| Central figures | |
| Key scripture | |
| Kitáb-i-Aqdas · Kitáb-i-Íqán |
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| Institutions | |
|
Administrative Order |
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| History | |
| Notable individuals | |
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Shoghi Effendi |
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| See also | |
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Symbols · Laws |
The Bahá'í Faith is a diverse and widespread religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th century in Iran. Bahá'í sources usually estimate the worldwide Bahá'í population to be above 5 million.[1] Most encyclopedias and similar sources estimate between 5 and 6 million Bahá'ís in the world in the early 21st century.[2][3] In 1946, a great pioneer movement began with, for example, sixty percent of the British Bahá'í community eventually relocating.[4] See also the Ten Year Crusade. The religion is almost entirely contained in a single, organized, hierarchical community, but the Bahá'í population is spread out into almost every country and ethnicity in the world, being recognized as the second-most geographically widespread religion after Christianity.[2][5] See Bahá'í statistics. The only countries with no Bahá'ís documented as of 2008 are Vatican City and North Korea.[6]
Mongolia (sometimes Outer Mongolia) has been portrayed as one of the most remote places on Earth[7][8][9] and is used in American slang generically along those lines.[10] But in July 1989 Sean Hinton became the first Bahá'í to reside in Mongolia, was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, and the last name to be entered on the Roll of Honor at the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh.[11]
Martha Root was a prominent traveling teacher of the religion in the late 19th century and early 20th century. André Brugiroux is a noted traveler as recently as 2007 who has visited every country and territory in the world, and is a Bahá'í.[12][13]
| Year | Number of NSAs[14][15][16] |
|---|---|
| 1923 | 3 |
| 1936 | 10 |
| 1953 | 12 |
| 1963 | 70 |
| 1973 | 113 |
| 1979 | 125 |
| 1988 | 148 |
| 2001 | 182 |
| 2008 | 184 |
Below are dates of the establishment and recognition of National Spiritual Assemblies (NSA) from the Bahá'í point of view. Other than in predominantly Muslim counties, countries where there are no NSAs include where most any religious institution is illegal such as in North Korea. In 2008 there were 184 National Spiritual Assemblies and in 2006, there are 192 United Nations member states. Most of the below list comes from The Bahá'í Faith: 1844–1963.[17]
1923: British Isles, Germany, India
1924: Egypt
1925: United States of America and Canada
1931: Iraq
1934: Australia and New Zealand, Persia
1948: Canada
1953: Italy and Switzerland
1956: Central & East Africa, North West Africa, South & West Africa
1957: Alaska; Arabia; New Zealand; North East Asia (Japan), Pakistan, South East Asia; Mexico and the Republics of Central America; The Greater Antilles; The Republics of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela; The Republics of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay & Bolivia; Scandinavia and Finland; the Benelux Countries; The Iberian Peninsula.
1958: France
1959: Austria, Burma, South Pacific, Turkey,
1961: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina.
1962: Belgium, Ceylon, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Switzerland
1964 Korea, Thailand, Vietnam
1967 Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Laos, Belize, Sikkim[18]
1969 Papua New Guinea
1972 Singapore
1974 Hong Kong, South East Arabia[19]
1975 Niger[14]
1977 Greece
1978 Burundi, Mauritania, the Bahamas, Oman, Qatar, the Mariana Islands, Cyprus[20]
1980: Transkei
1981 Namibia, and Bophuthatswana; the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and Bermuda; Tuvalu. re-formation in Uganda[21]
1984: Cape Verde Islands, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, French Guiana, Grenada, Martinique, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Yemen, Canary Islands
1990: Macau[22]
1991 Czechoslovakia, Romania & Soviet Union
1992: Greenland, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Bielarus & Moldavia; Russia, Georgia & Armenia; Central Asia, Bulgaria, Baltic States, Albania, Poland, Hungary, Niger (re-elected) (as many new NSAs came into existence in this one year as all the NSAs that existed in 1953.)[23]
1994: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Slovenia & Croatia,
1995: Eritrea, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Sicily.
1996: Sao Tome & Principe, Moldova, Nigeria[24]
1999: Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia
2004: Iraq reformed[25]
2008: Vietnam reformed[26]
The Bahá'í Faith has a long history in the Americas, particularly in the United States and Canada, where it was established in 1894 by a Lebanese Bahá'í immigrant to the United States, Ibrahim Kheiralla.
The Bahá'í Faith in Barbados begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as the Caribbean was among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to.[27] The first Bahá'í to visit came in 1927[28] while pioneers arrived by 1964[29] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1965.[30] Hand of the Cause`Alí-Muhammad Varqá attended the inaugural election of the Barbados Bahá'ís National Spiritual Assembly in 1981.[31] Since then Bahá'ís have participated in several projects for the benefit of the wider community and in 2001 various sources report up to 1.2% of the island,[32] about 3,500 citizens are Bahá'ís[33] though Bahá'í and government census data report far lower numbers.[34][35]
The Bahá'í Faith in Costa Rica begins when `Abdu'l-Bahá mentions it as one of the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to in 1919. The first pioneers began to settle in Coast Rica in 1940.[36] followed quickly by the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly being elected in San José in April 1941.[37] The National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1961.[14] As of 2009 the national community includes various peoples and tribes of over 4,000 members organized in groups in over 30 locations throughout the country.[36]
The Bahá'í Faith in Dominica begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as Latin America being among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to.[27] The island of Dominica was specifically listed as an objective for plans on spreading the religion in 1939 Shoghi Effendi,[38] who succeeded `Abdu'l-Baha as head of the religion. In 1983 Bill Nedden is credited with being the first pioneer to Dominica at the festivities associated with the inaugural election of the Dominican Bahá'ís National Spiritual Assembly[31] with Hand of the Cause, Dhikru'llah Khadem representing the Universal House of Justice. Since then Bahá'ís have participated in several projects for the benefit of the wider community and in 2001 various sources report between less than 1.4%[35] up to 1.7% of the island's about 70,000 citizens are Bahá'ís.[33]
The Bahá'í Faith in Haiti begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as one of the island countries of the Caribbean being among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to.[27] The first Bahá'í to visit Haiti was Leonora Armstrong in 1927.[39] After that others visited until Louis George Gregory visited in January 1937 and he mentions a small community of Bahá'ís operating in Haiti.[40] The first long term pioneers, Ruth and Ellsworth Blackwell, arrived in 1940.[41] Following their arrival the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Haiti was formed in 1942 in Port-au-Prince.[42] From 1951 the Haitian Bahá'ís participated in regional organizations of the religion[43] until 1961 when Haitian Bahá'ís elected their own National Spiritual Assembly[44] and soon took on goals reaching out into neighboring islands.[45] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 21000 Bahá'ís in Haiti in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Jamaica begins with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as Latin America being among the places Bahá'ís should take the religion to.[27] The community of the Bahá'ís begins in 1942 with the arrival of Dr. Malcolm King.[47] The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica, in Kingston, was elected in 1943.[48] By 1957 the Bahá'ís of Jamaica were organized under the regional National Spiritual Assembly of the Greater Antilles, and on the eve of national independence in 1962, the Jamaica Bahá'ís elected their own National Spiritual Assembly in 1961.[44] By 1981 hundreds of Bahá'ís and hundreds more non-Bahá'ís turned out for weekend meetings when Rúhíyyih Khánum spent six days in Jamaica.[39] Public recognition of the religion came in the form of the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke, proclaiming a National Baha'i Day first on July 25 in 2003 and it has been an annual event since.[49] While there is evidence of several active communities by 2008 in Jamaica, estimates of the Bahá'ís population range from the hundreds to the thousands.
The Bahá'í Faith in Panama begins with a mention by then head of the religion, `Abdu'l-Bahá, in the book Tablets of the Divine Plan published in 1919 and the same year Martha Root's made a trip around South America and included Panama on the return leg of the trip up the west coast.[50] The first pioneers began to settle in Panama in 1940.[36] The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Panama, in Panama City, was elected in 1946,[37] and National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1961.[14] The Bahá'ís of Panama raised a Bahá'í House of Worship in 1972.[51] In 1983 and again in 1992 some commemorative stamps were produced in Panama[52][53] while the community turned its interests to the San Miguelito and Chiriqui regions of Panama with schools and a radio station.[54] One recent estimation of the Bahá'í community of Panama was of 2.00% of the national population, or about 60,000, in 2006.[55]
In the United States, hosting one of the most prominent Bahá'í communities, the official estimate in Feb 2011 was 169,130 members on record, excluding Alaska and Hawai'i.
