Christianity in Benin

The cathedral of Notre Dame des Apôtres in Cotonou

Christians in Benin constitute approximately 48.5 of the country's population (2022 estimate).[1]

In 2023, more than half of all Christians in Benin are Roman Catholic.[2]

According to the 2002 census, 27.1 percent of the population of Benin was Roman Catholic, 5 percent Celestial Christian, 3.2 percent Methodist and 7.5 percent other Christian groups.[3]

Many nominal Christians also practice traditional local religious beliefs.[4]

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    Baptism ceremony of the Celestial Church of Christ in Cotonou

    History

    Christianity first reached Benin in 1680, gaining more permanent footing in the 19th century. English Methodists arrived in 1843, operating amongst the coastal Gun people.[5]

    Roman Catholicism

    Main article: Roman Catholicism in Benin

    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 2011 it was reported that in Benin there were 440 priests and 900 men and women in religious orders.[6] By 2020, there were 1349 priests and 1482 nuns.[7]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ "Benin". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
    2. ^ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-01
    3. ^ 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.
    4. ^ US State Dept 2022 Religious Freedom Report: Benin.
    5. ^ Serving In Mission website
    6. ^ Houngnikpo, Mathurin C.; Decalo, Samuel (2013). Historical Dictionary of Benin. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 94. ISBN 978-0810871717. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
    7. ^ Catholics And Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-01