Religious Practices

When compared to Northern Africa, where the majority of the population is Muslim, the Sub-Saharan region in which the Democratic Republic of the Congo is located is known to have a high level of religious diversity. Indeed, Christianity in its various forms is the most widely practiced religion in the country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a long history of Christianity, dating back to 1484, when Portuguese colonists arrived and missionaries established some high-profile conversions. King Alfonso I of Congo established diplomatic relations with the Vatican, the seat of Catholicism, in 1506. During the Belgian colonial era, there was a greater number of people who converted to Christianity.

Surprisingly, many Christian and Muslim adherents incorporate elements of traditional African religions into their respective beliefs. Religious services are attended by approximately 90% of the population once a week. In its constitution, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has also made religious freedom a basic human right. Foreign missionaries are free to operate within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and as a result, the country has been heavily influenced by other countries in terms of religion.