Editing Liberia (section)

=== Religion ===
{{main|Religion in Liberia}}
{{bar box |float=right |titlebar=#ddd
|title=[[Religion in Liberia]] (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/liberia#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2015|title=Religions in Liberia – PEW-GRF|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106235755/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/liberia#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2015|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Protestantism]]|lightBlue|76.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|12.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism]]|red|7.2}}
{{bar percent|Other [[Christians|Christian]]|blue|1.6}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|Unaffiliated]]|Lavender|1.4}}
{{bar percent|Other faith|grey|1.3}}
}}
According to the 2008 National Census, 85.6% of the population practiced [[Christianity]], while Muslims represented a minority of 12.2%.<ref name="Census 2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.lisgis.net/pg_img/NPHC%202008%20Final%20Report.pdf|title=2008 Population and Housing Census: Final Results|publisher=Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services|date=May 2009|page=A4-84|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412091820/https://www.lisgis.net/pg_img/NPHC|url-status=dead}}</ref> A multitude of diverse [[Protestant]] confessions such as [[Lutheran]], [[Baptist]], [[Anglican|Episcopal]], [[Presbyterian]], [[Pentecostal]], [[United Methodist]], [[African Methodist Episcopal]] (AME) and [[African Methodist Episcopal Zion]] (AME Zion) denominations form the bulk of the Christian population, followed by adherents of the [[Catholic Church]] and other non-Protestant Christians. Most of these Christian denominations were brought by [[African American|African-American]] [[settler]]s moving from the United States into Liberia via the [[American Colonization Society]], while some are indigenous—especially [[Pentecostal]] and [[evangelical Protestant]] ones. Protestantism was originally associated with Black American settlers and their [[Americo-Liberian]] descendants, while native peoples initially held to their own [[animist]] forms of [[African traditional religion]] before largely adopting Christianity. While Christian, many Liberians also participate in traditional, gender-based indigenous religious [[secret societies]], such as [[Poro]] for men and [[Sande society|Sande]] for women. The all-female Sande society practices [[female circumcision]].<ref name=irfr>{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148698.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123105613/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148698.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2010: Liberia |work=United States Department of State |date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref>

[[Muslims]] comprised 12.2% of the population in 2008, largely represented by the [[Mandinka people|Mandingo]] and [[Vai people|Vai]] ethnic groups. Liberian Muslims are divided between [[Sunnis]], [[Shia]]s, [[Ahmadiyya]]s, [[Sufi]]s, and [[non-denominational Muslim]]s.<ref>Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. August 9, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2013</ref>

In 2008, 0.5% identified adherence to [[African traditional religion|traditional indigenous religions]], while 1.5% claimed no religion. A small number of people were [[Baháʼí]], [[Hindu]], [[Sikh]], or [[Buddhist]].

The Liberian constitution provides for [[freedom of religion]], and the government generally respects this right.<ref name=irfr/> While [[separation of church and state]] is mandated by the Constitution, Liberia is considered a [[Christian state]] in practice.<ref name="freedom">{{cite web |date=July 7, 2011 |title=Freedom in the World 2011 – Liberia |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e16b8f91a.html |access-date=January 23, 2023 |work=[[Freedom House]] |publisher=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019035608/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4e16b8f91a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Public schools offer [[biblical studies]], though parents may opt their children out. Commerce is prohibited by law on Sunday and major [[Christian holiday]]s. The government does not require businesses or schools to excuse Muslims for [[Friday prayer]]s.<ref name=irfr/>
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