Religion in El Salvador

Last updated

Religion in El Salvador (2022 estimate) [1]

   Catholicism (41.9%)
   Protestantism (35.9%)
  Other Christian (1.7%)
   No religion (19.9%)
  Others (0.6%)
St. Anne's Cathedral in Santa Ana. Santa Ana Catedral Nuestra Senora de Santa Ana 2.jpg
St. Anne's Cathedral in Santa Ana.

Christianity is the predominant religion in El Salvador, [2] with Catholicism and Protestantism being its main denominations. The Catholic share of the population is on decline while Protestants are experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. [3]

Contents

The Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado named part of the territory of modern day El Salvador after Jesus Christ - San Salvador (lit. "Holy Savior"). The territory's name, including the province of San Miguel, was later extended to the Provincia De Nuestro Señor Jesus Cristo, El Salvador Del Mundo (lit. 'Province of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World'), shortened to the Republic of El Salvador, or Salvador, during the post-Federal Republic period and subsequently settled on as El Salvador. [4]

El Salvador is a secular country and the freedom of religion is enshrined in the nation's constitution. However, the constitution grants automatic official recognition to the Catholic Church and requires other religious groups to apply for official recognition through registration. [5]

Religious affiliation

The iconic Jesus statue Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo, a landmark located in the country's capital, San Salvador. SalvadorDelMundo.jpg
The iconic Jesus statue Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo, a landmark located in the country's capital, San Salvador.

According to the World Religion Database 2020, 96.68% of the population has a Christian background and 2.57% is non-religious (atheist or agnostic); 0.57% follow ethnic religions. [6]

There is some debate about percentages. The Institute of Public Opinion of the University of Central America in May 2017 found 47.5% of the population as Catholics, and 35.1% as Protestant, 14.5% as not having a religion and the remainder (about 3%) being Jehovah's Witnesses, International Society of Krishna Consciousness, Muslims, Jews, Baháʼís, Buddhists, Latter-day Saints, and members of indigenous religions. [7] However, Latinobarómetro in 2017 found 39% were Catholic, 28% Protestant, 30% atheist/agnostic/not religious, 2% other religions, and 1% did not answer. [8] It also found in 1996 that 67% of the population considered themselves Catholic and 15% Protestant. [8] A 2023 survey by M&R Consultores found that 43.5% of the population was affiliated with Protestantism, 36.2% with Catholicism and 19.3% with no religion. [9] [10]

Protestant and other Christian denominations

Mision Cristiana Elim Internacional is a large pentecostal denomination started in El Salvador. It claims that its main church in San Salvador has 120,000 attending. [11] The Assemblies of God claim 285,226 members (2007). [12]

The Anglican Church in El Salvador (a diocese of the province of the Anglican Church in Central America) claims 6,000 members in 18 congregations. [13] The Baptist Association of El Salvador claims 4,427 members [14] and the Salvadorean Lutheran Synod about 15,000 in 68 congregations. [15]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Restorationist Christian denomination, claims 130,000 people in 164 congregations as of 2023), [16] or about 2% of the population, and has 1 temple in San Salvador. Latter-Day Saints began evangelizing in El Salvador in 1951. [16]

Religious freedom

The constitution of El Salvador provides for the freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination. Publicly offending others' religious beliefs or damaging religious objects is punishable by imprisonment. Members of the clergy may not hold senior government positions, and are forbidden from joining political parties. [17]

Religious groups may register with the government for the purposes of tax-exemption and acquiring building permits. Special visas are required for individuals who wish to travel to El Salvador to engage in proselytizing. [18]

Public school education is secular. Private schools may include religious content in their curricula, but do not receive government support. [19] Since 2016, clergy have limited access to prisons, due to concerns that some members of the clergy were using prison visits to smuggle items into prisons. [19]

In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House, a US government funded think tank. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Argentina</span>

Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Argentina, with Roman Catholicism being its largest denomination. This historical background is very much due to the Spanish influence brought about through the newly conquered territories. However, affiliation with Protestant churches is increasing and immigration throughout the 20th century has brought other religions from various regions to Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Mexico</span>

Christianity is the predominant religion in Mexico, with Catholicism being its largest denomination representing around 78% of the total population as of 2020. In recent decades the share of Catholics has been declining, due to the growth of other Christian denominations – especially various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism – which now constitute larger shares of the population. Conversion to non-Catholic denominations has been considerably lower than in Central America, and central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Nicaragua</span>

