Religion in Palau

Christianity is the dominant religion in Palau, although there is no state religion. Freedom of religion is enshrined in Palau's constitution, and both the government and general society respect this right in practice.

Demographics

Approximately 65% of the population are members of the Roman Catholic Church.[1] Estimates of other religious groups with a sizable membership include the various denominations of Evangelicalism, 2,000; Seventh-day Adventists, 1,000; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), 300; and Jehovah's Witnesses, 90.[1] Modekngei, which embraces both animist and Christian beliefs and is unique to the country, has approximately 1,800 adherents.[1] There also is a primarily Filipino Catholic expatriate community of 6,800 persons.[1]

Additionally, about 0.8% of the population was estimated to be Buddhist in 2010 and 0.2% was reported to be practicing elements of Chinese folk religion alongside as well. 0.7% of the population in 2010 was estimated to be practicing the Baháʼí Faith and 0.1% practiced Hinduism. 2.4% identified as agnostic while a non-negligible amount, under 0.1% of the population identified as atheist.[2]

History

Since the arrival of Jesuit priests in the early 19th century, foreign missionaries have been active; some have been in the country for many years.[1] During the Japanese mandate, Japanese Christian missions were heavily subsidized; Japan's native Buddhists were given a comparative pittance.[3] Japanese rule brought Mahayana Buddhism and Shinto to Palau, with the syncretism of the two being the majority religion among Japanese settlers. However, following Japan's World War II defeat, the remaining Japanese largely converted to Christianity, while the remainder continued to observe Buddhism, but stopped practicing Shinto rites.[4] The Seventh-day Adventist and Evangelical churches have missionaries teaching in their respective elementary and high schools.[1] There are also approximately 400 Bengali Muslims in Palau, and recently a few Uyghurs detained in Guantanamo Bay were allowed to settle in the island nation.[5] There are two mosques in Palau, one of which is located in Koror.[6]

Religious freedom

The constitution of Palau establishes the freedom of religion and prohibits the government from taking any action to infringe upon it. It also states that the country has no state religion.[7]

Religious groups are required to register with the government as nonprofit organizations. Foreign missionaries are also required to apply for missionary permits from the Bureau of Immigration and Labor.[7]

Religious instruction is prohibited in public schools, but religious groups are allowed to request government funds to run private schools.[7]

According to US State Department reports, there have been no significant societal breaches of religious freedom in Palau.[7]

See also

References
  1. International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Palau. 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.
  2. "The Association of Religion Data Archives | National Profiles". Thearda.com. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  3. Willard Price. Japan's Islands of Mystery. p. 111.
  4. Brigham Young University—Hawaii Campus (1981), p. 36
  5. Lawyers: Uighurs agree to go to Palau
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20091103141250/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/11-six-former-guantanamo-detainees-resettle-in-palau--il--07. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. International Religious Freedom Report 2017 § Palau US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.


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