In 1894 Thornton Chase became the first American Bahá'í. By the end of 1894 four other Americans had also become Bahá’ís. In 1909, the first National Convention was held with 39 delegates from 36 cities. In 1944 every state in the nation had at least one local Bahá’í administrative body.[2] The list of Bahá'ís from the 1890s to the present is a composite from various sources. The figures before 1934 are the best estimates possible, based on the US Religious Census (information collected by the Bahá'ís based on various definitions of membership). The figures from 1940 to the 1960s or 1970s come from Bahá'í News, where the figures were occasionally published. From the 1970s and on, the staff at the National Teaching Committee compiled the data from national membership records.
In an informal letter in 1998, Dr. Robert Stockman, the coordinator of the Research Office of the US Bahá'í National Center wrote:
In December, 1999, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States stated that out of the 140,000 adult (15 and over) members on the rolls, only 70,000 had known addresses [3]. It is reasonable to assume that some of the remaining 70,000 unlocatable adults would not identify as Baha'i. The American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) conducted in 2001, with a sample size of 50,000, estimated that there were 84,000 self identifying adult (21 and over) Baha'is in the United States.[4]
The US National Teaching Committee states that anyone requesting to leave the religion is taken off membership lists, and that effort is made to remove the names of deceased members from the rolls. Because Bahá'ís must maintain accurate voting lists in order to elect their local spiritual assemblies (the local Bahá'í governing councils), considerable effort is made to maintain accurate membership data on Bahá'ís aged 21 and older. Compounding the problem of bookkeeping is a retention rate of approximately 50% within two years of enrollment, a statistic shared by most churches in the US (Wade Clark Roof).
Alaska is unusual in that it is not an independent nation, recognized by the United Nations, and yet has a National Spiritual Assembly. Its specific statistics are not published, and are often not broken out in non-Bahá'í statistics of the USA in general. One source puts the 1992 combined membership in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico combined at approximately 6,000.
The Hawaiian Bahá'í community began when Agnes Alexander became a Bahá'í in Paris in 1900 and returned to the islands in 1901. Similar to Alaska, the Bahá'ís of Hawai'i have an independent National Spiritual Assembly from that of the USA, though it is itself one of the 50 United States. Independent statistics have not been published.
The Canadian Bahá'í Community, according to its official website [5] consists of some 30,000 members across approximately 1200 communities throughout the 13 Canadian Provinces and Territories. According to the same source, the Canadian community is quite diverse: "There are French-speaking and English-speaking Bahá'ís, and more than 18% of Canadian Bahá'ís come from First Nations and Inuit backgrounds; another 30% are recent immigrants or refugees."
The Canadian community is one of the earliest western communities, at one point sharing a joint National Spiritual Assembly with the United States, and is a co-recipient of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. The first North American woman to declare herself a Bahá'í was Mrs. Kate C. Ives, of Canadian ancestry, though not living in Canada at the time. Moojan Momen, in reviewing "The Origins of the Bahá'í Community of Canada, 1898-1948" notes that "the Magee family... are credited with bringing the Bahá'í Faith to Canada. Edith Magee became a Bahá'í in 1898 in Chicago and returned to her home in London, Ontario, where four other female members of her family became Bahá'ís. This predominance of women converts became a feature of the Canadian Bahá'í community..."[6]
Statistics Canada reports 14,730 Bahá'ís from 1991 census data and 18,020 in those of 2001.[7]
The Bahá'í Faith was introduced into South America in 1919 when Martha Root made an extended trip to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. She introduced the Bahá'í Faith to Esperantists and Theosophical groups and visited local newspapers to ask them to publish articles about the Bahá'í Faith. The first Bahá'í permanently resident in South America was Leonora Holstaple Armstrong, who arrived in Brazil in 1921. The first Seven Year Plan (1937–44), an international plan organized by the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, gave the American Bahá'ís the goal of establishing the Bahá'í Faith in every country in Latin America (that is, settling at least one Bahá'í or converting at least one native). In 1950, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South America was first elected, and then in 1957 this Assembly was split into two - basically northern/eastern South America with the Republics of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, in Lima, Peru and one of the western/southern South America with the Republics of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[56] By 1963, most countries in South America had their own National Spiritual Assembly.
In Bolivia the religion was introduced to rural Quechua and Aymara Indians starting in 1956. Large numbers of rural people became Bahá'ís. The Bolivian Bahá'ís launched a radio station around 1980 that broadcasts educational programs and Bahá'í information in native languages, as well as traditional music. The World Christian Encyclopedia, drawing on the Bolivian government census, reports 269,246 Bahá'ís in 2000. Official Bahá'í membership figures are much lower, reflecting the impact the radio station has had on the religious identity of many rural people who have never encountered local Bahá'í communities.[57]
The Bahá'í Faith in Brazil started in 1919 with Bahá'ís first visiting the country that year,[37] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Brazil was established in 1928. There followed a period of growth with the arrival of coordinated pioneers from the United States finding national Brazilian converts and in 1961 an independent national Bahá'í community was formed. During the 1992 Earth Summit, which was held in Brazil, the international and local Bahá'í community were given the responsibility for organizing a series of different programs, and since then the involvements of the Bahá'í community in the country have continued to multiply.
The Bahá'í Faith was first mentioned Chile in Bahá'í sources as early as 1916, with Bahá'ís visiting as early as 1919 but the community wasn't founded in Chile until 1940 with the beginning of the arrival of coordinated pioneers from the United States finding national Chilean converts and achieved an independent national community in 1963. In 2002 this community was picked for the establishment of the first Bahá'í Temple of South America which the community is still prosecuting.[37]
The permanent Chilean Bahá'í community dates from the arrival of Marcia Stewart Atwater, born in 1904 in Pasadena, California, who arrived in Chile on December 7, 1940.[58] The first Chilean to accept the Bahá'í Faith was 12 year old Paul Bravo, which was followed by his family becoming Bahá'ís. Then in 1943, Chile's first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected. Following the election of the Regional Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly of South America in 1950, Chile established its independent Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly in 1961.
The Bahá'í Faith in Colombia begins with references to the country in Bahá'í literature as early as 1916,[59] with Bahá'ís visiting as early as 1927.[28] The first Colombian joined the religion in 1929[60] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in Bogotá in 1944[61] with the beginning of the arrival of coordinated pioneers from the United States and achieved an independent National Spiritual Assembly in 1961.[37] By 1963 there were eleven local assemblies.[62] In the 1980s institutions were developed in Colombia that have influenced activities inside and independent of the religion in other countries: FUNDAEC[63][64] and the Ruhi Institute.[65] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 68,000 Bahá'ís (0.2% of the population) in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith is a relatively recent addition to the list of world religions represented in Guyana with the first local body (Local Spiritual Assembly) being established in Georgetown in 1955. National recognition came in 1976 when the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guyana was incorporated by Act of Parliament. This body represents all Bahá'ís in Guyana.
Bahá'ís are now widely distributed across Guyana and represent all major racial groups and regions.[66]
The Bahá'í community, while relatively small, is well known for its emphasis on unity, non-involvement in politics and its work in issues such as literacy and youth issues.[67][68]
In terms of religious practices and teachings the Guyana Bahá'í community closely follows those of Bahá'í communities in other countries.
The Bahá'í Faith in Paraguay begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, mentioned the country in 1916.[59] Paraguayan Maria Casati was the first to join the religion in 1939 when living in Buenos Aires.[69] The first pioneer to settle in Paraguay was Elizabeth Cheney late in 1940[37] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Asunción was elected in 1944.[37][70] By 1961 Paraguayan Bahá'ís had elected the first National Spiritual Assembly and by 1963 there were 3 local assemblies plus other communities.[62] Recent estimates of Bahá'ís mention 5500[71] or 13,000[72] though the state Census doesn't mention the Bahá'ís.[73]
The Bahá'í Faith in Uruguay begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, mentioned the country in 1916.[59] The first Bahá'í to enter the country was Martha Root in 1919.[74] The first pioneer to settle there was Wilfrid Barton early in 1940 and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Montevideo was elected in 1942.[37] By 1961 Uruguayan Bahá'ís had elected the first National Spiritual Assembly and by 1963 there were three Local Assemblies plus other communities.[62] Circa 2001 there was an estimated 4,000 Bahá'ís in Uruguay.[75]
The Bahá'í Faith originated in Asia, in Iran (Persia), and spread from there to the Ottoman Empire, Central Asia, India, and Burma during the lifetime of Bahá'u'lláh. Since the middle of the 20th Century, growth has particularly occurred in other Asian countries, because the Bahá'í Faith's activities in many Muslim countries has been severely suppressed by authorities. Comparatively mild troubles exist in other countries like Pakistan,[76] Iraq,[77] and Indonesia,[78][79] where the Bahá'í Faith is legal and only somewhat restricted.