Religion in Nicaragua is predominantly Christian and forms a significant part of the culture of the country as well as its constitution. Religious freedom and religious tolerance is promoted by the Nicaraguan constitution yet the government has in recent years detained, imprisoned, and likely tortured numerous Catholic leaders, according to multiple news outlets. As of 2020, 79% of believers stated they are Christian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Guatemala</span>

Christianity has dominated Guatemalan society since its Spanish colonial rule, but the nature of Christian practice in the country has changed in recent decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Laos</span>

Christianity is a minority religion in Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Colombia</span>

Religion in Colombia is dominated by various branches of Christianity and is an expression of the different influences in the Colombian culture including the Spanish, the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Colombian, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Panama</span>

Panama is a predominantly Catholic country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Uruguay</span>

Christianity is the largest religion in Uruguay, with Catholics having the most adherents, but around 44.5% of the population is non-religious as of 2021. Church and state are officially separated since 1916.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Chile</span>

Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Chile, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. The country is secular and the freedom of religion is established under its Constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Ecuador</span>

When it comes to religion, the Ecuadorian society is relatively homogeneous, with Christianity being the primary religion. Catholicism is the main Christian denomination in the country. There are also small minorities of other religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Paraguay</span>

Christianity is the predominant religion in Paraguay, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. Before the arrival of Spanish missionaries, the people residing in the territory of modern day Paraguay practiced a variety of religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Solomon Islands</span>

Christianity is the predominant religion in Solomon Islands, with Anglicanism being the single largest denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in the Federated States of Micronesia</span>

Christianity is the predominant religion in the Federated States of Micronesia and represents an integral part of the nation's identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Nauru</span>

Christianity is the largest religion in Nauru, with Nauru Congregational Church being the largest denomination, encompassing 35.71% of the population as of the 2011 census.

Christianity is the dominant religioninPalau, practiced by around 72.8% of the total population, according to the 2022 census. Freedom of religion is enshrined in Palau's constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Samoa</span>

Christianity is the official and largest religion in Samoa, with its various denominations accounting for around 98% of the total population. The article 1 of the Constitution of Samoa states that "Samoa is a Christian nation founded of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".

Freedom of religion in Paraguay is provided for in the Constitution of Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Honduras</span>

The predominant religion in Honduras is Christianity, with Catholicism and Evangelicalism being its main denominations. The country is secular and the freedom of religion is enshrined in the nation's constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

Christianity is the majority religion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is professed by a majority of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Togo</span>

Religion in Togo is diverse, with Christianity being the most widely professed faith. A substantial number of the Togolese also practice traditional faiths and Islam.

References

  1. ↑ José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA El-Salvador), 2022 report
  2. ↑ "El Salvador 2022 report, US State Dept".
  3. ↑ Stephen Offutt, New Centers of Global Evangelicalism in Latin America and Africa (Cambridge University Press, 2015) focuses on El Salvador the north central south America and South Africa.
  4. ↑ El nombre oficial de la República de El Salvador (PDF). Gobierno de la República de El Salvador. 2015. ISBN   978-99923-0-274-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "El Salvador 2022 report, US State Dept".
  6. ↑ World Religion Database, retrieved 2023-08-03
  7. ↑ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2017: El Salvador". www.state.gov. Retrieved 31 December 2018. For percentages it cites the Institute of Public Opinion of the University of Central America May 2017 survey.
  8. 1 2 "Latinobarómetro 1995 - 2017: El Papa Francisco y la Religión en Chile y América Latina" (PDF) (in Spanish). January 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. ↑ https://www.el19digital.com/app/webroot/tinymce/source/2023/AGOSTO/16Ago/ENCUESTA/encuesta.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  10. ↑ "Catholic believers decline in Central America". 17 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Células". Elim Mision Cristiana. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Triplett, Don. "King's Castle 24/7 Prayer Fortress". Assemblies of God World Mission. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Iglesia Anglicana de El Salvador" . Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Baptist Association of El Salvador". World Council of Churches. January 1991. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Salvadorean Lutheran Synod". World Council of Churches. January 1991. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  16. 1 2 "El Salvador". Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "El Salvador 2022 report, US State Dept".
  18. ↑ "El Salvador 2022 report, US State Dept".
  19. 1 2 International Religious Freedom Report 2017 El Salvador , US State Department, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
  20. ↑ Freedom House, retrieved 2023-08-03

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.