Religion in Latin America

Out look on Indigenous and Migrated Faiths

Religion in Latin America (Pew Research Center 2014)[1]

Catholic (69%)

Protestant (18%)

Unaffiliated (9%)

Other (4%)

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]

## Christianity

[edit]

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil is the second largest in the world, after only of the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City.[4]

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 and Afro-Latin creeds

[edit]

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.

## Other world religions

[edit]

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]

## Statistics

[edit]

### CID-Gallup 2010

[edit]

Religion in Latin America (2010)[20] Country  | Christian
(%)  | Catholic
(%)  | Protestant
(%)  | Other religions
(%)  | Unaffiliated
(%)

|
|
|
|
|

Argentina | 85,5 | 74,7 | 10,8 | 3,5 | 11,0
Belize | 74,0 | 40,5 | 33,5 | 10,4 | 15,6
Bolivia | 94,4 | 76,0 | 18,4 | 2,5 | 3,1
Brazil | 88,7 | 64,6 | 24,1 | 4,3 | 8,0
Chile | 82,1 | 66,2 | 15,9 | 2,5 | 15,4
Colombia | 94,7 | 81,7 | 13,0 | 2,3 | 3,0
Costa Rica | 89,9 | 70,7 | 19,2 | 4,0 | 6,1
Cuba | 50,1 | 45,8 | 4,3 | 7,2 | 42,7
Ecuador | 93,1 | 80,9 | 12,2 | 2,3 | 4,6
El Salvador | 81,8 | 51,7 | 30,1 | 2,2 | 16,0
Guatemala | 86,8 | 47,1 | 39,7 | 1,7 | 11,5
Haiti | 84,3 | 68,8 | 15,5 | 9,8 | 5,9
Honduras | 88,8 | 49,8 | 39,0 | 3,2 | 8,0
Mexico | 92,0 | 82,9 | 9,1 | 3,4 | 4,6
Nicaragua | 83,5 | 54,4 | 29,1 | 3,8 | 12,7
Panama | 92,7 | 76,0 | 16,7 | 3,3 | 4,0
Paraguay | 96,1 | 88,2 | 7,9 | 2,3 | 1,6
Peru | 93,6 | 80,6 | 13,0 | 3,0 | 3,4
Puerto Rico | 92,2 | 61,5 | 30,7 | 1,4 | 6,4
Dominican Republic | 90,2 | 68,9 | 21,3 | 4,0 | 5,8
Uruguay | 52,4 | 42,8 | 9,6 | 4,6 | 43,0
Venezuela | 91,4 | 75,8 | 15,6 | 3,3 | 5,3

### 2014 Pew Research Center data

[edit]

Religion in Latin America (2014)[1] Country | Catholic (%) | Protestant (%) | Unaffiliated (%) | Other (%)

|
|
|
|

Paraguay | 89  | 7  | 1  | 2
Mexico | 81  | 9  | 7  | 4
Colombia | 79  | 13  | 6  | 2
Ecuador | 79  | 13  | 5  | 3
Bolivia | 77  | 16  | 4  | 3
Peru | 76  | 17  | 4  | 3
Venezuela | 73  | 17  | 7  | 4
Argentina | 71  | 15  | 12  | 3
Panama | 70  | 19  | 7  | 4
Chile | 64  | 17  | 16  | 3
Costa Rica | 62  | 25  | 9  | 4
Brazil | 61  | 26  | 8  | 5
Dominican Republic | 57  | 23  | 18  | 2
Puerto Rico | 56  | 33  | 8  | 2
El Salvador | 50  | 36  | 12  | 3
Guatemala | 50  | 41  | 6  | 3
Nicaragua | 50  | 40  | 7  | 4
Honduras | 46  | 41  | 10  | 2
Uruguay | 42  | 15  | 37  | 6
Latin America | 69 | 19 | 8 | 4

### Number of followers by country (2015 Pew Research Center projections for 2020)

[edit]

Countries  | Population Total  | Christians %  | Christian Population  | Unaffiliated %  | Unaffiliated Population  | Other religions %  | Other religions Population  | Source