The Bahá'í Faith in Afghanistan began in 1880s with visits by Bahá'ís. However it wasn't until the 1930s any Bahá'í settled there.[44] A Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1948 in Kabul[69] and after some years was re-elected in 1969.[80] Though the population had perhaps reached thousands, under the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the harsh rule of the Taliban the Bahá'ís lost the right to have any institutions and many fled. According to a 2007 estimate, the Bahá'ís in Afghanistan number at approximately 400.[81] However the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were some 13,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Bangladesh begins previous to its independence when it was part of India. The roots of the Bahá'í Faith in the region go back to the first days of the Bábí religion in 1844.[82] During Bahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to India.[83] And it may have been Jamál Effendi who was first sent and stopped in Dhaka more than once.[84] The first Bahá'ís in the area that would later become Bangladesh was when a Bengali group from Chittagong accepted the religion while in Burma.[85] By 1950 there were enough members of the religion to elect Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies in Chittagong and Dhaka.[62] The community has contributed to the progress of the nation of Bangladesh individually and collectively and in 2001 the World Christian Encyclopedia roughly estimated the Bahá'í population of Bangladesh in the many thousands.[33]
Hong Kong has a long history of Baha'i activity being the second location in China with Baha'is. Two brothers moved there in 1870 and established a long-running export business. Hong Kong did not have its first Local Spiritual Assembly until 1956 and then formed a National Spiritual Assembly in 1974. This was allowed because of Hong Kong's status at that time as similar to a sovereign nation and also due to the growth of the Faith there. In 1997 sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China and it operates as a Special Administrative Area of China. The coordinating Spiritual Assembly there is no longer considered a "National" Spiritual Assembly but it still operates in a similar manner coordinating the activities of a very vibrant Baha'i community.
The administrative centre of the Bahá'í Faith and the Shrine of the Báb are located at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa and the leader of the faith is buried in Acre. Apart from maintenance staff, there is no Bahá'í community in Israel, although it is a destination for pilgrimages. Bahá'í staff in Israel do not teach their faith to Israelis following strict Bahá'í policy.[86][87]
The largest Bahá'í community in the world is said to be in India, with an official Bahá'í population of 2.2 million,[8] and roots that go back to the first days of the religion in 1844. A researcher, William Garlington, characterized the 1960s until present as a time of "Mass Teaching".[88] He suggests that the mentality of the believers in India changed during the later years of Shoghi Effendi's ministry, when they were instructed to accept converts who were illiterate and uneducated. The change brought teaching efforts into the rural areas of India, where the teachings of the unity of humanity attracted many of the lower caste.
The growth of the Bahá'í Faith in India has been greatly assisted by the recognition of Krishna as a Messenger or Manifestation of God, alongside Jesus, Muhammad, and others. Bahá'ís have thus been able to reach out to Hindus, as well as to some extent Muslims, Adivasis (or tribal people), and others.
Estimates for the early 21st century vary between 150,000 and 500,000. During the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the subsequent few years, a significant number of Bahá'ís left the country during intensive persecution. Estimates before and after the revolution vary greatly.
At times the authorities in Iran have claimed that there are no Bahá'ís in their country, and that the persecutions were made up by the CIA. The first claim apparently represents a legal rather than anthropological determination, as Bahá'ís are regarded as Muslims under Iranian law. For the latter, see Persecution of Bahá'ís.
The Bahá'í Faith in Japan begins after a few mentions of the country by `Abdu'l-Bahá first in 1875.[89] Japanese contact with the religion came from the West when Kanichi Yamamoto was living in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1902 converted - the second being Saichiro Fujita. In 1914 two Bahá'ís, George Jacob Augur and Agnes Alexander, and their families, pioneered to Japan.[90] Alexander would live some 31 years off and on in Japan until 1967 when she left for the last time[91] The first Bahá'í convert on Japanese soil was Kikutaro Fukuta in 1915.[92] `Abdu'l-Bahá undertook several trips 1911-1912 and met Japanese travelers in Western cities - in Paris,[93] London[94] and New York.[90] ‘Abdu'l-Bahá met Fujita in Chicago and Yamamoto in San Francisco.[95] `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a series of letters, or tablets, in 1916-1917 compiled together in the book titled Tablets of the Divine Plan but which was delayed in being presented in the United States until 1919.[96] Fujita would serve between the World Wars first in the household of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá and then of Shoghi Effendi.[95] In 1932 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in Tokyo and reelected in 1933.[97] In all of Japan there were 19 Bahá'ís.[98] In 1937 Alexander went on Bahá'í pilgrimage to return years later.[99] In 1938 Fujita was excused from his services in Haifa out of fears for his safety during World War II and returned to Japan until he was able to return in 1956.[100] In 1942, back in the United States, the Yamamoto family lived at a relocation camp during the war.[99] Bahá'í Americans associated with the American Occupation Forces reconnected the Japanese Bahá'í community - Michael Jamir found Fujita by 1946[99] and Robert Imagire helped re-elect the assembly in Tokyo in 1948.[99] In 1963 the statistics of Bahá'í communities showed 13 assemblies and other smaller groups.[62] In 1968 Japanese Bahá'ís began to travel outside Japan.[101] In 1971 the first residents of Okinawa converted to the religion.[102] In 1991 the community organized an affiliate of the Association for Bahá'í Studies in Japan which has since held annual conferences,[103] published newsletters, and published and coordinated academic work across affiliates.[104] The CIA World Factbook estimates about 12,000 Japanese Bahá'ís in 2006.[105]
The Bahá'í Faith in Kazakhstan began during the policy of oppression of religion in the former Soviet Union. Before that time, Kazakhstan, as part of the Russian Empire, would have had indirect contact with the Bahá'í Faith as far back as 1847.[106] Following the entrance of pioneers the community grew to be the largest religious community after Islam and Christianity, though only a few percent of the nation.[35] By 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Kazakhstan was elected[107] and the community has begun to multiply its efforts across various interests.
The Bahá'í Faith in Laos begins after a brief mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá in 1916[96] and the first Bahá'í enters Laos in about 1955.[108] The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly is known to be first elected by 1958 in Vientiane[62][109] and eventually Laos' own National Spiritual Assembly in 1967.[110] The current community is approximately eight thousand adherents and four centers: Vientiane, Vientiane Province, Kaysone Phomvihane, and in Pakxe.[111] and smaller populations in other provinces.[112] While well established and able to function as communities in these cities Bahá'ís have a harder time in other provinces and cannot print their own religious materials.[113]
The Bahá'í Faith in Macao (also spelled Macau) was established much later than in other parts of China (1953) due, most likely, to the unique conditions of Macao being a Portuguese colony until 1999 and it being somewhat in the shadow of Hong Kong and larger centers in mainland China like Shanghai. Macao formed its first Local Spiritual Assembly in 1958 and then formed a National Spiritual Assembly in 1989. In 1999 sovereignty of Macao was transferred to the People's Republic of China and it operates as a Special Administrative Area of China. The coordinating Spiritual Assembly there is no longer considered a "National" Spiritual Assembly but it still operates in a similar manner coordinating the activities of a very vibrant Baha'i community which is estimated at 2,500 and which is considered one of the five major religions of Macao.
A large concentration of Bahá'ís is also found in Malaysia, made up of Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, Aslis and other indigenous groups. The Bahá'í community of Malaysia claims that "about 1%" of the population are Bahá'ís.[114] Given the 2006 population of Malaysia, such a claim represents about 268,000 Bahá'ís.
Baha'i in Sarawak - Baha'i is one of the recognised religions in Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia. Various races embraced the Baha'i Faith, from Chinese to Iban and Bidayuh, Bisayahs, Penans, Indians but not the Malays or other Muslims. In towns, the majority Baha'i community is often Chinese, but in rural communities, they are of all races, Ibans, Bidayuhs, etc. In some schools, Baha'i associations or clubs for students exist. Baha'i communities are now found in all the various divisions of Sarawak. However, these communities do not accept assistance from government or other organisations for activities which are strictly for Baha'is. If, however, these services extend to include non-Baha'is also, e.g. education for children's classes adult literacy, then sometimes the community does accept assistance. The administration of the Baha'i Faith is through local spiritual assemblies. There is no priesthood among the Baha'is. Election is held annually without nomination or electioneering. The Baha'is should study the community and seek those members who display mature experience, loyalty, are knowledgeable in the Faith. There are more than 40,000 Baha'is in more than 250 localities in Sarawak.
