Group |
Where |
Number of Adherents |
% of total pop. |
Number of congreg./ churches/ units |
Number of countries |
Year |
Source |
Quote/ Notes |
African Traditional Religion |
Central African Republic |
802,092 |
24.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority; Total population: 3,342,051. |
African Traditional Religion |
Central African Republic |
240,000 |
5.00% |
- |
- |
2000 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR in African Nations "; (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa "; Projection, made circa 1982. [ "Central Africa " is listed separately from "Central African Republic " in this table.] |
Banda |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Banda |
Central African Republic |
1,551,000 |
47.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 69. |
Estimates of % of population in ethnic (NOT religious) backgrounds, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Banda-Mandjia |
Central African Republic |
891,000 |
27.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 69. |
Estimates of % of population in ethnic (NOT religious) backgrounds, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Banziri |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Baptist |
Central African Republic |
169,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Baptists (Mid-Missions -U.S.A.) 90,000 (centre and east); Baptists (Swedish Orebro) 79,000 |
Baptist World Alliance |
Central African Republic |
40,800 |
1.17% |
136 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Baptist World Alliance web site; page: "BWA Statistics " (viewed 31 March 1999). |
"Figures are for BWA affiliated conventions/unions only (no independents included). "; Table with 3 columns: Country, "Churches ", & "Members "; "1997/1998 Totals "; [BWA stats. in individual countries are sum of figures for member bodies of BWA in the countries.]; [County population figures for 1998 from United Nations data available here.] |
Bunga |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
- |
36.00% |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Roman Catholics 36%. |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
- |
33.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
622,000 |
18.80% |
112 units |
- |
1995 |
1998 Catholic Almanac: Our Sunday Visitor: USA (1997), pg. 333-367. |
Figures are as of Dec. 31, 1995. Number used for "congregations " is from number of Catholic parishes. |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
820,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
835,513 |
25.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority; Total population: 3,342,051. |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
792,000 |
24.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 69. |
Estimates of % of population in principal religions, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Catholic |
Central African Republic |
1,120,000 |
35.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 81-82. |
"Location: Central African Republic; Population: 3.2 million "; "Most Central Africans profess to being Christian, with 35% of the population being Protestant and 18% being Catholic. " |
Christianity |
Central African Republic |
1,696,000 |
53.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 81-82. |
"Location: Central African Republic; Population: 3.2 million "; "Most Central Africans profess to being Christian, with 35% of the population being Protestant and 18% being Catholic. " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
1 unit |
- |
1995 |
Deseret News 1997-98 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1996), pg. 188-408. |
"Year-end 1995: Est. population [of country]; Members, [number shown in '# of adherents' column to left] " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central African Republic |
132 |
- |
- |
- |
1997 |
"LDS in Africa: Growing Membership Sees American Church with Unique Vision, " Salt Lake Tribune, 4 April 1998. Reprinted in Sunstone (June 1998, pg. 71). |
Map: Membership totals as of December 1997. |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
1 unit |
- |
1997 |
Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1998), pg. 267-410. |
Information from a variety of sources. Figures for year-end 1997. |
Evangelical |
Central African Republic |
- |
27.00% |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Protestants 46%. Community 680,000. Denominations 10. Almost entirely evangelical. Evangelicals 27%. |
Evangelical Brethren |
Central African Republic |
120,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Evangelical Brethren 120,000 community (in the centre of country) |
Fraternal Union of Baptist Churches |
Central African Republic |
40,800 |
- |
136 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Baptist World Alliance web site; page: "BWA Statistics " (viewed 31 March 1999). |
"Figures are for BWA affiliated conventions/unions only (no independents included). "; Table with 3 columns: Country, "Churches ", & "Members "; "1997/1998 Totals " |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
100,000 |
5.00% |
- |
- |
1978 |
Welch, Alford T. "Islam " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 164-165. [Original src: Weeks, R. (ed.), "Muslim Peoples: A World Ethnographic Survey " (1978).] |
Table: "Approximate Muslim populations and percentages of total populations " |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
