Jamaica is often said to have more churches per square mile than anywhere on earth. Whether or not that is literally true, faith runs through almost every part of Jamaican life: the morning devotion at school, the prayer that opens a meeting, the Sunday drive past a church on every corner, the drums of a Revival yard and the reasoning of a Rastafari camp. This page brings every reliable number on religion in Jamaica together in one place, from the official census to church membership rolls, international surveys and the law.
Edition 2026, compiled 10 October 2026. Next scheduled update: October 2027. Census figures are from the 2011 Population and Housing Census, the most recent with published religion data. The 2022 census counted 2,774,538 people, but STATIN has not yet released its religion tables; this page will be rebuilt around them as soon as they appear.
Jamaica religion stats at a glance
The headline figures, each with its date and source. Where a newer church-reported figure exists alongside the census, both are shown.
| Stat | Amount | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian, all denominations | 68.9% | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Protestant (incl. Revivalist) | 64.8% | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Roman Catholic | 2.16% (57,946) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Roman Catholic, church estimate | about 71,000 in 64 parishes | current | GCatholic |
| No religion / denomination | 21.32% (572,008) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Religiously unaffiliated, modelled | 23.7% | 2020 | Pew Research Center (2025) |
| Christian, modelled | 68.6% | 2020 | Pew Research Center (2025) |
| Largest denomination | Seventh-day Adventist, 12.01% | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Seventh-day Adventist members | more than 340,000 | Nov 2025 | Jamaica Union Conference via The Gleaner |
| All Church of God groups combined | 25.7% (689,868) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Pentecostal | 11.00% (295,195) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Baptist | 6.73% (180,640) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Jamaica Baptist Union | 340 churches, about 40,000 members | 2025 | Christianity Today |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses, average publishers | 10,809 (peak 10,985) | 2025 service year | Watch Tower Society |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses, congregations | 153 | 2025 service year | Watch Tower Society |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses, Memorial attendance | 29,802 | 2025 | Watch Tower Society |
| Latter-day Saints members | 7,856 | 31 Dec 2025 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Latter-day Saints congregations | 18 (6 wards, 12 branches) | 31 Dec 2025 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Rastafari | 1.08% (29,026) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Revivalist | 1.35% (36,296) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Muslims | 1,513 (community estimate 6,500) | 2011 | STATIN census; US State Dept |
| Hindus | 1,836 | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Jews | 506 (one synagogue) | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Baha’is | 269 | 2011 | STATIN census |
| Religion important in daily life | 70% yes, 29.5% no | 2009 poll | Gallup |
| Churches on the island | more than 1,600 | 2025 | The Gleaner |
Religious affiliation: 2011 census compared with 2001
Every category STATIN published, ranked by size. The 2011 census added Revivalist as a separate box for the first time; in 2001 those people were counted under Other. Note how the Other category fell by a third as the new box was added.
| Religion / denomination | 2011 | % 2011 | 2001 | % 2001 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh-day Adventist | 322,228 | 12.01% | 281,353 | 10.84% | ▲ 14.5% |
| Pentecostal | 295,195 | 11.00% | 247,452 | 9.53% | ▲ 19.3% |
| Other Church of God | 246,838 | 9.20% | 215,837 | 8.31% | ▲ 14.4% |
| New Testament Church of God | 192,086 | 7.16% | 163,912 | 6.31% | ▲ 17.2% |
| Baptist | 180,640 | 6.73% | 188,770 | 7.27% | ▼ 4.3% |
| Church of God in Jamaica | 129,544 | 4.83% | 124,184 | 4.78% | ▲ 4.3% |
| Church of God of Prophecy | 121,400 | 4.52% | 113,225 | 4.36% | ▲ 7.2% |
| Anglican | 74,891 | 2.79% | 93,612 | 3.61% | ▼ 20.0% |
| Roman Catholic | 57,946 | 2.16% | 67,204 | 2.59% | ▼ 13.8% |
| United Church | 55,360 | 2.06% | 64,154 | 2.47% | ▼ 13.7% |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 50,849 | 1.90% | 44,203 | 1.70% | ▲ 15.0% |
