Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is the largest religious group among Latinos in the United States, with 43% of Hispanic adults identifying as Catholic in 2022, down from 67% in 2010. However, the number of Latinos who identify as religiously unaffiliated, sometimes called religious nones, is growing. While Hispanics in America are no longer a Catholic majority, they remain about twice as likely as U.S. adults overall to identify as Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who identify as Catholic | 43% (2022) |
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who were raised Catholic | 65% |
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who are former Catholics | 24% |
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who identify as Protestants | 21% |
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who identify as evangelical Protestants | 15% |
| Median age of Hispanic American Protestants | 37 years |
| Percentage of Hispanic American Protestants under 30 years old | 32% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who are senior citizens | 56% |
| Percentage of young Hispanic Catholics who identify as Democrats | 35% |
| Percentage of Catholics under 30 who are Hispanic | 52% |
| Percentage of Latinos who are religiously unaffiliated | 30% |
| Percentage of unaffiliated Hispanics who say religion is not important | 75% |
| Hispanic Catholics are growing in the US | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholicism is the largest faith among US Latinos
- The number of US Latinos identifying as Catholic is declining
- US Latinos are switching to other religions or becoming unaffiliated
- US Latinos are still twice as likely to identify as Catholic than Americans overall
- Protestant Christians are the second-largest faith group among US Latinos
Catholicism is the largest faith among US Latinos
The decline in Catholicism among US Latinos is part of a broader trend of religious switching, with many Latinos leaving the Catholic Church for other faiths or no religion at all. Despite the decline, Latinos remain about twice as likely as US adults overall to identify as Catholic. Catholicism continues to play a significant role in Latino communities, with many finding comfort and community in the Church during the difficult transition of emigration.
The religious landscape among US Latinos is diverse, with various faith traditions co-existing. Protestants are the second-largest faith group after Catholics, accounting for 21% of Hispanic adults, a share that has remained relatively stable. Among Latino Protestants, most are evangelical, but some belong to mainline denominations. Latino evangelicals have gained national attention due to their political activism, particularly their support for Republican candidates in recent elections.
The changing religious landscape among US Latinos has had implications for church leadership and community dynamics. While Hispanics are underrepresented in church leadership positions, they make up a significant proportion of Catholic congregations in many areas. The cultural diversity within the Latino community, encompassing various national origins and generational differences, also enriches the Catholic experience in the United States.
While the number of Hispanic Catholics in the US is declining, it is important to note that there is still life in the Hispanic Catholic community. Some areas with Spanish-language masses are vibrant and full of life, with standing-room-only attendance. However, there is a recognized need to do better in certain areas to prevent further losses in the flock.
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The number of US Latinos identifying as Catholic is declining
Catholicism is currently the largest religious group within Latino communities in the United States, with 43% of Latino adults identifying as Catholic as of 2022. However, this number has been steadily declining over the past decade, down from 67% in 2010. The decline in Catholic identification among US Latinos coincides with an increase in religious unaffiliation, with 30% of Latinos now identifying as religiously unaffiliated, up from 10% in 2010. This trend is also reflected in the broader decline in religious practice across the country, with the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian decreasing and the number of religiously unaffiliated individuals growing.
Several factors contribute to the decline in Catholic identification among US Latinos. One factor is the rise in religious unaffiliation, with an increasing number of younger Latino adults choosing to leave organized religion altogether. Additionally, there has been a shift towards other religious denominations, such as Protestantism, which has seen a stable proportion of around 21% of Hispanic adults identifying as Protestant since 2010. Among Latino Protestants, most are evangelical, and they exhibit higher levels of religious commitment compared to their Catholic counterparts.
The decline in Catholic identification among US Latinos has implications for the Catholic Church in the United States. It highlights the need for the Church to adapt to changing demographics and cultural understandings of Catholic life. It also underscores the importance of addressing the unique needs and histories of different Latino communities, as they are not a monolithic group. Additionally, the decline in Catholic identification may have political implications, as religious affiliation becomes increasingly partisan in an already polarized country.
While the number of US Latinos identifying as Catholic is declining, it is important to note that the Latino population continues to play a significant role in the Catholic Church in the United States. Hispanic Catholics tend to have larger families with younger children, and they remain more likely to identify as Catholic compared to US adults overall. Additionally, the migration of Hispanics to the South and West regions of the country has led to a remapping of the American Catholic experience, with a majority of US Catholics now residing in these regions.
In conclusion, while Catholicism remains the largest faith among Latinos in the United States, the number of US Latinos identifying as Catholic is indeed declining. This decline is accompanied by a growth in religious unaffiliation and a shift towards other religious denominations. The Catholic Church in the United States must navigate the changing religious landscape and address the diverse needs of Latino Catholics to adapt to these shifts in religious identification.
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US Latinos are switching to other religions or becoming unaffiliated
Catholicism has traditionally been the dominant religion among Latinos in the United States, but this is changing. While two-thirds of Hispanic adults (65%) say they were raised Catholic, only 43% identify as Catholic today. This decline in Catholic affiliation coincides with an increase in Latinos who are religiously unaffiliated, with 30% now describing themselves as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular," up from 10% in 2010.
