Religion in Tunisia

The majority of Tunisians consider themselves to be Muslim,[2] who according to Pew are 58% Sunni and 40% nondenominational Muslim.[1] Also a small number of Ibadhi Muslims still exist among the Berber-speakers of Jerba Island.

A mosque in Kalâat el-Andalous

The government controls and subsidizes mosques and pays the salaries of prayer leaders. The President appoints the Grand Mufti of the Republic. The 1988 Law on Mosques provides that only personnel appointed by the Government may lead activities in mosques and stipulates that mosques must remain closed except during prayer times and other authorized religious ceremonies, such as marriages or funerals. Some people may be interrogated just for associating or being seen in the street with practicing Muslims. New mosques may be built in accordance with national urban planning regulations; however, upon completion, they become the property of the Government. The Government also partially subsidizes the Jewish community.

There is a small indigenous Sufi Muslim community; however, there are no statistics regarding its size. Reliable sources report that many Sufis left the country shortly after independence when their religious buildings and land reverted to the government (as did those of Orthodox Islamic foundations). Although the Sufi community is small, its tradition of mysticism permeates the practice of Islam throughout the country. There is a small indigenous "Maraboutic" Muslim community that belongs to spiritual brotherhoods known as "turuq".[2] The Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and Mawlid are considered national holidays in Tunisia.

Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, Tunis.

The International Religious Freedom Report of 2007 reported that the Christian community numbered 50,000 people, with 20,000 of whom Catholics, and was composed by indigenous Berber residents, Tunisians of Italian and French descent, and a large group of native-born citizens of Arab descent, dispersed throughout the country.[2] In the Annuario Pontificio of 2018, the number of Catholics is estimated to have risen to 30,700.[3]

From the late 19th century to after World War II, Tunisia was home to large populations of Christian French, Italian and Maltese descent (255,000 Europeans in 1956).[4]

The Roman Catholic Church in Tunisia, which forms the Archdiocese of Tunis, operates 12 churches, 9 schools, several libraries, and 2 clinics.[2] In addition to holding religious services, the Catholic Church opened a monastery, freely organized cultural activities, and performed charitable work throughout the country.[2] According to church leaders, there are 2,000 Protestant practicing Christians, International Religious Freedom Report for 2007 estimates thousands of Tunisian Muslims have converted to Christianity.[2] The Russian Orthodox Church has approximately 100 practising members and operates a church in Tunis and another in Bizerte.[2] The Reformed Church of France maintains a church in Tunis, with a congregation of 140 primarily foreign members.[2] The Anglican Church has a church in Tunis with several hundred predominantly foreign members.[2] There are 50 Seventh-day Adventists.[2] The 30-member Greek Orthodox Church maintained 3 churches (in Tunis, Sousse, and Djerba).[2] Occasionally, Catholic and Protestant groups held services in private residences or other locations.[2] Scattered among the various churches, though mostly evangelical, are also a number of Christian believers from Muslim backgrounds. A 2015 study estimates some 500 such individuals in Tunisia.[5]

Tunisia is seen as a great symbol of religious co-existence and harmony. Tunisians never ask religious background for the people, regardless Muslims or Christians.[6] It is common to see Christian–Muslim coexistence in Tunisia together, although the Government discouraged religious converts.[7]

El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba is an important site for Jewish pilgrimage.

Judaism is the country's fourth largest religion with 2,000 members.[2] One-third of the Jewish population lives in and around the capital, and is descended predominantly from Israelite and Spanish immigrants.[2] The remainder lives on the island of Djerba, where the Jewish community dates back 2,600 years.[8]

The Bahá'í Faith in Tunisia begins circa 1910[9] when the first Bahá'í arrives, possibly from Egypt.[10][11] In 1963 a survey of the community counted 1 assembly and 18 organized groups (between 1 and 9 adults) of Bahá'ís in Tunisia.[12] US State Department 2001 estimates mention the Bahá'í community at about 150 persons.[13] However Association of Religion Data Archives and several other sources point to over 1,000 Bahá'ís in the country.[14][10][15]