| Methodist | 43,336 | 1.62% | 50,024 | 1.93% | ▼ 13.4% |
| Revivalist | 36,296 | 1.35% | not counted | – | new category |
| Rastafarian | 29,026 | 1.08% | 24,020 | 0.93% | ▲ 20.8% |
| Brethren | 23,647 | 0.88% | 24,217 | 0.93% | ▼ 2.4% |
| Moravian | 18,351 | 0.68% | 20,975 | 0.81% | ▼ 12.5% |
| Hinduism | 1,836 | 0.07% | 1,453 | 0.06% | ▲ 26.4% |
| Islam | 1,513 | 0.06% | 1,024 | 0.04% | ▲ 47.8% |
| Judaism | 506 | 0.02% | 357 | 0.01% | ▲ 41.7% |
| Baha’i | 269 | 0.01% | 279 | 0.01% | ▼ 3.6% |
| Other religion / denomination | 169,014 | 6.30% | 253,652 | 9.77% | ▼ 33.4% |
| No religion / denomination | 572,008 | 21.32% | 543,902 | 20.95% | ▲ 5.2% |
| Not reported | 60,326 | 2.25% | 72,151 | 2.78% | ▼ 16.4% |
| Total (persons answering) | 2,683,105 | 100% | 2,595,960 | 100% | ▲ 3.4% |
Source: Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Population and Housing Census 2011, General Report Volume I, Table (xiii). Totals are persons in private dwellings and institutions who were asked the question (2,683,105 in 2011). Percentages calculated by Jamaica Homes.
What the census shows
- The evangelical churches are winning. The Church of God family, Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists together held 1,307,291 people in 2011, almost half the population (48.7%).
- The historic churches are shrinking. Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Moravian, United Church, Roman Catholic and Brethren fell from 508,956 people in 2001 to 454,171 in 2011, a 10.8% drop. Anglicans lost a fifth of their number.
- Pentecostals grew fastest among the large groups, up 19.3% in ten years. In 1960 they numbered just 14,739, under 1% of the population.
- Small faiths grew sharply from a low base. Islam rose 47.8%, Judaism 41.7% and Hinduism 26.4% between censuses.
- One Jamaican in five says no religion. The Gleaner’s analysis of the 2011 data found that young people aged 10 to 29 made up about 40% of those with no religious affiliation.
Religion in Jamaica by family of faith
| Group | 2011 | % | 2001 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of God (4 groups) | 689,868 | 25.71% | 617,158 | 23.77% |
| Seventh-day Adventist | 322,228 | 12.01% | 281,353 | 10.84% |
| Pentecostal | 295,195 | 11.00% | 247,452 | 9.53% |
| Historic Protestant (Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Moravian, United, Brethren) | 396,225 | 14.77% | 441,752 | 17.02% |
| Roman Catholic | 57,946 | 2.16% | 67,204 | 2.59% |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 50,849 | 1.90% | 44,203 | 1.70% |
| Revivalist | 36,296 | 1.35% | – | – |
| Rastafari | 29,026 | 1.08% | 24,020 | 0.93% |
| Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i | 4,124 | 0.15% | 3,113 | 0.12% |
| Other religion | 169,014 | 6.30% | 253,652 | 9.77% |
| No religion | 572,008 | 21.32% | 543,902 | 20.95% |
| Not reported | 60,326 | 2.25% | 72,151 | 2.78% |
Long-run trends since 1960
| Group | 1960 | 2001 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,609,814 | 2,607,632 | 2,697,983 |
| Pentecostal | 14,739 (under 1%) | 247,452 | 295,195 |
| Church of God (all branches) | 191,231 (one grouping) | 617,158 | 689,868 |
| Seventh-day Adventist | – | 281,353 | 322,228 |
Sources: STATIN 2011 census report; The Gleaner, 21 October 2012, reporting earlier census series. 1960 figures for other denominations to be added in a future edition.
Independent estimates
International researchers model religious composition between censuses. Their methods differ, so their numbers do not always match the census or each other.
| Measure | 2010 | 2020 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 70.4% | 68.6% | Pew Research Center |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 21.8% | 23.7% | Pew Research Center |
| Other religions (incl. Rastafari, folk religions) | 7.6% | 7.6% | Pew Research Center |
| Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish (each) | under 0.1% | under 0.1% | Pew Research Center |
| Modelled population | 2,750,000 | 2,830,000 | Pew Research Center |
The World Religion Database (2025), which counts many non-practising people as Christian by background, puts Jamaica at 84.55% Christian, including 41.16% “unaffiliated Christians”, 32.49% Protestant, 10.67% Independent and 2.43% Catholic, with Baha’is at 0.19% and Chinese folk-religionists at 0.13%. Gallup’s 2009 world poll found 70% of Jamaicans said religion was important in their daily lives, which placed Jamaica 95th of 143 countries on NationMaster’s ranking: high by Western standards, but lower than much of Latin America and Africa.
