Religion in Tuvalu

The Church of Tuvalu, which has historic ties to the Congregational Church and other churches in Samoa, has the largest number of followers. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90157.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Tuvalu] . 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."] Government estimates of religious affiliation as a percentage of the population include: Church of Tuvalu, 91 percent; Seventh-day Adventist, 3 percent; Baha'i, 3 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses, 2 percent; and Roman Catholic, 1 percent. There are also smaller numbers of Muslims, Baptists, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and atheists. The Tuvalu Brethren Church, a new charismatic Protestant group, is said to have as many as three hundred adherents, some 3 percent of the population, but this could not be confirmed by independent sources.

All nine island groups have traditional chiefs who are members of the Church of Tuvalu. Most followers of other religions or denominations are found in Funafuti, the capital, with the exception of the relatively large proportion of followers of the Baha'i Faith on Nanumea Island.

Missionaries are present and operate freely.

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. Societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice occur, but are relatively infrequent.

References