliferation of new religious groups. The Kingdom of Aksum , covering much of modern-day Eritrea and the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia, arose somewhere around the first or second centuries. The Aksumites erected a number of large stelae , which served a religious purpose in pre-Christian times. Over 200 years after the kingdom's formation, it adopted Christianity under King Ezana . Eritrea was also one of the first Islamic settlements in Africa, as a group of Muslims facing persecution in Mecca migrated to the Kingdom of Aksum.

Overview of religion in Eritrea Estimates of the religious makeup of the Eritrean population Religion in Eritrea consists of a number of faiths. The two major religions in Eritrea are Christianity and Islam . However, the number of adherents of each faith is subject to debate. Estimates of the Christian share of the population range from 47% and 63%, while estimates of the Muslim share of the population range from 37% to 52%. Most Eritrean Christians belong to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church , although a minority is affiliated with the Eritrean Catholic Church and various Protestant denominations , respectively. Eritrean Muslims are predominantly Sunni . Apart from the officially recognized denominations of Christianity and Sunni Islam , all other faiths and denominations are in principle required to undergo a registration process; in practice they are not allowed to register. Among other things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship . United States Department of State . In Juergensmeyer, Mark; Roof, Wade Clark (eds.). Encyclopedia of Global Religion .

Estimates of the religious makeup of the Eritrean population Religion in Eritrea consists of a number of faiths. The two major religions in Eritrea are Christianity and Islam . However, the number of adherents of each faith is subject to debate. Estimates of the Christian share of the population range from 47% and 63%, while estimates of the Muslim share of the population range from 37% to 52%. Most Eritrean Christians belong to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church , although a minority is affiliated with the Eritrean Catholic Church and various Protestant denominations . Eritrean Muslims are predominantly Sunni . Apart from the officially recognized denominations of Christianity and Sunni Islam , all other faiths and denominations are in principle required to undergo a registration process; in practice they are not allowed to register. Among other things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship . United States Department of State . In Juergensmeyer, Mark; Roof, Wade Clark (eds.). Encyclopedia of Global Religion .