Religion in Papua New Guinea

The latest official religious distribution comes from the 2011 National Statistical Office census because the 2024 Census Final Figures did not include religion. Among citizens in private dwellings, 95.6% identified as Christian, 1.4% as non-Christian, 0% reported no religion and 3.1% did not state a religion. The 2011 denominational figures included Roman Catholic at 26%, Evangelical Lutheran at 18.4%, Seventh-day Adventist at 12.9%, Pentecostal at 10.4%, United Church at 10.3%, other Christian groups at 9.7%, Evangelical Alliance at 5.9%, Anglican at 3.2%, Baptist at 2.8%, Salvation Army at 0.4% and Kwato Church at 0.2%. Current national denominational figures for 2024 have not been published. Regional patterns differ: Roman Catholics represented 68% in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Evangelical Lutherans 67% in Morobe Province and Anglicans 61% in Northern Province. Local congregations and denominations provide worship, prayer, scripture teaching, evangelism, pastoral care and denomination-specific rites. Access, membership, preparation, offerings and fees are arranged locally; Papua New Guinea has no single national worship tariff or uniform booking procedure. Churches also operate schools, health services and training institutions as part of their wider community role. The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches, known as PNGCC, connects major churches for cooperation, prayer, peace work, reconciliation and social engagement. Its members include Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Gutnius Lutheran, Salvation Army and United Church bodies. The Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands also supports cooperation among Christian churches and dialogue with other faiths. Small Muslim and Baháʼí communities are documented, and PNGCC records contacts with Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities. The Constitution protects freedom of conscience, thought, religion, religious practice, manifestation and propagation under section 45, while section 38 provides lawful limits connected with matters such as public order, health and safety. It prohibits compelling a person to receive religious instruction or participate in a religious ceremony or observance, and it protects children from religious instruction without parent or guardian consent. Religious instruction may be offered in schools, and secular teaching about religion is also possible. Faith-based agencies form an integral part of the National Education System. Christian Values and Ethics Education runs from Prep through Grade 12, while Christian Religious Education has a separate 60-minute slot at each level; church-agency schools may use their own programmes. A constitutional amendment passed by Parliament on 12 March 2025 described Papua New Guinea as a Christian country, but the consolidated constitutional text available in the research record had not yet incorporated the change, so its commencement and current legal wording require verification before legal reliance. Official public holidays for 2026 include Good Friday on 3 April, Easter Saturday on 4 April, Easter Sunday on 5 April, Easter Monday on 6 April, the National Day of Repentance on 26 August and Christmas Day on 25 December. Denominations and local congregations may add their own observances. Baptism or dedication, confirmation, communion, marriage blessing, funeral and memorial services remain denomination- and congregation-specific. A religious ceremony alone does not automatically create a civil record. Customary marriage may be supported by customary compliance, Village Court notice or certificate, or a minister's blessing certificate. Civil marriage uses a registered celebrant or a Provincial Administrator under the Marriage Act. Registration with the Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry provides legal proof relevant to inheritance, entitlements, nationality and social security. Fees, preparation periods and appointment procedures vary by denomination, congregation, registry and province.