Religion in Burkina Faso (2019 census)[1]

  Islam (63.8%)
  Christianity (26.3%)
  Indigenous beliefs (9%)
  Others / None (0.9%)
Mosque in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Cathedral of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso is a religiously diverse society, with Islam being the dominant religion. According to the latest 2019 census, 63.8% of the population adheres to Islam.[1] Around 26.3% of the population practices Christianity, 9.0% follow Animism/Folk Religion (African traditional religion), and that 0.9% are unaffiliated or follow other faiths.[2][3]

The vast majority of Muslims in Burkina Faso are Sunni Muslims who follow Maliki school of law, deeply influenced by Sufism.[2][3] The Shi'a and Ahmadiyya branches of Islam also have a presence in the country. A significant number of Sunni Muslims identify with the Tijaniyah Sufi order.

Statistics

Statistics on religion in Burkina Faso are inexact, because Islam and Christianity are often practiced in tandem with African traditional religions. The Government of Burkina Faso stated in its most recent census (2019) that 63.8% of the population practice Islam, and that the majority of this group belong to the Sunni branch,[1][3] while a small minority adheres to the Shi'a branch. A significant number of Sunni Muslims identify with the Tijaniyah Sufi order. The Government has also estimated that some 26.3% are Christians (20.1% being Roman Catholics and 6.2% members of various Protestant denominations), 9.0% follow Traditional indigenous beliefs such as the Dogon religion, 0.2% have other religions, and 0.7% have none (atheism is virtually nonexistent).[2][3][1]

Statistics on religious affiliation are approximate because Syncretism, incorporating traditional indigenous beliefs and practices, is widespread among both Christians and Muslims.[4] The majority of citizens practice traditional indigenous religious beliefs to varying degrees, and strict adherence to Christian and Muslim beliefs is often nominal.[3] Almost all citizens are believers, and atheism is virtually nonexistent. One 2015 study estimates some 200,000 Christian believers from a Muslim background in the country, though not all are citizens.[5][6]

Burkina Faso Official Census Data[1][7]
Census Year Muslims Christians Catholics Protestants Animists Other / None
2006[7] 60.5% 23.2% 19.0% 4.2% 15.3% 1.0%
2019[1] 63.8% 26.3% 20.1% 6.2% 9.0% 0.9%
Growth 3.3% 3.1% 1.1% 2.0% -6.3% -0.1%

Geography

Muslims reside largely around the northern, eastern, and western borders, while Christians live in the center of the country. People practice traditional indigenous religious beliefs throughout the country, especially in rural communities.[8] The region with the largest Animist population is Sud-Ouest at 48.1%.[1] Ouagadougou, the capital, has a mixed Muslim and Christian population;[8] however, Bobo-Dioulasso, the country's second-largest city, is mostly Muslim. In 2010, small Syrian and Lebanese immigrant communities resided in the two largest cities, and were overwhelmingly (more than 90 percent) Christian.[3]

Ethnicity

In 2010, there were more than 60 different ethnicities in the country.[3] Most ethnic groups are religiously heterogeneous, although the Fula are almost entirely Muslim.[9]

Freedom of religion

In 2023, Open Doors ranked Burkina Faso as the 23rd worst country to be a Christian.[10] It also scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Aib, Az (2022-07-01). "Burkina : 48,1% de la population du Sud-ouest pratique l'Animisme (officiel)". AIB - Agence d'Information du Burkina (in French). Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  2. 1 2 3 Comité national du recensement (July 2008). "Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation de 2006" (PDF). Conseil national de la statistique. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "International Religious Freedom Report 2010: Burkina Faso". United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. November 17, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ↑ US State Dept 2022 report
  5. ↑ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane A (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". IJRR. 11: 14. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples (EDSBF-MICS IV) 2010" (PDF). April 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Burkina Faso: Preserving the Religious Balance". www.crisisgroup.org. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  8. 1 2 "Burkina Faso". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  9. ↑ US State Dept 2022 report
  10. ↑ Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
  11. ↑ Freedom House website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
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