Religion in Latin America (Pew Research Center 2014) [1]
Religion in Latin America is characterized by the historical predominance of Catholicism, [2] and growing number and influence of a large number of groups that belong to Protestantism, as well as by the presence of Irreligion. According to survey data from Statista in 2020, 57% of the Latin American population is Catholic and 19% is Protestant. [3]
The majority of Latin Americans are Christians (90%), [2] mostly Roman Catholics. [5] [1] Membership in Protestant denominations is increasing, particularly in Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Puerto Rico. [6] In particular, Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth. [7] [8] This movement is increasingly attracting Latin America's middle classes. [9] Anglicanism also has a long and growing presence in Latin America.
According to the detailed Pew Research Center multi-country survey in 2014, 69% of the Latin American population is Catholic and 19% is Protestant, rising to 22% in Brazil and over 40% in much of Central America. More than half of these are converts. [10] [11] According to the 2014 Pew survey, the 46 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean comprised, in absolute terms, the world's second-largest Christian population (24%; including U.S., British, Dutch and French territories), after the 50 countries and territories of Europe (26%; including Russia, excluding Turkey), but just before the 51 countries and territories of Sub-Saharan Africa (24%; including Mauritania, excluding Sudan). [12]
Indigenous creeds and rituals are still practiced in countries with large percentages of Amerindians, such as Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Various Afro-Latin American traditions such as Santería, Candomblé, Umbanda, Macumba, and tribal-voodoo religions are also practiced, mainly in Cuba, Brazil, and Haiti.
Argentina hosts the largest communities of both Jews (180,000-300,000) [13] [14] [15] and Muslims (500,000-600,000) [16] [17] [18] in Latin America. Brazil is the country with more practitioners in the world of Allan Kardec's Spiritism. Practitioners of Judaism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Bahá'í Faith, and Shinto are also present in Latin America. [19]
Country | Christian (%) | Catholic (%) | Protestant (%) | Other religions (%) | Unaffiliated (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 85,5 | 74,7 | 10,8 | 3,5 | 11,0 |
![]() | 74,0 | 40,5 | 33,5 | 10,4 | 15,6 |
![]() | 94,4 | 76,0 | 18,4 | 2,5 | 3,1 |
![]() | 88,7 | 64,6 | 24,1 | 4,3 | 8,0 |
![]() | 82,1 | 66,2 | 15,9 | 2,5 | 15,4 |
![]() | 92,7 | 77,7 | 15,0 | 2,3 | 5,0 |
![]() | 89,9 | 70,7 | 19,2 | 4,0 | 6,1 |
![]() | 50,1 | 45,8 | 4,3 | 7,2 | 42,7 |
![]() | 93,1 | 80,9 | 12,2 | 2,3 | 4,6 |
![]() | 81,8 | 51,7 | 30,1 | 2,2 | 16,0 |
![]() | 86,8 | 47,1 | 39,7 | 1,7 | 11,5 |
![]() | 84,3 | 68,8 | 15,5 | 9,8 | 5,9 |
![]() | 88,8 | 49,8 | 39,0 | 3,2 | 8,0 |
![]() | 92,0 | 82,9 | 9,1 | 3,4 | 4,6 |
![]() | 83,5 | 54,4 | 29,1 | 3,8 | 12,7 |
![]() | 92,7 | 76,0 | 16,7 | 3,3 | 4,0 |
![]() | 96,1 | 88,2 | 7,9 | 2,3 | 1,6 |
![]() | 93,6 | 80,6 | 13,0 | 3,0 | 3,4 |
![]() | 92,2 | 61,5 | 30,7 | 1,4 | 6,4 |
![]() | 90,2 | 68,9 | 21,3 | 4,0 | 5,8 |
![]() | 52,4 | 42,8 | 9,6 | 4,6 | 43,0 |
![]() | 91,4 | 75,8 | 15,6 | 3,3 | 5,3 |
Country | Catholic (%) | Protestant (%) | Unaffiliated (%) | Other (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 89 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | 81 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
![]() | 79 | 13 | 6 | 2 |
![]() | 79 | 13 | 5 | 3 |
![]() | 77 | 16 | 4 | 3 |
![]() | 76 | 17 | 4 | 3 |
![]() | 73 | 17 | 7 | 4 |
![]() | 71 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
![]() | 70 | 19 | 7 | 4 |
![]() | 64 | 17 | 16 | 3 |
![]() | 62 | 25 | 9 | 4 |
![]() | 61 | 26 | 8 | 5 |