Major denominations: latest figures
Census counts measure the people who identify with a church. Church membership rolls measure baptised or active members. Both are shown where available.
| Denomination | In Jamaica since | Census 2011 | Latest church figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh-day Adventist | 1890s (conference 1903) | 322,228 | 340,000+ members (2025) | Five conferences under the Jamaica Union, headquartered in Mandeville; runs Northern Caribbean University. One of the highest Adventist shares of any country. |
| New Testament Church of God | early 20th century | 192,086 | – | Affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). |
| Church of God in Jamaica | early 20th century | 129,544 | 111 congregations in six regions | Congregation list from the church. |
| Church of God of Prophecy | early 20th century | 121,400 | – | |
| Pentecostal (various) | early 20th century | 295,195 | – | Includes the United Pentecostal Church of Jamaica and many independent assemblies. |
| Baptist | 1783 (George Liele) | 180,640 | 340 churches, about 40,000 members (JBU, 2025) | Largest of the historic churches; central to the anti-slavery struggle. |
| Anglican | 1655 | 74,891 | Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands | Established church until 1870. About 50 properties damaged by Hurricane Melissa. |
| Roman Catholic | 1509 (Spanish); hierarchy restored 1837 | 57,946 | about 71,000; 64 parishes in 3 dioceses | Archdiocese of Kingston, dioceses of Mandeville and Montego Bay. |
| United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands | union of Presbyterian, Congregational and Disciples churches | 55,360 | – | |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1897 | 50,849 | 10,809 average publishers, 153 congregations (2025) | Memorial attendance 29,802 (2025). |
| Methodist | 1789 | 43,336 | – | Part of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. |
| Brethren | 19th century | 23,647 | about 23,000 (US State Dept) | |
| Moravian | 1754 | 18,351 | about 18,000 (US State Dept) | First mission to teach Christianity to the enslaved; five churches destroyed by Hurricane Melissa. |
| Latter-day Saints | 1853, permanently 1974 | in Other | 7,856 members, 18 congregations (2025) | First stake organised in Kingston in 2014. |
| Ethiopian Orthodox | 1972 | in Other | – | Strong links with the Rastafari community. |
| Eastern Orthodox | mission 2015 | in Other | two parishes | St Timothy (Kingston) and St Moses the Black (Trelawny). |
Other world religions in Jamaica
| Faith | Census 2011 | Community estimate | Main places of worship | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judaism | 506 | about 200 active members | Shaare Shalom Synagogue, Duke Street, Kingston | Jews arrived with the Spanish and worshipped openly under the English from 1655. The present synagogue dates from 1912 and is one of a handful in the world with a sand floor. Next door is the Jamaican Jewish Heritage Centre. |
| Islam | 1,513 | 5,000 to 6,500 | About eleven mosques, including in Kingston, Spanish Town and St Mary | Some enslaved Africans were Muslim, and more came with Indian indentured workers. The Islamic Council of Jamaica on South Camp Road runs several schools. An Ahmadiyya mosque opened in Old Harbour in 2011. |
| Hinduism | 1,836 | – | Sanatan Dharma Mandir, Hagley Park Road, Kingston | Rooted in Indian indentured migration from 1845. Diwali is widely celebrated. |
| Baha’i Faith | 269 | 21 local communities (2006) | National Centre, Mountain View Avenue, Kingston | Established in Jamaica in the 1940s. National Baha’i Day, 25 July, was proclaimed in 2003. |
| Buddhism | in Other | small | Soka Gakkai International | Member of the Jamaica Council for Interfaith Fellowship. |
| Chinese folk religion | in Other | 0.13% (WRD 2025) | – | Chinese migration began in 1854. |
Jamaican-born and African-rooted faiths
Some of Jamaica’s most distinctive religions were born on the island, from the mix of West and Central African spirituality and Christianity.