The Bahá'í Faith in Mongolia dates back only to the 1980s and 1990s, as prior to that point Mongolia's Communist anti-religious stance impeded the spread of the religion to that country. The first Bahá'í arrived in Mongolia in 1988, and the religion established a foothold there, later establish a Local Spiritual Assembly in that nation.[115] In 1994, the Bahá’ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly.[116] Though the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated only some 50 Bahá'ís in 2005[46] more than 1700 Mongolian Bahá'ís turned out for a regional conference in 2009.[117]
The Bahá'í Faith in Nepal begins after a Nepalese leader encountered the religion in his travels before World War II.[118] Following World War II, the first known Bahá'í to enter Nepal was about 1952[62][119] and the first Nepalese Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly elected in 1961, and its National Assembly in 1972.[120] For a period of time, between 1976 and 1981, all assemblies were dissolved due to legal restrictions.[121] The 2001 census reported 1211 Bahá'ís,[122] and since the 1990s the Bahá'í community of Nepal has been involved in a number of interfaith organizations including the Inter-religious Council of Nepal promoting peace in the country.[123]
Bahá'ís originally entered the Korean Peninsula in 1921 before the Division of Korea.[124] Both the 2005 the Association of Religion Data Archives[46] (relying on the World Christian Encyclopedia for adherents estimates[125]) and independent research[126] agree there are no Bahá'ís in North Korea.
The Bahá'í Faith in Pakistan begins previous to its independence when it was part of India. The roots of the Bahá'í Faith in the region go back to the first days of the Bábí religion in 1844[82] especially with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi - one of the Letters of the Living who was from Multan.[127] During Bahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area.[83] Jamal Effendi visited Karachi in 1875 on one of his trips to parts of Southern Asia.[127] Muhammad Raza Shirazi became a Bahá'í in Mumbai in 1908 and may have been the first Bahá'í to settle, pioneer, in Karachi.[127] National coordinated activities across India began and reached a peak by the December 1920, first All-India Bahá'í Convention, held in Mumbai for three days .[128] Representatives from India's major religious communities were present as well as Bahá'í delegates from throughout the country. In 1921 the Bahá'ís of Karachi elected their first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly.[127] In 1923, still as part of India, a regional National Spiritual Assembly was formed for all India and Burma which then included the area now part of Pakistan.[44] From 1931 to 1933, Professor Pritam Singh, the first Bahá'í from a Sikh background, settled in Lahore and published an English language weekly called The Baha’i Weekly and other initiatives. A Bahá'í publishing committee was established in Karachi in 1935. This body evolved and is registered as the Baha’i Publishing Trust of Pakistan. In 1937, John Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era was translated into Urdu and Gujrati in Karachi.[127][129] The Committee also published scores of Bahá'í books and leaflets in many languages.[130] The local assemblies spread across many cities[62] and in 1957, East and West Pakistan elected a separate national assembly from India and in 1971, East Pakistan became Bangladesh with its own national assembly.[14] Waves of refugees came from the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan[80] and the Islamic Revolutionin Iran[131] and later from the Taliban.[127] Some of these people were able to return home, some stayed, and others moved on. In Pakistan the Bahá'ís have had the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[76] However, the government prohibits Bahá'ís from traveling to Israel to have Bahá'í pilgrimage.[132] Nevertheless, Bahá'ís in Pakistan setup a school[127] and most of the students were not Bahá'ís.[133] as well as other projects addressing the needs of Pakistan. And the religion continues to grow and in 2004 the Bahá'ís of Lahore began seeking for a new Bahá'í cemetery.[134] The World Christian Encyclopedia estimated over 78,000 Bahá'ís lived in Pakistan in 2000[135] though Bahá'ís claimed less than half that number.[132]
The Bahá'í Faith was first introduced in China during the lifetime of its Founder, Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892). The first record of a Bahá’í living in China is of a Persian, Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-’Alí, who lived in Shanghai from 1862 to 1868. In 1928 the first Local Spiritual Assembly in China was formed in Shanghai.
As China expanded her efforts of reform and increased its interactions with the worldwide community more Bahá’ís moved to China.
The Bahá’í Faith in China has still not matured to the same point as in many other countries of the world where there is an established structure to administer its affairs. As a result of the lack of formal registration and structure, it is difficult to ascertain with some degree of certainty, the number of Bahá'ís in China. The number of active followers of Bahá'u'lláh’s Teachings in China has spread beyond the scope of knowledge of the existing administrative structures. Certainly there are active followers of the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh in all of the major cities of China and in many regional centers and rural areas.
Good working relationships have been developed with China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA.)
There are many aspects of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings that match well with traditional Chinese religious and philosophical beliefs such as : 1) the Great Unity (world peace); 2) unity of the human family; 3) service to others; 4) moral education; 5) extended family values; 6) the investigation of truth; 7) the Highest Reality (God); 8) the common foundation of religions; 9) harmony in Nature; 10) the purpose of tests and suffering; and 11) moderation in all things.[136]
The Bahá'í Faith in the Philippines started in 1921 with the first Bahá'í first visiting the Philippines that year,[137] and by 1944 a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was established.[138] In the early 1960s, during a period of accelerated growth, the community grew from 200 in 1960 to 1,000 by 1962 and 2000 by 1963. In 1964 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Philippines was elected and by 1980 there were 64,000 Bahá'ís and 45 local assemblies.[139] The Bahá'ís have been active in multi/inter-faith developments. No recent numbers are available on the size of the community.
Approximately 200 active Bahá'ís reside in South Korea.[140]
巴哈伊教, The Bahá'í Faith in Taiwan began after the religion entered areas of China[141] and nearby Japan.[142] The first Bahá'ís arrived in Taiwan in 1949[143] and the first of these to have become a Bahá'í was Mr. Jerome Chu (Chu Yao-lung) in 1945 while visiting the United States. By May 1955 there were eighteen Bahá'ís in six localities across Taiwan. The first Local Spiritual Assembly in Taiwan was elected in Tainan in 1956. The National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1967 when there were local assemblies in Taipei, Tainan, Hualien, and Pingtung. Circa 2006 the Bahá'ís showed up in the national census with 16,000 members and 13 assemblies.[144]
The Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan begins before Russian advances into the region when the area was under the influence of Persia.[145] By 1887 a community of Bahá'í refugees from religious violence in Persia had made a religious center in Ashgabat.[145] Shortly afterwards — by 1894 — Russia made Turkmenistan part of the Russian Empire.[106] While the Bahá'í Faith spread across the Russian Empire[106][146] and attracted the attention of scholars and artists,[147] the Bahá'í community in Ashgabat built the first Bahá'í House of Worship, elected one of the first Bahá'í local administrative institutions and was a center of scholarship. However during the Soviet period religious persecution made the Bahá'í community almost disappear - however Bahá'ís who moved into the regions in the 1950s did identify individuals still adhering to the religion. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Bahá'í communities and their administrative bodies started to develop across the nations of the former Soviet Union;[148] In 1994 Turkmenistan elected its own National Spiritual Assembly[14] however laws passed in 1995 in Turkmenistan required 500 adult religious adherents in each locality for registration and no Bahá'í community in Turkmenistan could meet this requirement.[149] As of 2007 the religion had still failed to reach the minimum number of adherents to register[150] and individuals have had their homes raided for Bahá'í literature.[151]
The Bahá'í Faith in the United Arab Emirates begins before the specific country gained independence in 1971. The first Bahá'ís arrived in Dubai by 1950,[152] and by 1957 there were four Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies in the region of the UAE and a regional National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula.[107] Recent estimates count some 75,000 Bahá'ís or 1.6% of the national population - second only to Iran in number of Bahá'ís in the nations of the Middle East.[153]
The Bahá'í Faith in Uzbekistan began in the lifetime of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion.[154] Circa 1918 there was an estimated 1900 Bahá'ís in Tashkent. By the period of the policy of oppression of religion in the former Soviet Union the communities shrank away - by 1963 in the entire USSR there were about 200 Bahá'ís.[146] Little is known until the 1980s when the Bahá'í Faith started to grow across the Soviet Union again.[106] In 1991 a Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of the Soviet Union was elected but was quickly split among its former members.[106] In 1992, a regional National Spiritual Assembly for the whole of Central Asia was formed with its seat in Ashgabat.[83] In 1994 the National Spiritual Assembly of Uzbekistan was elected.[14][146] In 2008 eight Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies or smaller groups had registered with the government[155] though more recently there were also raids[156] and expulsions.[157]
On March 21, 2007, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, about 280 people attended a reception where the government Committee for Religious Affairs presented a certificate giving recognition to Bahá'í activities.[9] Vietnamese government authorities at the time stated that Vietnam had 7,000 Bahá'ís, a number that may reflect thirty years of government restrictions.[158] There is an estimate of 300,000 Bahá'ís in Vietnam [10] is based on World Christian Encyclopedia, by David Barrett, 2000.[11] In March 2008, with permission of the government, the Bahá'í Community of Vietnam held their National Convention and elected their first National Spiritual Assembly since 1975.[12]
African Bahá'í Community statistics are also hard to come by. However, Africans have a long history with the Bahá'í Faith; several of the earliest followers of both the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh were reportedly African. From 1924 to 1960 the religion was declared one of the legally sanctioned faiths in Egypt, but has since then been subject to restrictions and outright persecution by authorities and others.
