DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70004#0048
46
HI. The Churches in Zambia Today and their Spatial Distribution
1. Estimations of the Extent of Christianisation and the
Distribution of the Different Denominations
With 72% of its population Christian by 1980, Zambia has a higher percent-
age of Christians than Black Africa as a whole, for which the average is 53%
(BARRETT 1982). On the other hand there are 14 other Black African coun-
tries where a higher percentage of the population is Christian.1 The growth of
adherence to Christian churches and groups is rapid and exceeds the natural
population growth of the country. BARRETT counts as Christians all those
adults who identify themselves thus in answer to the question “What is your
religion?”, as well as their underage children. Whilst in the year 1900 Chris-
tians, defined thus, formed only 0.3% of the population, by 1927 they had
increased to 11% and by 1970 to 65%. He estimates that by the year 2000
Christians will comprise 84% of the population. The annual growth rate of
Christians was 4.2% between 1970 and 1980 compared to a growth rate in the
population as a whole of 3.1% between 1969 and 1980. The majority of non-
Christians in Zambia are adherents of traditional religions. Also mentioned by
Barrett (1982, 765) are 17,000 Moslems, 16,000 Bahais and 10,000 Hindus.
Whilst the latter are all Asians, the majority of the Muslims are African im-
migrants from neighbouring countries, especially Tanzania and Malawi.
These figures should be interpreted with care, being no more than intelligent
estimations, although based on a large amount of information. BARRETT him-
self had previously estimated the percentage of Christians in the population
to be much less: in 1972 he estimated 45.5% of the population Christian as
against 54.5% traditionalists (BARRETT 1972). Sixteen sample studies sur-
veying religious affiliation in different parts of Zambia (see Table 2) confirm
Barrett’s more recent estimates. Whilst for earlier years relatively lower
percentages are given for adherents to Christian churches (Kabwe 1939/40,
Livingstone 1952/53), the percentages in later surveys are generally higher.
A survey by RANDALL (1970) shows a different picture. His data from the
Mumbwa District suggest only 39% of the population, at most, as Christian.
He concludes from this that the predominant estimates were much too high.
The difference may, however, be due to the problem of definition. Barrett’s
starting point is that of the “professing Christians”, distinguishing them clearly
both from “affiliated Christians”, i.e., those who are regarded by the churches
as belonging to them (only 57% of the population in 1980), as well as from
“practising Christians” who to some extent regularly take part in church ac-
tivities (45% of the population) (Barrett 1982, 47 - 53). Randall, on the
other hand, probably bases his research on one of the latter definitions.
HI. The Churches in Zambia Today and their Spatial Distribution
1. Estimations of the Extent of Christianisation and the
Distribution of the Different Denominations
With 72% of its population Christian by 1980, Zambia has a higher percent-
age of Christians than Black Africa as a whole, for which the average is 53%
(BARRETT 1982). On the other hand there are 14 other Black African coun-
tries where a higher percentage of the population is Christian.1 The growth of
adherence to Christian churches and groups is rapid and exceeds the natural
population growth of the country. BARRETT counts as Christians all those
adults who identify themselves thus in answer to the question “What is your
religion?”, as well as their underage children. Whilst in the year 1900 Chris-
tians, defined thus, formed only 0.3% of the population, by 1927 they had
increased to 11% and by 1970 to 65%. He estimates that by the year 2000
Christians will comprise 84% of the population. The annual growth rate of
Christians was 4.2% between 1970 and 1980 compared to a growth rate in the
population as a whole of 3.1% between 1969 and 1980. The majority of non-
Christians in Zambia are adherents of traditional religions. Also mentioned by
Barrett (1982, 765) are 17,000 Moslems, 16,000 Bahais and 10,000 Hindus.
Whilst the latter are all Asians, the majority of the Muslims are African im-
migrants from neighbouring countries, especially Tanzania and Malawi.
These figures should be interpreted with care, being no more than intelligent
estimations, although based on a large amount of information. BARRETT him-
self had previously estimated the percentage of Christians in the population
to be much less: in 1972 he estimated 45.5% of the population Christian as
against 54.5% traditionalists (BARRETT 1972). Sixteen sample studies sur-
veying religious affiliation in different parts of Zambia (see Table 2) confirm
Barrett’s more recent estimates. Whilst for earlier years relatively lower
percentages are given for adherents to Christian churches (Kabwe 1939/40,
Livingstone 1952/53), the percentages in later surveys are generally higher.
A survey by RANDALL (1970) shows a different picture. His data from the
Mumbwa District suggest only 39% of the population, at most, as Christian.
He concludes from this that the predominant estimates were much too high.
The difference may, however, be due to the problem of definition. Barrett’s
starting point is that of the “professing Christians”, distinguishing them clearly
both from “affiliated Christians”, i.e., those who are regarded by the churches
as belonging to them (only 57% of the population in 1980), as well as from
“practising Christians” who to some extent regularly take part in church ac-
tivities (45% of the population) (Barrett 1982, 47 - 53). Randall, on the
other hand, probably bases his research on one of the latter definitions.