- Rastafari. Emerged in the 1930s after the coronation of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia in 1930, drawing on Marcus Garvey’s call to look to Africa. Early leader Leonard Howell founded the Pinnacle community in St Catherine in 1940. Selassie’s visit on 21 April 1966 is marked each year as Grounation Day. Through reggae, Rastafari became Jamaica’s best-known religion abroad. The 2011 census counted 29,026 adherents; many Rastafari do not register with any body, so the real number is likely higher.
- Revival (Zion and Pukumina). Grew from the Great Revival of 1860–61, blending African spirit practice with evangelical Christianity: drumming, dancing, trumping and healing at the “seal ground”, with a central pole and a basin of water. Counted separately for the first time in 2011 (36,296 people). The Watt Town pilgrimage in St Ann is a major annual gathering.
- Kumina. Brought by Central African (Kongo) indentured workers after emancipation, strongest in St Thomas and parts of St Mary and Portland. Known for its drumming and ancestor ceremonies.
- Myal and Obeah. Healing and spiritual practices with West African roots, historically tied to resistance against slavery. A colonial-era law still makes Obeah and Myalism punishable by up to 12 months in prison, but it is not enforced. The census does not count either.
- Bedwardism. Alexander Bedward led the Jamaica Native Baptist Free Church at August Town from 1889 to 1921, attracting thousands and alarming the colonial authorities.
Timeline of religion in Jamaica
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Before 1494 | Taíno people practise their own religion centred on zemis (spirit figures). |
| 1509 | Spanish settlers bring Roman Catholicism; first church at Sevilla la Nueva, St Ann. |
| 1655 | English capture Jamaica. Catholicism is suppressed and the Church of England becomes the established church. Jews can worship openly. |
| 1754 | Moravian missionaries begin the first organised mission to enslaved Africans. |
| 1783 | George Liele, a formerly enslaved Black preacher from Georgia, founds the first Baptist church in Kingston. |
| 1789 | Methodist mission begins. |
| 1831–32 | Baptist deacon Sam Sharpe leads the Christmas Rebellion, hastening emancipation. |
| 1837 | Vicariate Apostolic of Jamaica created, restoring a Catholic hierarchy. |
| 1845 | Indian indentured workers arrive, bringing Hinduism and Islam. |
| 1854 | Chinese migration begins. |
| 1860–61 | The Great Revival sweeps the island, giving rise to Revival Zion and Pukumina. |
| 1870 | Church of England disestablished in Jamaica. |
| 1889–1921 | Alexander Bedward’s revival movement at August Town. |
| 1897 | Jehovah’s Witnesses begin preaching in Jamaica. |
| 1903 | Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists formally received by the world church. |
| 1930s | Rastafari movement emerges after Haile Selassie’s coronation. |
| 1941 | Jamaica Council of Churches founded. |
| 1962 | Independence; the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. |
| 1963 | Coral Gardens incident near Montego Bay: eight people killed in clashes between Rastafari and security forces. |
| 1966 | Haile Selassie visits Jamaica on 21 April (Grounation Day). |
| 1972 | Ethiopian Orthodox Church established in Jamaica. |
| 1974 | First Jamaicans baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. |
| 2003 | National Baha’i Day (25 July) proclaimed. |
| 2011 | Census counts Revivalists separately for the first time; SDA confirmed as largest single denomination. |
| 2015 | Dangerous Drugs Act amended to allow sacramental use of ganja by Rastafari; Orthodox mission founded. |
| 2017 | State apology for Coral Gardens and a benevolent trust fund for survivors. |
| 2023 | National Student Dress and Grooming Policy ends the requirement that Rastafari students cover their locs; new guidelines for school devotions. |
| 2025 | Hurricane Melissa (28 October) damages or destroys hundreds of churches. 2022 census population count released. |
| 2026 | Government opens consultations on the sacramental cannabis framework, including moving its administration to the Ministry of Culture. |
Religion and the law
| Topic | Position in 2026 |
|---|---|
| State religion | None. The Constitution protects freedom of thought and religion, including the right to change religion, and bans discrimination based on belief. |
| Registration | Not compulsory. Churches incorporate through the Companies Office (fee J$24,500) or by Act of Parliament to hold land and act as legal bodies. Tax exemption requires separate registration as a charity. |
| Religious education | Non-denominational religious education is part of the public curriculum and students cannot opt out, but taking part in worship is optional. Homeschooling is legal. |
| Church schools | Many public and private schools are run by Catholic and Protestant churches; the Islamic Council runs several. Publicly funded church schools must admit students of all faiths. |