The Bahá'í Faith in Angola begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916.[159] The first Bahá'í pioneered to Angola about 1952.[108] By 1963 there was a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Luanda and smaller groups of Bahá'ís in other cities.[62] In 1992 the Bahá'ís of Angola elected their first National Spiritual Assembly.[160] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 1800 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Cameroon was established when the country was separated into two colonies - British and French Cameroon. The first Bahá'í in Cameroon was Enoch Olinga, who had left his homeland of Uganda to bring the religion to British Cameroon in 1953. Meherangiz Munsiff, a young Indian woman who had moved from Britain, arrived in French Cameroon April 1954 - both Olinga and Munsiff were honoured with the title Knight of Bahá'u'lláh.[161] Currently there are 40,000 adherents of the religion in the country.[162]
Though the Bahá'í Faith in Chad began after its independence in 1960 members of the religion were present in associated territories since 1953.[39][163] The Bahá'ís of Chad elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1971.[164] Through succeeding decades Bahá'ís have been active in a number of ways and by some counts have become the third largest international religion in Chad with over 80,000 members by 2000.[165]
The Bahá'í Faith in Democratic Republic of the Congo begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916.[159] The first Bahá'í to settle in the country came in 1953 from Uganda.[166] The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of the country was elected in 1957. By 1963 there were 143 local assemblies in Congo.[62] Even though the religion was banned,[167] and the country torn by wars, the religion grew so that in 2003 there were some 541 assemblies.[166] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 252,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Egypt has a history over a century old. Perhaps the first Bahá'ís arrive in 1863.[168] Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the religion, was himself briefly in Egypt in 1868 when on his way to imprisonment in `Akká.[169] The first Egyptians were converts by 1896.[83] Despite forming an early Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly and forming a National Assembly, in 1960 following a regime change the Bahá'ís lost all rights as an organised religious community[170] by Law 263[171] at the decree of then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser.[172] However, in 1963, there were still seven organized communities in Egypt.[62] More recently the roughly 2,000[173] Bahá'ís of Egypt have been embroiled in the Egyptian identification card controversy from 2006[174] through 2009.[175] There have been homes burned down and families driven out of towns.[176]
The Bahá'í Faith in Ethiopia begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916.[159] It is not known who the first Bahá'í was to settle in the country, but the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of the country was elected November 1934 in Addis Ababa.[152] In 1962 Ethiopia Bahá'ís had elected a National Spiritual Assembly.[177] By 1963 there were seven localities with smaller groups of Bahá'ís in the country.[62] The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 27,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46] The community celebated its diamond jubille in January 2009.[178]
The Bahá'í Faith in Equatorial Guinea begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote letters encouraging taking the religion to Africa in 1916.[159] The first pioneer to Spanish Guinea was Elise Lynelle (then Elise Schreiber) who arrived in Bata, Spanish Guinea (as it was called then), on 17 May 1954, and was recognized as a Knight of Baha'u'llah.[179] In 1968 the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Equatorial Guinea was elected in Santa Isabel, (later renamed Malabo).[180] The community has elected a National Spiritual Assembly since 1984.[180][181] The community celebated its golden jubilee in 2004.[179] The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated nearly 2500 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Liberia begins with the entrance of the first member of the religion in 1952[182] and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in 1958 in Monrovia.[39] By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies[62] and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1975.[39] Hosting various conferences through the '70's the community was somewhat disrupted by the First Liberian Civil War with some refugees going to Côte d'Ivoire in 1990[183] and the re-establishment of the National Spiritual Assembly in 1998.[184] Third parties invited the modern Bahá'í community into their dialogues in the country[185][186] while Bahá'ís have continued their work supporting a private Bahá'í school, the Bahá'í Academy[182] and a private radio station.[187] Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been in Liberia in 2006.[188]
The Bahá'í Faith in Madagascar begins with the mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, who asked the followers of the Bahá'í Faith to travel to Madagascar.[189] The first Bahá'í to pioneer to Madagascar arrived in 1953[190] and following native converts the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1955. By 1963 in addition to the one assembly there were groups of Bahá'ís living in four other locations.[62] In late July 1967 Rúhíyyih Khanum became the first Hand of the Cause to visit the country.[191] In 1972 the Malagasy Bahá'ís gathered to elect the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Madagascar.[190] By 2003 there were 33 local assemblies[190] and the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2005 estimated there were about 17,900 Bahá'ís in the country.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Malawi begins before the country achieved independence. Before World War I the area of modern Malawi was part of Nyasaland and `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, asked the followers of the Bahá'í Faith to travel to the regions of Africa.[189] As part of a wide scale growth in the religion across Sub-Saharan Africa[192] the religion was introduced into this region[193] the same year it became known as the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953. A decade later there were five Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies.[62] By 1970, now in the country of Malawi, there were 12 Local Spiritual Assemblies and a National Spiritual Assembly. Between 2000-2003 there were estimates of 15[193] to 24,500[194] Bahá'ís in Malawi.
The Bahá'í Faith in Morocco began about 1946.[195][196] In 1953 the Bahá'ís initiated a Ten Year Crusade during which a number of Bahá'ís pioneered to various parts of Morocco - many of whom came from Egypt and a few from the United States including Helen Elsie Austin.[69][168] By April 1955 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Ceuta was elected.[197] By January 1958 the first Bahá'í summer school was held in Rabat.[198] By spring 1958 the Bahá'í population may have been 100 and there were six assemblies and a regional committee coordinated activities promulgating the religion.[196] In 1960 the first all-Moroccan local assembly was elected in Zaouiat Cheikh and most of its members were Berbers.[199] On December 7, 1961 an article in Al Alam laments the decline of Islam and attacks the Bahá'ís.[69] During the year Bahá'í homes are entered by police and literature of the religion is taken. On April 12 four Bahá'ís are arrested in Nador.[69] A regional National Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa was organized which included Morocco in 1962.[200] In 1963 a survey of the community counted 10 Assemblies, 12 organized groups (between 1 and 9 adults) of Bahá'ís.[62] In 1963 the arrests in Morocco had gotten attention from Hassan II of Morocco, US Senator Kenneth B. Keating[201] and Roger Nash Baldwin, then Chairman of the International League for the Rights of Man[69] and would echo in analyses of politics of Morocco for years to come.[202][203] All Bahá'í meetings were prohibited in 1983 followed by arrests.[69] This time the response emphasized the non-partisan and obedience to government principles of the religion.[204] 1992 estimates by the US Department of State counted some 150-200 Bahá'ís.[205] while 2001 through 2009 estimates mention the Bahá'í community at 350 to 400 persons.[206][207] However Association of Religion Data Archives and Wolfram Alpha estimated 30,000 Bahá'ís in 2005 and 2010, the third largest religion in the country.[208][209]
The Bahá'í Faith in Mozambique begins after the mention of Africa in Bahá'í literature when `Abdu'l-Bahá suggested it as a place to take the religion to in 1916.[189] The first know Bahá'í to enter the region was in 1951-2 at Beira when a British pioneer came through on the way to what was then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.[62][210] The Mozambique Bahá'í community participated in successive stages of regional organization across southern Africa from 1956[211] through the election of its first Mozambique's Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly by 1963[62] and on to its own National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1987.[212] Since 1984 the Bahá'ís have begun to hold development projects.[213] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated just over 2,500 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Niger began during a period of wide scale growth in the religion across Sub-Saharan Africa near the end of its colonial period.[192] The first Bahá'ís arrive in Niger in 1966[214] and the growth of the religion reached a point of electing its National Spiritual Assembly in 1975.[14] Following a period of oppression, making the institutions of the religion illegal in the late 1970s and 80's, the National Assembly was re-elected starting in 1992. The Bahá'í community in Niger has grown mostly in the south-west of the country where they number in the low thousands.