![]() | 57 | 23 | 18 | 2 |
![]() | 56 | 33 | 8 | 2 |
![]() | 50 | 36 | 12 | 3 |
![]() | 50 | 41 | 6 | 3 |
![]() | 50 | 40 | 7 | 4 |
![]() | 46 | 41 | 10 | 2 |
![]() | 42 | 15 | 37 | 6 |
Latin America | 69 | 19 | 8 | 4 |
Countries | Population Total | Christians % | Christian Population | Unaffiliated % | Unaffiliated Population | Other religions % | Other religions Population | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 44,830,000 | 85.4% | 38,420,000 | 12.1% | 5,320,000 | 2.5% | 1,090,000 | [21] |
![]() | 11,830,000 | 94% | 11,120,000 | 4.1% | 480,000 | 1.9% | 230,000 | [22] |
![]() | 210,450,000 | 88.1% | 185,430,000 | 8.4% | 17,620,000 | 3.5% | 7,400,000 | [23] |
![]() | 18,540,000 | 88.3% | 16,380,000 | 9.7% | 1,800,000 | 2% | 360,000 | [24] |
![]() | 52,160,000 | 92.3% | 48,150,000 | 6.7% | 3,510,000 | 1% | 500,000 | [25] |
![]() | 5,270,000 | 90.8% | 4,780,000 | 8% | 420,000 | 1.2% | 70,000 | [26] |
![]() | 11,230,000 | 58.9% | 6,610,000 | 23.2% | 2,600,000 | 17.9% | 2,020,000 | [27] |
![]() | 16,480,000 | 94% | 15,490,000 | 5.6% | 920,000 | 0.4% | 70,000 | [28] |
![]() | 6,670,000 | 88% | 5,870,000 | 11.2% | 740,000 | 0.8% | 60,000 | [29] |
![]() | 18,210,000 | 95.3% | 17,360,000 | 3.9% | 720,000 | 0.8% | 130,000 | [30] |
![]() | 850,000 | 67.9% | 580,000 | 2% | 20,000 | 30.1% | 250,000 | [31] |
![]() | 11,550,000 | 87% | 10,040,000 | 10.7% | 1,230,000 | 2.3% | 280,000 | [32] |
![]() | 9,090,000 | 87.5% | 7,950,000 | 10.5% | 950,000 | 2% | 190,000 | [33] |
![]() | 126,010,000 | 94.1% | 118,570,000 | 5.7% | 7,240,000 | 0.2% | 200,000 | [34] |
![]() | 6,690,000 | 85.3% | 5,710,000 | 13% | 870,000 | 1.7% | 110,000 | [35] |
![]() | 4,020,000 | 92.7% | 3,720,000 | 5% | 200,000 | 2.3% | 100,000 | [36] |
![]() | 7,630,000 | 96.9% | 7,390,000 | 1.1% | 90,000 | 2% | 150,000 | [37] |
![]() | 32,920,000 | 95.4% | 31,420,000 | 3.1% | 1,010,000 | 1.5% | 490,000 | [38] |
![]() | 11,280,000 | 88% | 9,930,000 | 10.9% | 1,230,000 | 1.1% | 120,000 | [39] |
![]() | 580,000 | 52.3% | 300,000 | 6.2% | 40,000 | 41.5% | 240,000 | [40] |
![]() | 3,490,000 | 57% | 1,990,000 | 41.5% | 1,450,000 | 1.5% | 50,000 | [41] |
![]() | 33,010,000 | 89.5% | 29,540,000 | 9.7% | 3,220,000 | 0.8% | 250,000 | [42] |
Latin America | 653,390,000 | 89.7% | 585,850,000 | 8% | 52,430,000 | 2.3% | 15,110,000 | [43] |
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.
Christianity is the largest religion in Belgium, with the Catholic Church representing the largest community, though it has experienced a significant decline since the 1950s. Belgium's policy separates the state from the churches, and freedom of religion of the citizens is guaranteed by the country's constitution.
Latin Americans are the citizens of Latin American countries.
The Catholic Church is "the Catholic Communion of Churches, both Roman and Eastern, or Oriental, that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome ." The church is also known by members as the People of God, the Body of Christ, the "Temple of the Holy Spirit", among other names. According to Vatican II's Gaudium et spes, the "church has but one sole purpose–that the kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished."
In 2024, there are 0.8 — 1.1 billion Protestants worldwide, among approximately 2.5 billion Christians. In 2010, a total of more than 800 million included 300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, 260 million in the Americas, 140 million in Asia-Pacific region, 100 million in Europe and 2 million in Middle East-North Africa. Protestants account for nearly forty percent of Christians worldwide and more than one tenth of the total human population. Various estimates put the percentage of Protestants in relation to the total number of the world's Christians at 33%, 36%, 36.7%, and 40%, while in relation to the world's population at 11.6% and 13%.
