Religion in Benin

Part of a series on the

Culture of Benin

History

* Ketu
* French Dahomey
* First Franco-Dahomean War
* Second Franco-Dahomean War
* Republic of Dahomey
* Soglo coup
* Presidential Council
* Kérékou coup
* People's Republic of Benin
* Mercenary coup attempt

People
Languages
Mythology
Cuisine
Religion
Art
Literature
Music

Media

* Cinema

Sport

Monuments

* World Heritage Sites

Symbols

* Flag
* Coat of arms
* National anthem

* v
* t
* e

Religion in Benin (2020 estimate)[1]

1. Christianity (52.2%)
2. Islam (24.6%)
3. Traditional faiths (17.9%)
4. Other / None (5.30%)

A Christian worship service inside the Cotonou Cathedral.

Christianity is the largest religion in Benin, with substantial populations of Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths such as Vodún.

According to the most recent 2020 estimate, the population of Benin is 52.2% Christian, 24.6% Muslim, 17.9% traditionalist and 5.3% follows other faiths or has no religion.[2][3]

## Overview

[edit]

There are Christians, Muslims, and adherents of African traditional religions throughout the country.[4] However, most adherents of the traditional Yoruba religious group are in the south, while other African Traditional Religion beliefs are followed in the north.[4] Muslims are represented most heavily in the north, while Catholics are prevalent in the south,[5] particularly in Cotonou, the economic capital. It is not unusual for members of the same family to practise Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion, or a combination of all of these.

Islam in Benin by commune Christianity in Benin by commune

## Faiths

[edit]

### African traditional religions

[edit]

Among the most practiced African traditional religions in Benin is the Vodun system of belief which originated in this area of Africa.[5]

Other African traditional religions are practiced in the Atakora (Atakora and Donga provinces) and Vodun and Orisha (or Orisa) veneration among the Yoruba and Tado peoples is prevalent in the centre and south of the country. The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual centre of Beninese Vodun.

The Tado and the Yoruba Orisha pantheons correspond closely:

* The supreme deity Mawu (in the Fon language) or Olodumare (also known as Olorun, Eledumare, Olofin-Orun and Eledaa among other names)(in Yoruba)
* The deity of the earth and smallpox, known as Sakpana (or Sopono, Sakpata), can also be spelt as 'Shakpata, Shopono, Shakpana, and also known as Babalu Aye or Obalu Aye.
* The deity of thunder and lightning, known as Shango; can also be spelt as Sango, also known as Jakuta, Chango, Xevioso and Hevioso.
* The deity of war and iron, known as Ogun, also known as Ogoun or Gu.

### Christianity

[edit]

Main article: Catholic Church in Benin

Catholicism first reached Benin in 1680, gaining more permanent footing in the 19th century. English Methodists arrived in 1843, operating amongst the coastal Gun people.[6] French missionaries spread Catholicism in the region.[7]

More than half of all Christians in Benin are Roman Catholic.[8] The Catholic hierarchy in Benin consists of the Archdiocese of Cotonou (including the Dioceses of Abomey, Dassa-Zoumé, Lokossa, Porto Novo) and the Parakou (including the Dioceses of Djougou, Kandi, Natitingou, and N'Dali). In 2020, there were 1349 priests and 1482 women in religious orders.[9]

Other Christian groups include Celestial Christians, Methodists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Pentecostals, the Unification Church and the Very Holy Church of Jesus Christ of Baname.[5]

* The cathedral of Notre Dame des Apotres in Cotonou

* Baptism ceremony of the Celestial Church of Christ in Cotonou, Benin.

### Islam

[edit]

Distribution of Muslims in Benin (2013)[10]

Islam, which accounts for more than 27% of the country's population, was brought to Benin from the north by Hausa, and Songhai-Dendi traders.[7] Nearly all Muslims adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam.[5] The few Shi'a Muslims are primarily Middle Eastern expatriates.[4] Shia population in Benin is estimated between one and twelve percent of the total Muslim population of Benin, according to Pew Forum it is less than one percent[11] while as per Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly the population of Shia in Benin is around twelve percent of the total Muslim population of Benin.[12] Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is also present, who recently inaugurated a mosque in Benin, the Al Mahdi Mosque in 2006. Many nominal Muslims also practise traditional local religious beliefs.[4]

* Mosque in Porto-Novo

* Islamic art in Benin

* Pilgrims leaving for Mecca

Three out of twelve departments have a Muslim majority: Alibori (81.3%), Donga (77.9%) and Borgou (69.8%).[13] Couffo has the lowest share of Muslims in Benin as Muslims comprise less than 1% of the total population.

