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What religion is in Nigeria?

Published in Nigerian Religions 2 mins read

What Religion is in Nigeria?

Nigeria is a country characterized by its significant religious diversity, with Islam and Christianity being the two dominant faiths. These two major religions account for the vast majority of the population, alongside a smaller percentage adhering to other indigenous or diverse spiritual practices.

Religious Demographics of Nigeria

Recent demographic estimates highlight the significant presence and distribution of these faiths across the nation, showcasing Nigeria's unique religious landscape.

Religion Estimated Population Percentage
Muslim 53.5%
Christian 45.9%
Other 0.6%

Islam in Nigeria

Islam represents the larger of the two primary religions in Nigeria, with an estimated 53.5% of the population identifying as Muslim. This faith has a strong historical and cultural presence, particularly in the northern regions of the country.

Christianity in Nigeria

Christianity stands as the second major religion, making up approximately 45.9% of the Nigerian populace. The Christian community in Nigeria is diverse, encompassing a wide array of denominations. The breakdown within the Christian population includes:

  • Roman Catholic: An estimated 10.6% of Christians identify as Roman Catholic, forming a substantial segment of the Christian population.
  • Other Christian: The remaining 35.3% consists of various other Christian denominations. This broad category includes a multitude of churches such as Pentecostals, Baptists, Anglicans, Methodists, and numerous other indigenous Christian movements that are prevalent across the country, especially in the southern and central regions.

Other Religious Beliefs

A smaller segment of the Nigerian population, approximately 0.6%, practices other religions. This category typically encompasses diverse belief systems, including various traditional African religions that predate the arrival of Islam and Christianity, as well as minority faiths such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and others, reflecting Nigeria's broader cultural mosaic.