After an isolated presence in the late 1920s,[39] the Bahá'í Faith in Nigeria begins with pioneering Bahá'ís coming to Sub-Saharan West Africa in the 1950s especially following the efforts of Enoch Olinga who directly and indirectly affected the growth of the religion in Nigeria.[161] Following growth across West Africa a regional National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1956.[62] As the community multiplied across cities and became diverse in its engagements it elected its own National Spiritual Assembly by 1979[215] and had 1,000 Bahá'ís in 2001.[188]
The Bahá'í Faith in Rwanda begins after 1916 with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, that Bahá'ís should take the religion to the regions of Africa.[96] The first specific mention of Rwanda was in May 1953 suggesting the expanding community of the Bahá'í Faith in Uganda look at sending pioneers to neighboring areas like Ruanda.[216] The first settlers of the religion arrived in the region by July[217] 1953 when Bahá'ís from the United States and Malawi arrived. By 1963 there were three Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies in Burundi-Ruanda.[62] Through succeeding organizations of the countries in the region, the National Spiritual Assembly of Rwanda was formed in 1972.[218] Bahá'ís, perhaps in the thousands, were among those who perished in the Rwandan Genocide[219] Following the disruption of the Rwandan Civil War the national assembly was reformed in 1997.[220] The Bahá'ís of Rwanda have continued to strive for inter-racial harmony, a teaching which Denyse Umutoni, an assistant director of Shake Hands with the Devil, mentions as among the reasons for her conversion to the religion.[221] Recent estimates[33][188] place the Bahá'í population around 15,000.
The Bahá'í Faith in Senegal begins after `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, mentioned Africa as a place the religion should be more broadly visited by Bahá'ís.[159] The first to set foot in the territory of French West Africa that would become Senegal arrived in 1953.[168] The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Senegal was elected in 1966 in Dakar.[166] In 1975 the Bahá'í community elected the first National Spiritual Assembly of Senegal. The most recent estimate, by the Association of Religion Data Archives in a 2005 report details the population of Senegalese Bahá'ís at 22,000.[46] Bahá'ís claimed there are 34 local assemblies in 2003.[166]
The Bahá'í Faith in South Africa began with the holding of Bahá'í meetings in the country in 1911.[211] A small population of Bahá'ís remained until 1950 when large numbers of international Bahá'í pioneers settled in South Africa. In 1956, after members of various tribes in South Africa became Bahá'ís, a regional Bahá'í Assembly which included South Africa was elected. Later each of the constituent countries successively formed their own independent Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly. Then in 1995, after a prolonged period of growth and oppression during Apartheid and the homelands reuniting with South Africa, the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa was formed. Following the end of Apartheid the South African Bahá'í community continued to grow; currently there are around of 250,000[222] Bahá'is in South Africa.[223]
The Bahá'í Faith in Tanzania begins when the first pioneer, Claire Gung, arrived in 1950 in what was then called Tanganyika.[224] With the first Tanganyikan to join the religion in 1952[225][226] the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1952 of Tanganyika in Dar es Salaam.[227] In 1956 a regional Bahá'í Assembly which included Tanganyika was elected.[62][181] Later each of the constituent countries successively formed their own independent Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly and Tanganyika, with Zanzibar, formed its own in 1964 and it and the country was renamed Tanzania.[228] Since 1986 the Bahá'ís have operated the Ruaha Secondary School as a Bahá'í school.[229][230] In 2005 Bahá'ís were estimated at about 163,800 adherents.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Uganda started to grow in 1951 and in four years time there were 500 Bahá'ís in 80 localities, including 13 Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies, representing 30 tribes, and had dispatched 9 pioneers to other African locations.[231] Following the reign of Idi Amin when the Bahá'í Faith was banned and the murder of Bahá'í Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga and his family,[232] the community continues to grow though estimates of the population range widely from 19,000 to 105,000 and the community's involvements have included diverse efforts to promote the welfare of the Ugandan people.
In 1916-1917 a series of letters by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, asked the followers of the religion to take the religion to regions of Africa; these letters were compiled together in the book titled Tablets of the Divine Plan.[189] In 1929 Shoghi Effendi, then head of the religion, was the first Bahá'í to visit the area.[233] In 1953 several Bahá'ís settled in what was then South Rhodesia[234] as pioneers. Along with indigenous conversions in 1955 the Bahá'ís formed the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Harare.[233] By the end of 1963 there were 9 assemblies.[62] While still a colony of the United Kingdom, the Bahá'ís nevertheless organized a separate National Spiritual Assembly in 1964.[39] Though Rhodesia declared independence in 1965, succeeding political developments and wars changed the status of the country and the National Assembly was reformed and has continued since 1970 [234] while Zimbabwe regained independence in 1980. By 2003, the 50th anniversary of the Bahá'ís in Zimbabwe, a year of events across the country culminated with a conference of Bahá'ís from all provinces of Zimbabwe and nine countries. There were 43 local spiritual assemblies in 2003.[233]
The Bahá'í Faith in Albania was introduced in the 1930s by Refo Çapari, an Albanian politician.[235] In 1967 along with the other religions the Bahá'í Faith was banned, however, after the collapse of the Communist regime in 1992 the Bahá'í community was re-established. Over the recent years several Bahá'í education centres have also been founded.
The Bahá'í Faith in Andorra begins with the first mention of Andorra in Bahá'í literature when `Abdu'l-Bahá listed it as a place to take the religion to in 1916.[189] The first Bahá'í to pioneer to Andorra was William Danjon Dieudonne in 1953.[166] By 1979 a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Andorra-la-Vella is known.[236] In 2005 according to the Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) there were about 80 Bahá'ís in Andorra.[237] In 2010 Wolfram Alpha estimated about 120 Bahá'ís.[209]
The Bahá'í Faith in Azerbaijan crosses a complex history of regional changes. Before 1850 followers of the predecessor religion Bábism were established in Nakhichevan.[238] By the early 20th century the Bahá'í community, now centered in Baku, numbered perhaps 2,000 individuals and several Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies[234] had facilitated the favorable attention of local and regional,[238] and international[239] leaders of thought as well as long standing leading figures in the religion.[39] However under Soviet rule the Bahá'í community was almost ended[240] though it was immediately reactivated as perestroyka loosened controls on religions[234] and re-elected its own National Spiritual Assembly in 1992.[44] The modern Bahá'í population of Azerbaijan, centered in Baku, may have regained its peak from the oppression of the Soviet period of about 2,000 people, today with more than 80% converts[241] although the community in Nakhichevan, where it all began, is still seriously harassed and oppressed.[242]
The Bahá'í Faith in Armenia begins with some involvements in the banishments and execution of the Báb,[243] the Founder of the Bábí Faith, viewed by Bahá'ís as a precursor religion. The same year of the execution of the Báb the religion was introduced into Armenia.[238] During the period of Soviet policy of religious oppression, the Bahá'ís in Armenia lost contact with the Bahá'ís elsewhere.[244] However in 1963 communities were identified[245] in Yerevan and Artez.[44] Following Perestroika the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies of Armenia form in 1991[246] and Armenian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1995.[14] As of 2004 the Bahá'ís claim about 200 members in Armenia[247] but as of 2001 Operation World estimated about 1,400.[248]
The Bahá'í Faith in Bosnia and Herzegovina begins with mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá,[27] then head of the religion, of Austria-Hungary which Bosnia and Herzegovina were part of at the time. Between the World Wars when Bosnia and Herzegovina were part of Yugoslavia, several members of Yugoslavian royalty had contact with prominent members of the religion.[249] During the period of Communism in Yugoslavia, the first member of the Bahá'í Faith was in 1963 and the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1990.[246] With the Yugoslavian civil war and separation into Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bahá'ís had not elected a Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly[246] but do have a small population in a few regions in the country.[250]
The Bahá'í Faith in Denmark began in 1925 but it was more than 20 years before the Bahá'í community in Denmark began to grow after the arrival of American Bahá'í pioneers in 1946. Following that period of growth, the community established its Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly in 1962. With Iranian Bahá'í refugees and convert Danes the modern community was about 300 Bahá'ís as of 2002.[251]
The Bahá'í Faith in Finland began with contact between traveling Scandinavians with early Persian believers of the Bahá'í Faith in the mid-to-late 19th century[252] while Finland was politically part of the Russian Empire. In the early 20th century `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, requested Bahá'ís from the United States and Canada consider Scandinavian countries and Russia among the places Bahá'ís should pioneer to.[189] Later, after Finland gained independence from Russia, Bahá'ís began to visit the Scandinavian area in the 1920s.[253] Following a period of more Bahá'í pioneers coming to the country, Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies spread across Finland while the national community eventually formed a Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly in 1962.[107] Some estimates in 2003 of the Bahá'ís in Finland number about 500 Bahá'ís[254][255] though they include a winner of human rights award[256] and a television personality.[257]