The shift away from Catholicism among US Latinos is part of a broader trend of religious disaffiliation, particularly among young people across all ethnic groups. For Latinos, this shift may also reflect a shedding of traditional identities. The decline in Catholic affiliation among Latinos has been accompanied by modest growth in Protestantism due to religious switching. While the number of Latinos identifying as Protestant has increased, it is still relatively small, with 21% of Hispanic adults identifying as Protestant in 2022, a proportion that has remained stable since 2010.
Among Latino Protestants, most are evangelical, but some belong to mainline denominations. Latino evangelical Protestants express especially high levels of religious commitment, with nearly three-quarters saying religion is very important to them and over half attending religious services weekly or more often. In contrast, Catholic and non-evangelical Protestant Hispanics are less likely to attend religious services regularly, with only about one-quarter attending Mass or other religious services weekly.
The reasons for leaving Catholicism among Latinos vary. Some cite disagreement with the teachings of the Catholic Church, while others may find a congregation that better meets their needs or experience a personal crisis that causes them to reevaluate their religious beliefs. For US-born Latinos, the likelihood of becoming unaffiliated is nearly double that of foreign-born Latinos, who are more likely to embrace Protestant religions, particularly evangelical denominations. The outreach and support provided by some Protestant churches to newly arrived immigrants may be a factor in this trend.
Overall, the religious landscape among US Latinos is changing, with a decline in Catholicism, modest growth in Protestantism, and a significant increase in those who are religiously unaffiliated. These shifts have implications for social and political views within the Latino community, as evangelical Protestants tend to be more conservative, while the unaffiliated lean towards the liberal end of the spectrum.
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US Latinos are still twice as likely to identify as Catholic than Americans overall
While the number of US Latinos identifying as Catholic has been steadily declining, Latinos are still twice as likely to identify as Catholic than Americans overall. According to a 2022 survey, 43% of Latino adults identify as Catholic, down from 67% in 2010. This decline coincides with an increase in religiously unaffiliated Latinos, with 30% now identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular," up from 10% in 2010.
The decline in religious affiliation among Latinos mirrors a broader trend in the United States, as the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has decreased over time. However, the shift away from Catholicism among Latinos is particularly notable, with nearly a quarter of US Hispanics being former Catholics. This trend is attributed to various factors, including generational differences, migration patterns, and the increasing polarization of the country.
Despite the decline, Catholicism remains the largest religious group within Latino communities in the United States. The high proportion of Latinos who identify as Catholic has had a significant impact on the American Catholic experience, remapping the cultural understanding of Catholic life in the country. This impact is especially pronounced in certain regions, such as the South and West, where a majority of US Catholics now reside.
The Latino population has also influenced the demographic makeup of the Catholic Church in the United States. While in 1991, nearly nine in 10 Catholics in the country were white, that number has significantly decreased, with Hispanic Catholics now constituting a significant portion of the Catholic population. This shift has led to a more diverse Catholic community, reflecting the wider demographic trends in the United States.
While the number of Latinos identifying as Catholic is decreasing, it is important to note that the Latino community is not monolithic. Different Latino groups have distinct histories and traditions, and their religious practices may vary. Additionally, the decline in Catholicism among Latinos does not necessarily translate to a decrease in religiousness, as Latino Protestants, particularly evangelicals, have been gaining attention for their high levels of religious commitment and political activism.
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Protestant Christians are the second-largest faith group among US Latinos
While Catholicism is the largest religious group within Latino communities in the United States, Protestant Christians are the second-largest faith group among US Latinos. As of 2022, about 21% of Hispanic adults identify as Protestant, a proportion that has remained relatively stable since 2010. The share of Latinos who identify as Protestants, including evangelical Protestants, has been relatively stable, while the percentage who are religiously unaffiliated has grown substantially over the same period.
The median age of Hispanic American Protestants is 37 years, and about 32% are under the age of 30. Among Latino Protestant communities, most are evangelical, but some belong to mainline denominations. Compared to Catholic, unaffiliated, and mainline Protestant Latinos, Evangelical Protestant Latinos are substantially more likely to attend services weekly, pray daily, and adhere to biblical literalism.
Hispanic evangelical Protestants express especially high levels of religious commitment; nearly three-quarters (73%) say religion is very important to them. Non-evangelical Protestants (56%) and Catholic Hispanics (46%) are somewhat less likely to say this. Similarly, nearly six in ten Latino evangelicals (58%) say they attend religious services weekly or more often, compared with 37% of non-evangelical Protestants and 22% of Catholics.
Among the largest Latino groups, 37% of Salvadoran Americans identify as Protestant, followed by Puerto Rican Americans (30%), Dominican Americans (22%), Mexican Americans (18%), and Cuban Americans (16%). Evangelicalism is especially prevalent among Latinos with Central American origins, mirroring a pattern seen in those countries. Roughly three in ten US Latinos with Central American origins (31%) say they are evangelical Protestants, a higher share than among those with roots in Puerto Rico (15%) and Mexico (12%).
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, 43% of Hispanic adults identify as Catholic, down from 67% in 2010.
The number of Hispanic Catholics has been declining over the past decade. In 2009, 57% of Hispanics identified as Catholic, compared to 47% in 2019.
While Catholicism is the largest religious group among Hispanics in the US, Hispanics in America are no longer a majority-Catholic group.