- |
6.00% |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Muslim 6% - two small Muslim tribes and a sprinkling of Muslims in most other tribes. |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
2,000,000 |
55.00% |
- |
- |
1986 |
*LINK* Web site: "Arabic Paper "; web page: "Muslim Countries of the World " (viewed 15 June 1999). [Written 1998.] |
[NOTE: Unreliable statistical methodology.] "In 1986... Muslim Education Trust organization [U.K.] obtained... 1971 census & [info. from] Embassies of the respective countires... 1971 census showed the Independent Muslim countries pop. was around 784.5 Million. "; "...add (784.5M + 308M [minority Muslim countries]) = 1092.5 Million Muslims in 1971 "; Table shows country, "population " [number of Muslims in the country], & % Muslim. Total adds up to 896,080,000, so these figures are apparently intended to be estimates for 1986. |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
- |
3.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
490,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
501,308 |
15.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority; Total population: 3,342,051. |
Islam |
Central African Republic |
121,000 |
3.60% |
- |
- |
2000 |
K. F. Bin Mohd Noor. "Muslims Statistics... for Year 2000 " [orig. src: Barrett. World Christian Encyclopedia, 1982] |
Table |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Central African Republic |
1,230 |
0.05% |
42 units |
- |
1983 |
Botting, Heather & Gary Botting. The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (1984), pg. 53-59. |
Table: "1983 Service Year Report of JWs Worldwide "; Adherent count here is from "1983 Peak Publishers " column |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Central African Republic |
2,086 |
0.06% |
47 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
Adherent/member count is for "1997 Peak Witnesses "; Memorial attendance (annual sacrament meeting) for same year: 11,842. |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Central African Republic |
2,302 |
0.06% |
48 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; This adherent/member count is for "1998 Peak Witnesses " |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Central African Republic |
5,738 |
- |
42 units |
- |
1983 |
Botting, Heather & Gary Botting. The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (1984), pg. 53-59. |
Table: "1983 Service Year Report of JWs Worldwide "; Data from columns: "No. of congs. " and "Memorial attendance " |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Central African Republic |
11,842 |
0.32% |
47 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
From 1997 Statistics "Memorial attendance " column. Count of all who attend this once-a-year meeting, whether or not a "publisher " in full standing. Most would be considered adherents. |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Central African Republic |
11,536 |
0.30% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; "Memorial attendance " column indicates attendance at yearly communion meeting. |
Mandjia |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Mbaka |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Mbum |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
1 country |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
other |
Central African Republic |
360,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; "other " = NOT Protestant, Roman Catholic, primal-indigenous, Islam |
primal-indigenous |
Central African Republic |
- |
12.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% "; Listed in table as "Traditional beliefs " |
primal-indigenous |
Central African Republic |
790,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; listed as "traditional beliefs " |
primal-indigenous |
Central African Republic |
802,092 |
24.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority; Total population: 3,342,051. |
primal-indigenous |
Central African Republic |
264,000 |
8.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 69. |
Estimates of % of population in principal religions, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
- |
46.00% |
- |
- |
1979 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: STL Publications, P. O. Box 48, Bromley, Kent, England 1979); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
Total Population: 2,370,000. Protestants 46%. Community 680,000. Denominations 10. Almost entirely evangelical. Evangelicals 27%. |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
- |
12.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% "; Protestant "includes all non-Roman Catholic denominations " |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
820,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
835,513 |
25.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority; Total population: 3,342,051. |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
1,320,000 |
40.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 69. |
Estimates of % of population in principal religions, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Protestant |
Central African Republic |
576,000 |
18.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 81-82. |
"Location: Central African Republic; Population: 3.2 million "; "Most Central Africans profess to being Christian, with 35% of the population being Protestant and 18% being Catholic. " |
Sara |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