| Obeah and Myalism | Still a crime under a colonial-era law, with up to 12 months’ imprisonment, but not enforced. |
| Rastafari sacrament | Since 2015, Rastafari may use ganja for religious purposes. Rastafari groups say the right is applied inconsistently by police; government consultations on reform began in July 2026. |
| Locs in schools | The 2023 dress and grooming policy removed the requirement for Rastafari students to cover their locs. |
| Jamaica Defence Force | Generally does not accept Rastafari recruits, citing hair and drug rules. |
| Sabbath keepers | Adventists report difficulty with Saturday work despite the 2014 flexible work-week law. |
| Foreign clergy | Need a visa and a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. |
Religious holidays and observances
| Date | Observance | Public holiday? |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Wednesday (Feb/Mar, moves) | Start of Lent | Yes |
| Good Friday | Crucifixion of Christ | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Easter | Yes |
| 21 April | Grounation Day (Rastafari) | No |
| 10 May | Indian Arrival Day | No |
| 25 July | National Baha’i Day | No |
| 1 August | Emancipation Day, often marked with church vigils | Yes |
| October (Heritage Week) | National interfaith thanksgiving service | No |
| Oct/Nov, moves | Diwali | No |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Yes |
| 26 December | Boxing Day | Yes |
What changed this year
- Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm that struck on 28 October 2025 damaged or destroyed hundreds of Jamaica’s more than 1,600 churches, with the western parishes worst hit. The Anglican diocese reported about 50 properties destroyed or badly damaged and nine church buildings lost, among them St John’s in Black River. More than 150 Adventist churches were significantly damaged, about one in ten Baptist churches lost its roof, and five Moravian churches were reduced to rubble. Churches became shelters and relief hubs for months afterwards.
- New church leadership. Pastor Glen Samuels now leads the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, succeeding Pastor Everett Brown, who had led it since 2010.
- Rastafari rights. Debate over whether Rastafari rights should be written into the Constitution continued in 2026, and the government began a formal review of the sacramental cannabis regime in July.
- Census 2022. STATIN released the population count (2,774,538) in October 2025. Religion tables are still awaited.
How Jamaica ranks
| Measure | Jamaica | Rank | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh-day Adventists per 1,000 people | 79.3 | 7th of 200 | 2004 |
| Seventh-day Adventist membership | 209,189 | 22nd of 230 | 2004 |
| Protestant share of population | 60% | 17th of 58 | 2014 |
| Population saying religion is important | 70% | 95th of 143 | 2009 poll |
| Population saying religion is unimportant | 29.5% | 48th of 143 | 2009 poll |
| Religiously unaffiliated share (Pew) | 23.7% | among the highest in the Caribbean | 2020 |
Rankings from NationMaster, using Adventist, Wikipedia and Gallup data. These are older figures and are kept for comparison; SDA membership has since grown to more than 340,000.
How this page is updated
Jamaica Homes refreshes this page every October. Each year we check the STATIN census releases, the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report, Pew Research Center, the Jehovah’s Witnesses service year report, Latter-day Saints statistics, Adventist and Catholic yearbooks, and news from The Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer. Figures that are not updated keep their original date so you always know how current a number is. Spotted something out of date? Let us know and we will check it for the next edition.
| Edition | Main changes |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | First edition. 2011 census in full with 2001 comparison; Pew 2020 estimates; 2025 church figures; Hurricane Melissa impact; 2026 cannabis consultations. |
Sources: Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Population and Housing Census 2011, General Report Vol. I; Jamaica Information Service, 2022 census population count (October 2025); US Department of State, International Religious Freedom Reports on Jamaica 2004–2023; Pew Research Center, How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 (2025); World Religion Database via ARDA (2025); Gallup World Poll (2009); NationMaster, Jamaica Religion Stats; Watch Tower Society, 2025 Service Year Report; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jamaica facts and statistics (December 2025); GCatholic.org; Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; The Gleaner (2012, 2015, 2025, 2026); Jamaica Observer (2025, 2026); Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (July 2026); Christianity Today (November 2025); Church Times and USPG (November 2025); Moravian Church British Province; Visit Jamaica; Harvard Pluralism Project; Wikipedia, Religion in Jamaica.