Religion in the United States Virgin Islands

Religions: in the United States Virgin Islands (2010)

  Protestant (65.5%)

  Roman Catholic (27.1%)

  Other Christian (1.8%)

  Unaffiliated (3.7%)

  Other religion (1.9%)

Religion in the United States Virgin Islands is varied. Only 7% of the religious population is non-Christian.

Christianity

As in most Caribbean countries, Christianity is the dominant religion in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Protestantism is most prevalent, reflecting the territory's Danish colonial heritage. There is also a strong Roman Catholic presence. Protestants makes up 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%) of the total religious population on the islands. Roman Catholics are 34% of the religious population.

See also: Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands and Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Thomas

Judaism

Jews began settling the Danish Virgin Islands in 1655, and by 1796 the first synagogue was inaugurated. In its heyday in the mid-19th century, the Jewish community made up half of the white population. One of the earliest colonial governors, Gabriel Milan, was a Sephardic Jew.

Today, there are still Jews living in the Islands. The St. Thomas Synagogue built in 1833, is the second-oldest existing synagogue and longest in continuous use now under the American flag. The synagogue is associated with the Reform Judaism movement. There is also a synagogue Temple B'nai Or at Hermon Hill on St. Croix close to Christiansted.

Islam

There is an Islamic school based in St. Croix, known as Iqra academy.

Buddhism

There is a Buddhist temple located on the island of St. Thomas and more.

Rastafarianism

As in most of the Caribbean, various forms of Rastafari are practiced on the island.