Zande |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1995 |
Haskins, J. From Afar to Zulu>. New York: Walker Pub. (1995), pg. 191-7. |
Table: Add'l African Cultures |
miscellaneous regional info |
Central African Republic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 81-82. |
"Location: Central African Republic; Population: 3.2 million "; "Most Central Africans profess to being Christian, with 35% of the population being Protestant and 18% being Catholic. The remainder are either Muslim, Baha'i, or Jehovah's Witness. Despite the popularity of western religionin the CAR, many Central Africans still adhere to he traditional religion of ancestor worship, or animism. " |
Baptist World Alliance |
Central America |
126,546 |
- |
1,418 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Baptist World Alliance web site; page: "BWA Statistics " (viewed 31 March 1999). |
"Figures are for BWA affiliated conventions/unions only (no independents included). "; Table with 3 columns: Country, "Churches ", & "Members "; "1997/1998 Totals " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central America |
51,701 |
- |
- |
- |
1980 |
Stark, Rodney. "The Rise of a New World Faith " in Latter-day Saint Social Life: Social Research on the LDS Church and its Members, edited by James T. Duke. Religious Studies Center, BYU: Provo, UT (1998), pg. 17. |
"Table: 1.3: Two Years of Mormon Growth, 1978-80 "; Two columns: "Percentage rate of membership growth 1978-80 " and "Number of members in 1980 "; Growth 1978-80: 15% |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central America |
349,000 |
- |
895 units |
- |
1995 |
Deseret News 1997-98 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1996), pg. 525-529. |
Table: "Membership and units by lands "; latest figures from year-end 1995 |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central America |
395,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1997 |
Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1998), pg. 114. |
Graphic: "Church membership worldwide "; "Total: 10 million; Estimate Nov. 2, 1997. " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central America |
411,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site; web page: "Membership Distribution " in "Global Media Guide " section, (viewed 22 March 1999). |
Map, with membership figures shown for following areas: Canada, USA, Mexico, South America, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, Central America, South Pacific; "Membership Worldwide, Dec. 31, 1997 " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Central America |
417,000 |
1.30% |
987 units |
- |
1998 |
"The Church in Central America " in Ensign (Aug. 1998), pg. 79. |
Central America = Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. Information from table. |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - temples |
Central America |
- |
- |
1 unit |
- |
1996 |
Deseret News 1997-98 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1996), pg. 435-436. |
Table: "Temples of the Church "; Guatemala City |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - temples |
Central America |
- |
- |
1 unit |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* web site: "LDSWorld "; web page: "Gems Temple Status Page " (viewed 17 July 1999); compiled by Dave Kenison. Updated regularly. |
Original sources: Deseret News Church Almanac, & announcements thru Church News & other media.; Table: "LOCATIONS & DEDICATIONS OF TEMPLES " (incl. dedication dates); Guatemala |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - temples |
Central America |
- |
- |
1 unit |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* web site: "Kim Siever's Temple Site "; web page: "South America " (viewed 18 April 1999). |
Table with columns: Name [of temple], Year: Operating temples: "Sao Paulo Brasil 1978; Santiago Chile 1983; Guatemala City Guatemala 1984 [in Central America]; Lima Peru 1986; Buenos Aires Argentina 1986 " |
Maya |
Central America |
- |
- |
- |
- |
500 C.E. |
Israel, Fred L. & Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (editors). Ancient Civilizations of the Aztecs and Mayas (series: 'Cultural and Geographical Exploration: Chronicles from National Geographic). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers (1999), pg. ix. |
"Rulers also biult tall limestone pyramids with small temples at top. There, priests performed religious ceremonies. Although Mayan glyphs have been deciphered, so much is still unknown about these people. It is known, however, that religion played a central part in their daily lives. Each day had special religious importance, and religious festivals took place throughout the year. To obtain the help of the gods, the Maya fasted, prayed, and offered animal and human sacrifices. They frequently offered their own blood to deities... " |
Maya |
Central America |
- |
- |
- |
- |
900 C.E. |
Israel, Fred L. & Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (editors). Ancient Civilizations of the Aztecs and Mayas (series: 'Cultural and Geographical Exploration: Chronicles from National Geographic). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers (1999), pg. ix. |
