Sunni Muslims constitute more than 90 percent of the population of The Gambia.[1] The vast majority are Malikite Sufis, of which the main orders represented are Tijaniyah, Qadiriyah.[1] Except for the Ahmadiyya, Sufi orders pray together at common mosques.[1] A small percentage of Muslims, predominantly immigrants from South Asia, do not ascribe to any traditional Islamic school of thought.[1]
An estimated 9 percent of the population is Christian, and less than 1 percent practice indigenous animist religious beliefs.[1] The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is predominantly Roman Catholic; there are also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various small evangelical denominations.[1] There is a small group of followers of the Baha'i Faith and a small community of Hindus among South Asian immigrants.[1]
Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common.[1] In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized with animism.[1] There are few atheists in the country.[1]Although most Gambians are Muslim, some suggest that Islam is usually syncrethized with the old Traditional African religion such as the Serer religion. [2][3] Christians also syncrethize Christianity with the old Traditional African religion.[4]
Foreign missionary groups operate in the country.[1]
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