The Bahá'í Faith in Georgia begins with its arrival in the region in 1850 through its association with the precursor religion the Bábí Faith during the lifetime of Bahá'u'lláh.[238] During the period of Soviet policy of religious oppression, the Bahá'ís in the Soviet Republics lost contact with the Bahá'ís elsewhere.[244] However in 1963 an individual was identified[245] in Tibilisi.[62] Following Perestroika the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Georgia formed in 1991[246] and Georgian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1995.[14] The religion is noted as growing in Georgia.[238]
Though mentioned in the Bahá'í literature in the 19th century, the Bahá'í Faith in Germany begins in the early 20th century when two emigrants to the United States returned on prolonged visits to Germany bringing their newfound religion. The first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was established following the conversion of enough individuals to elect one in 1908.[251] After the visit of `Abdu'l-Bahá,[258] then head of the religion, and the establishing of many further assemblies across Germany despite the difficulties of World War I, elections were called for the first Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly in 1923.[259] Banned for a time by the Nazi government and then in East Germany the religion re-organized and was soon given the task of building the first Bahá'í House of Worship for Europe.[234] After German reunification the community multiplied its interests across a wide range of concerns earning the praise of German politicians. There are an estimated 5,000-6,000 Bahá'ís in Germany.[260]
The Bahá'í Faith in Iceland began when Amelia Collins first visiting Iceland in 1924,[261] and met with Holmfridur Arnadottir who became the first Icelandic Bahá'í.[262] The Bahá'í Faith was recognized as a religious community in 1966 and the first Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1972.[263] Currently around 400 Bahá'ís in the country and 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies. The number of assemblies is the highest percentage, by population, in all of Europe.[263]
The Bahá'í Faith in Italy begins before 1899 - the earliest known date for Bahá'ís in Italy.[264] `Abdu'l-Bahá, head of the religion from 1892 to 1921, wrote two letters to Italian Bahá'ís and mentioned Italy a few times addressing issues of war and peace as well.[27] Though several people joined the religion before World War II by the end there may have been just one Bahá'í in the country.[265] Soon a wave of pioneers was coordinated[251] with the first Bahá'ís to arrive were Angeline and Ugo Giachery.[39][266] ByRidván 1948 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Rome was elected.[267] There were six communities across Italy and Switzerland when a regional national assembly was formed in 1953.[268] The Italian Bahá'ís elected their own National Spiritual Assembly in 1962.[44] A survey of the community in 1963 showed 14 assemblies and 18 smaller communities.[62] Major conferences held in Italy include the Palermo Conference of 1968 to commemorate from the movement of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion, from Gallipoli to the prison in Acre[269] and the 2009 regional conference for southern Europe in Padua about the progress of the religion.[270] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying mostly on the World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 4,900 Bahá'ís in Italy in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Moldova began during the policy of oppression of religion in the former Soviet Union. Before that time, Moldova, as part of the Russian Empire, would have had indirect contact with the Bahá'í Faith as far back as 1847.[106][146] In 1974 the first Bahá'í arrived in Moldova.[246] and following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, communities of Bahá'ís, and respective National Spiritual Assemblies, developed across the nations of the former Soviet Union.[148] In 1996 Moldova elected its own National Spiritual Assembly.[14] There were about 400 Bahá'ís in Moldova in 2004.[271]
The first mentions of the Bahá'í Faith in the Netherlands were in Dutch newspapers which in 1852 covered some of the events relating to the Bábí movement which the Bahá'í Faith regards as a precursor religion.[272] Circa 1904 Algemeen Handelsblad, an Amsterdam newspaper, sent a correspondent to investigate the Bahá'ís in Persia.[273] The first Bahá'ís to settle in the Netherlands were a couple of families — the Tijssens and Greevens, both of whom left Germany for the Netherlands in 1937.[274] Following World War II the Bahá'ís established a committee to oversee introducing the religion across Europe and so the permanent growth of the community in the Netherlands begins with Bahá'í pioneers arriving in 1946.[274] Following their arrival and conversions of some citizens the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Amsterdam was elected in 1948.[275] In 1957, with 110 Bahá'ís and nine spiritual assemblies, the Bahá'í community in the Netherlands first elected its own National Spiritual Assembly.[274] In 2005 the Netherlands had 34 local spiritual assemblies.[275] In 1997 there were about 1500 Bahá'ís in The Netherlands.[276]
The Bahá'í Faith in Norway began with contact between traveling Scandinavians with early Persian believers of the Bahá'í Faith in the mid-to-late 19th century.[252] Bahá'ís first visited Scandinavia in the 1920s following `Abdu'l-Bahá's, then head of the religion, request outlining Norway among the countries Bahá'ís should pioneer to[189] and the first Bahá'í to settle in Norway was Johanna Schubartt.[253] Following a period of more Bahá'í pioneers coming to the country, Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies spread across Norway while the national community eventually formed a Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly in 1962.[107] There are currently around 1,000 Bahá'ís in the country.[35]
The Bahá'í Faith in Poland begins in the 1870s when Polish writer Walerian Jablonowski[277] wrote several articles covering its early history in Persia.[106][278] There was a polish language translation of Paris Talks published in 1915.[211] After becoming a Bahá'í in 1925[204] Poland's Lidia Zamenhof returned to Poland in 1938 as its first well known Bahá'í. During the period of the Warsaw Pact Poland adopted the Soviet policy of oppression of religion, so the Bahá'ís, strictly adhering to their principle of obedience to legal government, abandoned its administration and properties.[244] An analysis of publications before and during this period finds coverage by Soviet based sources basically hostile to the religion while native Polish coverage was neutral or positive.[278] By 1963 only Warsaw was recognized as having a community.[62] Following the fall of communism in Poland because of the Revolutions of 1989, the Bahá'ís in Poland began to initiate contact with each other and have meetings - the first of these arose in Kraków and Warsaw.[211] In March 1991 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was re-elected in Warsaw. Poland's National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1992.[44] There were about three hundred Bahá'ís in Poland in 2006 and there have been several articles in polish publications in 2008 covering the Persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran and Egypt.[279]
The Bahá'í Faith in Portugal comes after the first mention of Portugal in Bahá'í literature when `Abdu'l-Bahá mentioning it as a place to take the religion to in 1916.[189] The first Bahá'í visitor to Portugal was in 1926.[280] Its first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in Lisbon in 1946.[280] In 1962 the Portuguese Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly.[281] In 1963 there were nine assemblies.[62] According to recent counts close to some 2,000 members of the Bahá'í Faith in 2005 according to the Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia).[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Slovakia begins after 1916 with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, that Bahá'ís should take the religion to the regions of Europe including Slovakia, then part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.[96] It is not clear when the first Bahá'ís entered Slovakia but there were Bahá'ís in Czechoslovakia by 1963.[62] As the period of communism was ending, there is comment of activity in Slovakia starting around 1989.[282] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Bahá'í communities and their administrative bodies started to develop across the nations of the former Soviet Union including Czechoslovakia.[148] In 1991 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Bratislava was formed.[180] Separate national assemblies for the Czech and Slovak Republics were formed in 1998.[148] While registration with the national government of Slovakia is not required it is required for many religious activities as well as owning property.[283] In 2007 representatives of the Bahá'í Faith submitted 28,000 signatures of interested citizens to the government of Slovakia thus officially registering as a religious community[284] which then numbered about 200 individuals.[285]
The Bahá'í Faith in Spain begins with coverage of events in the history of the Bábí religion in the 1850s.[286] The first mention of Spain in Bahá'í literature was `Abdu'l-Bahá mentioning it as a place to take the religion to in 1916.[189] The first Bahá'í to visit Spain was in 1930[287] and the first pioneer to stay was Virginia Orbison in January 1947.[288] Following some conversions to the religion the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Madrid was elected in 1948.[289] The first National Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1962.[14] Following the election the breadth of initiatives of the community increased privately until 1968 when the national assembly was able to register as a Non-Catholic Religious Association in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Information and Tourism allowing public religious events and publication and importation of religious materials.[290] Following this the diversity of initiatives of the community significantly expanded. Bahá'ís began operating a permanent Bahá'í school[291] and in 1970 the first Spanish Roma joined the religion.[292] Fifty years after the first local assembly there were 100 assemblies.[293] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 12,800 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46] In 2008 the Universal House of Justice picked the Spanish community to host a regional conference for the Iberian peninsula and beyond.[294]
