Belize's Christian Community: A Significant Presence

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It has the lowest population and population density in Central America. Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize, with 74.3% of the population adhering to one of the Christian religions. The single largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.1% of the population. Other major groups include Pentecostals (8.4%), Seventh-day Adventists (5.4%), Anglicans (4.7%-5%), Mennonites (3.7%-4%), Baptists (3.6%), Methodists (2.9%), and the Church of the Nazarene (2.8%-3%). Jehovah's Witnesses make up 1.7% of the population, while other religious groups, including Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Rastafarians, the Salvation Army, and Baha'is, together constitute 10.5%. Approximately 15.5% of the population does not affiliate with any religion.

How many Christians in Belize are Catholic?

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America, and it is the least densely populated region in Central America. The dominant religion in Belize is Christianity, with 74.3% of the population following one of the Christian religions.

Roman Catholicism is the single largest denomination within Christianity in Belize, with about 40.1% of the population (129,456 adherents) following this religion. This is a reduction from 49.6% in 2000, 57.7% in 1991, and 61.9% in 1980, although the absolute numbers have still risen. The number of Catholics in Belize has been steadily declining, but their numbers are still significant, and they have the most adherents among Christians in Belize.

The Catholic Church in Belize is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome, and the country comes under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan. The spread of Roman Catholicism in Belize occurred in three periods. During the first period, between 1524 and 1707, missionaries accompanying Spanish conquistadors introduced the religion to the country. The second phase occurred in 1851 when the first permanent residency of the Jesuits was established in Belize. The third phase witnessed the appointment of the first native bishop of the Church in the country.

In summary, about 40% of Belize's population identifies as Roman Catholic, making it the largest Christian denomination in the country. However, the percentage of Catholics in Belize has been decreasing over time, while the absolute numbers have risen.

How many Christians in Belize are Protestant?

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America, with the lowest population and population density in the region. It has a highly diverse society, with people of many cultures and languages residing there.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize, with 74.3% of the population adhering to one of the Christian religions. The single largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.1% of the population. The second-largest group of Christians in Belize are Protestants, who make up 31.5% to 32% of the population. This includes Pentecostals (8.4%), Seventh-Day Adventists (5.4%), Anglicans (4.7% to 5%), Mennonites (3.7% to 4%), Baptists (3.6% to 4%), Methodists (2.9% to 3%), the Church of the Nazarene (2.8% to 3%), and the Salvation Army.

The Constitution of Belize establishes the freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religious grounds. Religious groups are required to register with the government to operate in the country and are exempt from certain taxes. The public school curriculum includes nondenominational "spirituality" classes that introduce world religions, ethics, and morals. Most public schools are managed by Christian churches, and churches co-manage approximately 60% of primary schools, 40% of high schools, and 50% of colleges.

How many Christians in Belize are Jehovah's Witnesses?

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It has the lowest population and population density in the region. Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize, with 74.3% of the population following one of the Christian religions.

According to the 2010 Census, 1.7% of the population of Belize are Jehovah's Witnesses. This equates to around 4,410 people. Jehovah's Witnesses first arrived in Belize in 1918, when James Gordon, one of the first Witnesses, then called International Bible Students, settled in a remote Maya village called Bomba. In 1933, Freida Johnson, a Witness from the United States, began preaching in Belize, travelling alone and sometimes on horseback. She preached in towns, villages, and banana plantations along the Caribbean Coast.

In 1945, the first missionaries, Elmer Ihrig and Charles Heyen, arrived in Belize. However, the government of British Honduras (now Belize) decided that no further ministers from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society would be permitted to enter the country. Despite this, the number of publishers (members who distribute publications) rose from seven in 1944 to 16 in 1946. In 1949, there were places in Belize where Spanish was spoken, but none of the missionaries spoke the language. In 1955, Leslie Pitcher, a Spanish-speaking missionary, was assigned to work in Benque Viejo, a town with a Spanish-speaking population.

How many Christians in Belize are Mormons?

Belize is a diverse country with many different cultures and languages. It is located on the northeastern coast of Central America and shares borders with Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and Guatemala. With a population of 416,656, Belize is the least populous and least densely populated country in Central America.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Belize, with 74.3% of the population following one of the Christian denominations. The single largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.4% of the population, followed by Protestants at 31.8%, and Jehovah's Witnesses at 1.7%.

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are a smaller group within the Christian population in Belize. According to the 2010 census, 0.4% of the population identified as Mormon, which is approximately 1,333 people. However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims a higher membership number of 4,807 as of 2015 and 5,534 as of 2022.

The first branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belize was organized in Belize City in 1980, and missionary work has been active in the country since then. Formal missionary work began in May 1980 when President Samuel Flores of the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission and Elder Robert Henke arrived, followed by additional missionaries the next day. The first person to join the Church was Ernesto Alay, who was baptized on June 1, 1980.

Belize is currently part of the El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission. While there are no temples in Belize, the country is located within the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple District.

How many Christians in Belize are Seventh-day Adventists?

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America with the lowest population density in the region. It has a diverse society, with people of many cultures and languages. The dominant religion in Belize is Christianity, with 74.3% of the population following one of the Christian religions. The single largest denomination is the Catholic Church, with about 40.1-40.4% of the population. Other major groups include Pentecostals, with 8.4% of the population, and Seventh-day Adventists, with 5.4% of the population.

The percentage of Seventh-day Adventists in Belize has been steadily increasing, rising from 4.1% in 1991 to 5.2% in 2000, and reaching 5.4% in 2010. This represents a significant proportion of the country's population, and in relative terms, Belize has one of the highest ratios of Seventh-day Adventists to population in the world. In absolute numbers, this percentage translates to approximately one Seventh-day Adventist for every eight people in Belize, or around 41,666 Seventh-day Adventists in the country, based on a population of 416,656 in 2024.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Belize is actively involved in evangelism and community outreach. The church's values are rooted in integrity, unity, respect, and a commitment to glorifying God. They have various departments, including family ministries, youth ministries, and children's ministries. The church's mission is to lead converts to a personal and transforming relationship with Christ, enabling them to become disciples and share the gospel with others. The territory was reorganised into three missions in 2020: North Belize, Central Belize, and South-West Belize.

The Inter-American Division (IAD), which includes Belize, has more than 3.7 million Adventists, the highest number in any division of the world church. The high ratio of Adventists to the general population in Belize reflects the strong presence and influence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the country.

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