"The Mayan culture arose, flourished, and vanished in less than a thousand years, reaching its peak between 250 A.D. and 900 A.D. The Maya lived in Central America and south Mexico, and their horizons reached to the Valley of Mexico in the west and to Panama in the east. Their civilization progressed without contact with European or Asian civilizations, although they were influenced by events within their geographic sphere. In spite of their relative isolation, the Maya produced a remarkable architecture and excelled in painting and sculpture. " |
Maya |
Central America |
- |
- |
- |
- |
900 C.E. |
Israel, Fred L. & Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (editors). Ancient Civilizations of the Aztecs and Mayas (series: 'Cultural and Geographical Exploration: Chronicles from National Geographic). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers (1999), pg. ix. |
"The height of Mayan civilization, 250 A.D. - 900 A.D., is referred to as the Classical Period. It is during this time that th Maya developed their great cities. The largest cities included tens of thousands of inhabitants. Many smaller cities existed as well. These may have been independent or vassals to a larger city. Some towns, villages, even isolated farms have all been found. " |
Maya |
Central America |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1550 C.E. |
Israel, Fred L. & Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (editors). Ancient Civilizations of the Aztecs and Mayas (series: 'Cultural and Geographical Exploration: Chronicles from National Geographic). Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers (1999), pg. ix. |
"For reasons still unknown, the Maya abandoned their cities about 900 A.D. They dispersed to the Yucatan and the highlands of Guatamala. In these areas, the Maya continued to prosper until Spain conquered them in the mid 1500s. " |
Miskito |
Central America |
200,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 2 - Americas. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 304, 306. |
"Miskito: Alternate Names: Mosquito; Location: Nicaragua; Honduras; Population: About 200,000; Religion: Moravian church (majority); Catholicism; fundamentalist Protestantism; Christianity mingled with folk beliefs "; pg. 306: "The dominant religion of the Miskito is the Moravian church, which gained a foothold as early as the 17th century through it smissionaries and had most of the population converted by the beginning of the 20th century... Moravian pastors are important figures in Miskito communities... Catholic and fundamentalist Protestant churches have also gained some converts among the Miskito.... When Christianity was introduced, some elements of folk religion were mingled with Christian beliefs and practices. " [NOTE: Obviously, 200,000 is an ethnic/tribal statistic, and NOT a measure of how many people practice traditional Miskito religion] |
primal-indigenous |
Central America |
100,000 |
100.00% |
- |
- |
1492 C.E. |
Utter, Jack. American Indians: Answers to Today's Questions. Lake Ann, MI: National Woodlands Publishing Co. (1993), pg. 23. |
Table: "Some Estimates of Aboriginal American Population, ca. 1492 "; Figures from 5 different sources. Source: Kroeber (1939). |
primal-indigenous |
Central America |
700,000 |
100.00% |
- |
- |
1492 C.E. |
Utter, Jack. American Indians: Answers to Today's Questions. Lake Ann, MI: National Woodlands Publishing Co. (1993), pg. 23. |
Table: "Some Estimates of Aboriginal American Population, ca. 1492 "; Figures from 5 different sources. Source: Steward (1949). |
primal-indigenous |
Central America |
800,000 |
100.00% |
- |
- |
1492 C.E. |
Utter, Jack. American Indians: Answers to Today's Questions. Lake Ann, MI: National Woodlands Publishing Co. (1993), pg. 23. |
Table: "Some Estimates of Aboriginal American Population, ca. 1492 "; Figures from 5 different sources. Source: Rosenblat (1954). |
primal-indigenous |
Central America |
6,000,000 |
100.00% |
- |
- |
1492 C.E. |
Utter, Jack. American Indians: Answers to Today's Questions. Lake Ann, MI: National Woodlands Publishing Co. (1993), pg. 23. |
Table: "Some Estimates of Aboriginal American Population, ca. 1492 "; Figures from 5 different sources. Source: Sapper (1924). |
primal-indigenous |
Central America |
13,500,000 |
100.00% |
- |
- |
1492 C.E. |
Utter, Jack. American Indians: Answers to Today's Questions. Lake Ann, MI: National Woodlands Publishing Co. (1993), pg. 23. |
Table: "Some Estimates of Aboriginal American Population, ca. 1492 "; Figures from 5 different sources. Source: Dobyns (1966). |
Sumu |
Central America |
16,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 2 - Americas. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 407-408. |
"Sumu: Location: Nicaragua; Honduras (Eastern coasts); Population: 13,000-16,000; Religion: Protestantism (Moravian church); Catholicism "; "The Sumu in Nicaragua are mostly adherents of the Moravian Church, a Protestant sect. The Tawahka Sumu in Honduras are mostly Catholic. Although their traditional religion--which involved sun and moon worship and a belief in both benevolent and malevolent spirits--declined with the arrival of Moravian missionaries in the 19th century, some Sumu continue to hold beliefs associated with it. Its holy men, or shamans, were called sukia. " |
African Traditional Religion |
Chad |
1,088,000 |
64.00% |
- |
- |
1900 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR... " (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |
African Traditional Religion |
Chad |
978,000 |
26.90% |
- |
- |
1970 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR... " (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |