Religion in Guinea-Bissau

Christianity is the largest religion in Guinea-Bissau, with significant communities of the adherents of Islam and Traditional African religions.

According to a comprehensive 2019 World Bank survey, 57% of the population is Christian, 36% Muslim, 3% traditionalist, while 3% has no religion and 1% belongs to other faiths.^[2][3] Guinea-Bissau is a secular state and the country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Various missionary groups operate freely throughout the nation.^[4][5]

Christians are mostly found along the coastal regions, and belong to the Catholic Church (including Portuguese Bissau-Guineans) and various Protestant denominations.^[6] In 2017, Sunni Islam, including that of Sufi-oriented, were most concentrated in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, while practitioners of traditional indigenous religious beliefs generally live in all but the northern parts of the country.^[7]

Christianity arrived in Guinea-Bissau with Portuguese traders and missionaries in the 15th century, but only in its coastal regions.^[8] Active missionary efforts started only in the 20th century, and in 1977 it became a diocese of the Holy See.^[8] Protestant mission arrived in Guinea-Bissau in 1939, and Evangelical churches have been active through the second half of the 20th century. The Christian missions became a target of destruction during the 1999 civil war in Guinea-Bissau.^[8]

According to the 2009 and 1991 censuses of Guinea-Bissau, the practice of Christianity has grown from 15% in 1991 to 57% of the total population in 2022; however, Christianity remains concentrated in the coastal regions of the country^[9] and the Christian community predominantly consists of the Papel, Manjak, and Balanta ethnic groups. Catholics make up over half of the Christian population, whereas Brazilian Protestant denominations and other Protestant groups maintain numerous congregations and missions across the nation.^[10] Christianity is perceived to be expanding in Guinea-Bissau, particularly among adherents of traditional religions. It is projected that by 2050, Christians will constitute approximately 55% of the population in Guinea-Bissau.^[11]

Most of Guinea-Bissau's Muslims belong to Sunni Islam and follow Sufi orders.^[12] Islam is practiced most widely by the Fula, Soninke, Susu and Mandinka ethnic groups, and Muslims generally live in the north and northeast.^[7][8]

Islam arrived in Guinea-Bissau before the 12th-century with trans-Saharan traders.^[13] Initial growth of Islam was limited to the rulers and trading elites of Guinea-Bissau. Major expansion of Islam among the mainstream happened in the 18th and 19th centuries, after the invasion by Biafada kingdom, and the waves of Fulani jihads that arrived from the north led by Musa Ibrahim, Ibrahim Sori, El Hadj Umar Tall and Koli Tenguella.^[13]

The Constitution sees freedom of conscience and religion as inviolable and provides for freedom of worship.^[14]

In 2023, the country scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.^[15]

• Christianity in Guinea-Bissau
• Islam in Guinea-Bissau
• Roman Catholicism in Guinea-Bissau