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Argentina | 44,830,000 | 85.4%  | 38,420,000  | 12.1%  | 5,320,000  | 2.5%  | 1,090,000  | [21]
Bolivia | 11,830,000 | 94%  | 11,120,000  | 4.1%  | 480,000  | 1.9%  | 230,000  | [22]
Brazil | 210,450,000 | 88.1%  | 185,430,000  | 8.4%  | 17,620,000  | 3.5%  | 7,400,000  | [23]
Chile | 18,540,000 | 88.3%  | 16,380,000  | 9.7%  | 1,800,000  | 2%  | 360,000  | [24]
Colombia | 52,160,000 | 92.3%  | 48,150,000  | 6.7%  | 3,510,000  | 1%  | 500,000  | [25]
Costa Rica | 5,270,000  | 90.8%  | 4,780,000  | 8%  | 420,000  | 1.2%  | 70,000  | [26]
Cuba | 11,230,000  | 58.9%  | 6,610,000  | 23.2%  | 2,600,000  | 17.9%  | 2,020,000  | [27]
Ecuador | 16,480,000 | 94%  | 15,490,000  | 5.6%  | 920,000  | 0.4%  | 70,000  | [28]
El Salvador | 6,670,000  | 88%  | 5,870,000  | 11.2%  | 740,000  | 0.8%  | 60,000  | [29]
Guatemala | 18,210,000  | 95.3%  | 17,360,000  | 3.9%  | 720,000  | 0.8%  | 130,000  | [30]
Guyana | 850,000 | 67.9%  | 580,000  | 2%  | 20,000  | 30.1%  | 250,000  | [31]
Haiti | 11,550,000  | 87%  | 10,040,000  | 10.7%  | 1,230,000  | 2.3%  | 280,000  | [32]
Honduras | 9,090,000  | 87.5%  | 7,950,000  | 10.5%  | 950,000  | 2%  | 190,000  | [33]
Mexico | 126,010,000  | 94.1%  | 118,570,000  | 5.7%  | 7,240,000  | 0.2%  | 200,000  | [34]
Nicaragua | 6,690,000  | 85.3%  | 5,710,000  | 13%  | 870,000  | 1.7%  | 110,000  | [35]
Panama | 4,020,000  | 92.7%  | 3,720,000  | 5%  | 200,000  | 2.3%  | 100,000  | [36]
Paraguay | 7,630,000 | 96.9%  | 7,390,000  | 1.1%  | 90,000  | 2%  | 150,000  | [37]
Peru | 32,920,000 | 95.4%  | 31,420,000  | 3.1%  | 1,010,000  | 1.5%  | 490,000  | [38]
Dominican Republic | 11,280,000  | 88%  | 9,930,000  | 10.9%  | 1,230,000  | 1.1%  | 120,000  | [39]
Suriname | 580,000 | 52.3%  | 300,000  | 6.2%  | 40,000  | 41.5%  | 240,000  | [40]
Uruguay | 3,490,000 | 57%  | 1,990,000  | 41.5%  | 1,450,000  | 1.5%  | 50,000  | [41]
Venezuela | 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]

## See also

[edit]

* Religion in Argentina
* Religion in Belize
* Religion in Bolivia
* Religion in Brazil
* Religion in Chile
* Religion in Colombia
* Religion in Costa Rica
* Religion in Cuba
* Religion in the Dominican Republic
* Religion in Ecuador
* Religion in El Salvador
* Religion in Guatemala
* Religion in Haiti
* Religion in Honduras
* Religion in Mexico
* Religion in Nicaragua
* Religion in Panama
* Religion in Paraguay
* Religion in Peru
* Religion in Puerto Rico
* Religion in Uruguay
* Religion in Venezuela
* Irreligion in Latin America
* Latin American Muslims
* Latin American Jews

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Religion in Latin America, Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region". Pew Research Center. 13 November 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
2. ^ a b Christians – Pew Research Center
3. ^ "Religion affiliations in Latin America 2020". Statista. 2021-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
4. ^ Facts of Basilica of Aparecida
5. ^ "Las religiones en tiempos del Papa Francisco" (in Spanish). Latinobarómetro. April 2014. p. 7\. Archived from the original (pdf) on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015. Alt URL
6. ^ Religion in Latin America Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region
7. ^ Allan., Anderson (2004). An introduction to Pentecostalism : global charismatic Christianity. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521825733. OCLC 53919445.
8. ^ Pierre., Bastian, Jean (1997). La mutación religiosa de América Latina : para una sociología del cambio social en la modernidad periférica (1st ed.). México: Fondo de Cultura Económica. ISBN 9681650212. OCLC 38448929.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
9. ^ Koehrsen, Jens (2017-09-01). "When Sects Become Middle Class: Impression Management among Middle-Class Pentecostals in Argentina". Sociology of Religion. 78 (3): 318–339. doi:10.1093/socrel/srx030. ISSN 1069-4404.
10. ^ Alec Ryrie, "The World's Local Religion" History Today (2017) online
11. ^ "Religion in Latin America: Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region" Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life Nov 13, 2014
12. ^ "The Global Religious Landscape" (PDF). Pewforum.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
13. ^ LeElef, Ner. "World Jewish Population". Retrieved 2008-01-09.
14. ^ The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute; Annual Assessment, 2007
15. ^ United Jewish Communities; Global Jewish Populations Archived 2008-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs - Background Note: Argentina
17. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2008 - Argentina
18. ^ Árabes y musulmanes en América Latina
19. ^ LANIC religion page
20. ^ The Latin American Socio-Religious Studies Program / Programa Latinoamericano de Estudios Sociorreligiosos (PROLADES) PROLADES Religion in America by country
21. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
22. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
23. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
24. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
25. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
26. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
27. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
28. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
29. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
30. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
31. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
32. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
33. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
34. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
35. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
36. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
37. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
38. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
39. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
40. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
41. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
42. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
43. ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". www.pewforum.org. Retrieved 2020-10-18.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Colby, Gerard. Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon: Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil. HarperCollins.
* D'Antonio, William V., and Frederick B. Pike, jt. eds. Religion, Revolution, and Reform: New Forces for Change in Latin America. New York: F.A. Praeger, 1964

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