ID :
30925
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 19:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30925
The shortlink copeid
Religion in S. Korea grows steadily over past decade
(ATTN: RECTIFIES ranking typo in 4th para)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Koreans with religious beliefs increased at a steady pace over the past decade, with Catholicism growing the fastest, a government report showed Tuesday.
According to the report, compiled by the National Statistical Office, South
Korea's faithful numbered 25.17 million in 2005, accounting for 53.5 percent of
the nation's total population. The comparative figure for 1995 came in at 22.56
million, or 50.7 percent of the population.
Catholicism, the nation's third largest religion, saw its ratio expand at the
fastest pace, the report showed. The number of Catholics nearly doubled to 5.14
million in 2005 from 2.95 million a decade ago, while the religion accounted for
10.9 percent of the total population, up from 6.6 percent in 1995.
Buddhism and Protestantism, No. 1 and No. 2 religions in South Korea, both
witnessed a decline in the number of followers over the same period, according to
the report.
At the end of 2005, the number of Buddhists came to 10.72 million, up from 10.32
million a decade before. The ratio of Buddhists to the total population, however,
inched down to 22.8 percent from 23.2 percent over the same period.
Protestants decreased both in number and ratio. Those who believe in the religion
declined from 8.76 million to 8.61 million over the past 10 years, with its ratio
falling from 19.7 percent to 18.3 percent, the report showed.
Meanwhile, the report showed that the ratio of people who do not have any
religion stood at 46.5 percent of the total population in 2005, a decline from
49.3 percent a decade ago. The figure, however, is much higher than the global
average of 15 percent, the report noted.
The report did not provide reasons for the overall shift in numbers. Around 97
percent of South Korea's religious faithful followed the country's three major
religions -- Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism -- with Confucianism and
others accounting for the remainder.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Koreans with religious beliefs increased at a steady pace over the past decade, with Catholicism growing the fastest, a government report showed Tuesday.
According to the report, compiled by the National Statistical Office, South
Korea's faithful numbered 25.17 million in 2005, accounting for 53.5 percent of
the nation's total population. The comparative figure for 1995 came in at 22.56
million, or 50.7 percent of the population.
Catholicism, the nation's third largest religion, saw its ratio expand at the
fastest pace, the report showed. The number of Catholics nearly doubled to 5.14
million in 2005 from 2.95 million a decade ago, while the religion accounted for
10.9 percent of the total population, up from 6.6 percent in 1995.
Buddhism and Protestantism, No. 1 and No. 2 religions in South Korea, both
witnessed a decline in the number of followers over the same period, according to
the report.
At the end of 2005, the number of Buddhists came to 10.72 million, up from 10.32
million a decade before. The ratio of Buddhists to the total population, however,
inched down to 22.8 percent from 23.2 percent over the same period.
Protestants decreased both in number and ratio. Those who believe in the religion
declined from 8.76 million to 8.61 million over the past 10 years, with its ratio
falling from 19.7 percent to 18.3 percent, the report showed.
Meanwhile, the report showed that the ratio of people who do not have any
religion stood at 46.5 percent of the total population in 2005, a decline from
49.3 percent a decade ago. The figure, however, is much higher than the global
average of 15 percent, the report noted.
The report did not provide reasons for the overall shift in numbers. Around 97
percent of South Korea's religious faithful followed the country's three major
religions -- Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism -- with Confucianism and
others accounting for the remainder.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)