The Bahá'í Faith in Sweden began after coverage in the 19th century[252] followed by several Swedish-Americans who had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the United States around 1912 and pioneered or visited the country starting in 1920.[295] By 1932 translations of Bahá'í literature had been accomplished and around 1947 the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly had been elected in Stockholm.[296] In 1962 the first National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden was elected.[62] The Bahá'ís claim about 1,000 members and 25 local assemblies in Sweden.[297]
The Bahá'í Faith in Turkey has a history that goes back to the roots of the religion from the first Bábi, an immediate predecessor religion associated with the Bahá'í Faith, to reach Istanbul, Mullá 'Alíy-i-Bastámí,[298] through the initial banishment of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion, from Persia into then Ottoman cities of Baghdad, and then further banishments to Istanbul, Edirne, and ultimately Acre during which significant portions of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh took place. Succeeding that period we have the history of the spread of the community through a history of trials adjudicating the legal standing of the religion in the country as progressively wider scales of organization of the religion are attempted. In the new millennium many of the obstacles to the religion remain in place - Bahá'ís cannot register with the government officially[242] but there are probably 10[299] to 20[300] thousand Bahá'ís, and around a hundred Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies in Turkey.[298]
The Bahá'í Faith in Ukraine began during the policy of oppression of religion in the former Soviet Union. Before that time, Ukraine, as part of Russia, would have had indirect contact with the Bahá'í Faith as far back as 1847.[106] Following the Ukrainian diasporas, succeeding generations of ethnic Ukrainians became Bahá'ís and some have interacted with Ukraine previous to development of the religion in the country. There are currently around 1,000 Bahá'ís in Ukraine in 13 communities.[146][301]
The Bahá'í Faith in the United Kingdom started with the earliest mentions of the predecessor of the Bahá'í Faith, the Báb, in British newspapers. Some of the first British people who became members of the Bahá'í Faith include George Townshend and John Esslemont. Through the 1930s, the number of Bahá'í in the United Kingdom grew, leading to a pioneer movement beginning after the Second World War with sixty percent of the British Bahá'í community eventually relocating. In 2004 there were about 5,000 Bahá'ís in the UK.[302]
Vatican City is one of the two countries believed to have no Bahá'ís at least as of 2008. The other is North Korea.[126]
The Bahá'í Faith in Australia has a long history beginning with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the religion, in 1916[96] following which United Kingdom/American emigrants John and Clara Dunn came to Australia in 1920.[234] They found people willing to convert to the Bahá'í Faith in several cities while further immigrant Bahá'ís also arrived.[303] The first Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in Melbourne[175] followed by the first election of the National Spiritual Assembly in 1934.[107] Though at first denied in 1948, Iranian Bahá'ís arrived in number after 1973 following the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran.[304] Since the 1980s the Bahá'ís of Australia have become involved and spoken out on a number of civic issues - from interfaith initiative such as Soul Food[305] to conferences on indigenous issues[306] and national policies of equal rights and pay for work.[307] The community was counted by census in 2001 to be about 11,000 individuals[308] and includes some well known people (see - Bahá'í Faith in Australia - National exposure.)
The only substantial non-Christian population is of the Bahá'í Faith. The Bahá'í Faith in Kiribati begins after 1916 with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, that Bahá'ís should take the religion to the Gilbert Islands which form part of modern Kiribati.[96] The first Bahá'íspioneered to the island of Abaiang(aka Charlotte Island, of the Gilbert Islands), on March 4, 1954.[166] They encountered serious opposition from some Catholics on the islands and were eventually deported and the first convert banished to his home island.[309] However in one year there was a community of more than 200 Bahá'ís[310] and a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly.[311] Three years later the island where the first convert was sent to was found to now have 10 Bahá'ís. By 1963 there were 14 assemblies.[62] As the Ellice Islands gained independence as Tuvalu and the Gilbert Islands and others formed Kiribati, the communities of Bahá'ís also reformed into separate institutions of National Spiritual Assemblies in 1981.[14] The Bahá'ís had established a number schools by 1963[62] and there are still such today - indeed the Ootan Marawa Bahá'í Vocational Institute being the only teacher training institution for pre-school teachers in Kiribati.[166] The census figures are consistently between 2 and 3% for the Bahá'ís while the Bahá'ís claim numbers above 17%.[309] All together the Bahá'ís now claim more than 10,000 local people have joined the religion over the last 50 years and there are 38 local spiritual assemblies.[166]
The Bahá'í Faith in the Marshall Islands begins after 1916 with a mention by `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, that Bahá'ís should take the religion there.[96] The first Bahá'í to pioneer there arrived in August 1954[312] however she could only stay until March 1955. Nevertheless with successive pioneers and converts the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in 1967 in Majuro.[313] The community continued to grow and in 1977 elected its first National Spiritual Assembly.[314] Before 1992 the Bahá'ís began to operate state schools under contract with the government.[311] Middle estimates of the Bahá'í population are just over 1,000, or 1.50% in 2000.[135]
The Bahá'í Faith in New Caledonia was first mentioned by `Abdu'l-Bahá in 1916,[189] though the first Bahá'í arrived in 1952[315] during a temporary visit because of restrictive policies on English-speaking visitors.[311] In 1961 Jeannette Outhey was the first New Caledonian to join the religion and with other converts and pioneers elected the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of Nouméa.[316] The Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of New Caledonia was elected in 1977.[311] Multiplying its involvements through to today, the 2001 population was reported at 1,070 and growing.[317]
While the first mention of the Bahá'í Faith in New Zealand was in 1853[315] continuous contact began around 1904 when one individual after another came in contact with Bahá'ís and some of them published articles in print media in New Zealand as early as 1908.[318] The first Bahá'í in the Antipodes was Dorothea Spinney who had just arrived from New York in Auckland in 1912.[319] Shortly thereafter there were two converts about 1913 - Robert Felkin who had met `Abdu'l-Bahá in London in 1911 and moved to New Zealand in 1912 and is considered a Bahá'í by 1914[320] and Margaret Stevenson who first heard of the religion in 1911 and by her own testimony was a Bahá'í in 1913.[321] After `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote the Tablets of the Divine Plan which mentions New Zealand[159] the community grew quickly so that the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly of the country was attempted in 1923[152] or 1924[108] and then succeeded in 1926. The Bahá'ís of New Zealand elected their first independent National Spiritual Assembly in 1957.[180] By 1963 there were four Assemblies, and 18 localities with smaller groups of Bahá'ís.[62] The 2006 census reports about 2800 Bahá'ís[35] in some 45 local assemblies and about 20 smaller groups of Bahá'ís[322] though the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were some 7,000 Bahá'ís in 2005.[46]
The Bahá'í Faith in Tonga started after being set as a goal to introduce the religion in 1953,[323] and Bahá'ís arrived in 1954.[233] With conversions and pioneers the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1958.[309] From 1959 the Bahá'ís of Tonga and their local institutions were members of a Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific.[27] By 1963 there were five local assemblies.[62] Less than forty years later, in 1996, the Bahá'ís of Tonga established their paramount Bahá'í school in the form of the Ocean of Light International School.[324] Around 2004 there were 29 local spiritual assemblies[233] and about 5% of the national population were members of the Bahá'í Faith though the Tonga Broadcasting Commission maintained a policy that does not allow discussions by members of the Baha'i Faith of its founder, Bahá'u'lláh on its radio broadcasts.[325]
The Bahá'í Faith in Samoa and American Samoa begins with the then head of the religion, `Abdu'l-Bahá, mentioning the islands in 1916,[189] inspiring Bahá'ís on their way to Australia to stop in Samoa in 1920.[326] Thirty four years later another Bahá'í from Australia pioneered to Samoa in 1954.[327] With the first converts the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1961,[180] and the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly was first elected in 1970. Following the conversion of the then Head of State of Samoa, King Malietoa Tanumafili II,[75] the first Bahá'í House of Worship of the Pacific Islands was finished in 1984 and the Bahá'í community reached a population of over 3,000 in about the year 2000.[328]
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