### Other groups

[edit]

Other religious groups in Benin include Eckankar and followers of the Baháʼí Faith.[5]

## Freedom of religion

[edit]

Main article: Freedom of religion in Benin

The Constitution of Benin provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice.[5] The United States government recorded no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice during 2007, and prominent societal leaders have taken positive steps to promote religious freedom.[4]

In 2023, Benin was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House.[14]

## See also

[edit]

* Christianity in Benin
* Catholic Church in Benin
* Protestant Methodist Church in Benin
* Freedom of religion in Benin

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Religions in Benin | PEW-GRF". Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
2. ^ "The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
3. ^ "Benin". US State Dept 2021 report. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
4. ^ a b c d e International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Benin. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
5. ^ a b c d e f US State Dept 2022 Religious Freedom Report: Benin.
6. ^ "Country Profile: Benin". March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014.
7. ^ a b Skutsch, Carl, ed. (2013). Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities. Routledge. p. 210\. doi:10.4324/9780203935606. ISBN 978-1-135-19388-1.
8. ^ "National Profiles | World Religion". The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA).
9. ^ "Benin | Catholics & Cultures". www.catholicsandcultures.org.
10. ^ "RGPH_Principaux indicateurs socio démographiques et économiques". Open Data for Africa. 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
11. ^ "Estimated Percentage Range of Shia by Country" (PDF). Pew forum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
12. ^ "Shia Population in: Benin". The AhlulBayt World Assembly. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
13. ^ "Principaux indicateurs socio demographiques et economiques (RGPH-4, 2013)" [Main socio-demographic and economic indicators (RGPH-4, 2013)] (PDF) (in French).
14. ^ Freedom House website, Retrieved 2023-08-01

* v
* t
* e

Benin articles

History|

* Ketu
* French Dahomey
* First Franco-Dahomean War
* Second Franco-Dahomean War
* Republic of Dahomey
* Soglo coup
* Presidential Council
* Kérékou coup
* People's Republic of Benin
* Mercenary coup attempt

Geography|

* Borders
* Cities
* Climate
* Communes
* Departments
* Extreme points

Politics|

* Constitution
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Government
* Human rights
* Abortion
* LGBT rights
* Law enforcement
* Military
* Air Force
* Political parties
* President
* list
* Prime Minister

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Communications
* Energy
* CFA franc (currency)
* Fishing
* Tourism
* Trade unions
* Transport
* Water supply and sanitation

Culture|

* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Fetish priest
* Flag
* Literature
* Media
* Music
* Public holidays
* Sport
* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Football

Demographics|

* Crime
* Education
* Ethnic groups
* Health
* Languages
* People
* Prostitution
* Religion

* Outline
* Index

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Religion in Africa

Religions|

* Traditional African religions portal

* Akamba mythology
* Akan religion
* Ancient Egyptian religion
* Baháʼí Faith
* Bantu mythology
* Traditional Berber religion
* Bono mythology
* Buddhism
* Bushongo mythology
* Christianity
* Dahomean religion
* Dinka religion
* Dogon religion
* Efik mythology
* Hinduism
* Igbo religion
* Irreligion
* Islam
* Isoko mythology
* Jainism
* Judaism
* Khoe/San religion
* Lotuko mythology
* Lozi mythology
* Lugbara mythology
* Maasai mythology
* Malagasy mythology
* Mbuti mythology
* Serer religion
* Serer creation myth
* Traditional African religions
* Tumbuka mythology
* Waaqeffanna
* Yoruba religion
* Zulu religion

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Republic of the Congo
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Dependencies,
autonomies, and
other territories|

* Canary Islands (Spain)
* Ceuta (Spain)
* Madeira (Portugal)
* Mayotte (France)
* Melilla (Spain)
* Puntland
* Réunion (France)
* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* St. Helena (UK)
* Somaliland
* Western Sahara
* Zanzibar (Tanzania)

See also: African diaspora religions
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template