Christianity in Somalia

Christianity is a minority religion in Muslim-majority Somalia. According to a report by the Somali Bible Society in 2023, there is estimated population of 178,869 Christian practitioners in Somalia. The Somali population is about 19 million as of 2024.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Most modern-day Christian adherents come from the Bantu ethnic minority group,^[5] or are descended from Italian colonists and belong to the Swedish Evangelical Mission, Roman Catholic Church, and Church of the Nazarene. There is one Catholic diocese for the entire country, the Diocese of Mogadishu.

Orthodox Christianity came to coastal areas of the Somalia in early 2nd and 3rd century, by way of the Ethiopian expansion of East Africa.^[6] Modern day, there are at least some known local Christians in the nation and the self-proclaimed nation of Somaliland in the north.^[7]^[8]

^ "Somalia Population (2024) - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
^ US State Dept 2022 report
^ "Somali Christian Census, 2023: Bureau of Statistics, Somali Bible Society" (PDF). December 20, 2023. pp. 49–61. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1" (.PDF). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved March 12, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "A study on minorities in Somalia". Archived from the original on 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
^ Aweis A Ali (May 2021). "A Brief History of Christianity in the Somali Peninsula" – via ResearchGate.
^ "Somaliland: Apostate Couple Accused of Spreading Christianity" Released and Deported to Somalia". Somaliland Sun. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
^ "Somaliland Christians released after offences-against-Islam charges dismissed". Somaliland Sun. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

[1] "Somalia Population (2024) - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 2024-02-07.

[2] US State Dept 2022 report

[Angpl-3] "Somali Christian Census, 2023: Bureau of Statistics, Somali Bible Society" (PDF). December 20, 2023. pp. 49–61. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2009.

[unpop-4] Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1" (.PDF). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved March 12, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[5] "A study on minorities in Somalia". Archived from the original on 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2010-05-27.

[6] Aweis A Ali (May 2021). "A Brief History of Christianity in the Somali Peninsula" – via ResearchGate.

[7] "Somaliland: Apostate Couple Accused of Spreading Christianity" Released and Deported to Somalia". Somaliland Sun. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

[8] "Somaliland Christians released after offences-against-Islam charges dismissed". Somaliland Sun. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

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