As of the year 2023, Christianity had approximately 2.4 billion adherents and is the largest religion by population. According to a PEW estimation in 2020, Christians made up to 2.38 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people. It represents nearly one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion in the world, with the three largest groups of Christians being the Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The largest Christian denomination is the Catholic Church, with 1.3 billion baptized members. The second largest Christian branch is either Protestantism, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Religion has been a major influence on the societies, cultures, traditions, philosophies, artistic expressions and laws within present-day Europe. The largest religion in Europe is Christianity. However, irreligion and practical secularisation are also prominent in some countries. In Southeastern Europe, three countries have Muslim majorities, with Christianity being the second-largest religion in those countries. Ancient European religions included veneration for deities such as Zeus. Modern revival movements of these religions include Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry, Wicca, and others. Smaller religions include Indian religions, Judaism, and some East Asian religions, which are found in their largest groups in Britain, France, and Kalmykia.
Growth of religion involves the spread of individual religions and the increase in the numbers of religious adherents around the world. In sociology, desecularization is the proliferation or growth of religion, most commonly after a period of previous secularization. Statistics commonly measure the absolute number of adherents, the percentage of the absolute growth per-year, and the growth of converts in the world.
Religion in North America is dominated by various branches of Christianity and spans the period of Native American dwelling, European settlement, and the present day. Religion has been a major influence on art, culture, philosophy and law of the continent.
Christianity has dominated Guatemalan society since its Spanish colonial rule, but the nature of Christian practice in the country has changed in recent decades.
Christianity is the most prevalent religion in the United States. Estimates from 2021 suggest that of the entire U.S. population about 63% is Christian. The majority of Christian Americans are Protestant Christians, though there are also significant numbers of American Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eastern Orthodox Christians and Oriental Orthodox Christians, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The United States has the largest Christian population in the world and, more specifically, the largest Protestant population in the world, with nearly 210 million Christians and, as of 2021, over 140 million people affiliated with Protestant churches, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians among their populations. The Public Religion Research Institute's "2020 Census of American Religion", carried out between 2014 and 2020, showed that 70% of Americans identified as Christian during this seven-year interval. In a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 65% of adults in the United States identified themselves as Christians. They were 75% in 2015, 70.6% in 2014, 78% in 2012, 81.6% in 2001, and 85% in 1990. About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.
Religion in South America has been a major influence on art, culture, philosophy and law and changed greatly in recent years. Roman Catholicism has rapidly declined. Most of this is due to the growth of Protestantism, particularly evangelical Christians. A smaller number of South Americans are also beginning to identify as irreligious. Sizeable adherents of other religions are also present, including of various indigenous religions.
Latin American Muslims are Muslims from countries in Latin America. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2010 found that Muslims make up 0.1% of all of Latin America's population.
Christian population growth is the population growth of the global Christian community. According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, there were more than 2.2 billion Christians around the world in 2010, more than three times as many as the 600 million recorded in 1910. However, this rate of growth is slower than the overall population growth over the same time period. In 2020, Pew estimated the number of Christians worldwide to be around 2.38 billion. According to various scholars and sources, high birth rates and conversions in the Global South were cited as the reasons for the Christian population growth. In 2023, it was reported: "There will be over 2.6 billion Christians worldwide by the middle of 2023 and around 3.3 billion by 2050, according to a report published in early January by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary."
According to public opinion polls, irreligion in Uruguay ranges from 30 to 40 to over 47 percent of the population. Uruguay has been the least-religious country in South America due to nineteenth-century political events influenced by positivism, secularism, and other beliefs held by intellectual Europeans. The resistance of the indigenous population to evangelization, which prevented the establishment of religion during the colonial era, has also been influential. According to Nestor DaCosta (2003), irreligion has historically been a feature of Uruguayan identity.
Irreligion in Latin America refers to various types of irreligion, including atheism, agnosticism, deism, secular humanism, secularism and non-religious. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2014, 8% of the population is not affiliated with a religion. According to Latinobarómetro, the share of irreligious people in Latin America quadrupled between 1996 and 2020, from 4% to 16%.
The Catholic charismatic renewal is a recent movement in the Catholic Church to re-emphasize the charisms of the Holy Spirit in lay people's everyday lives.
The decline of Christianity in the Western world is the decreasing Christian affiliation in the Western world. While most countries in the Western world were historically almost exclusively Christian, the post-World War II era has seen developed countries with modern, secular educational facilities shifting towards post-Christian, secular, globalized, multicultural and multifaith societies.
Marginal at first, news reports and political analysts have pointed the important weight that the Evangelical Christian community has and its impact in electoral politics in Latin America, even helping in the electoral victories of conservative candidates.
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