Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism has historically been the predominant religion in Latin America, but its influence is waning as the number of people identifying as evangelical and irreligious grows. In South America, Catholicism is still the most professed Christian denomination, with more than three-quarters of the population Catholic in Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina. However, Brazil is the most Protestant country in South America, with 22.2% of the population, and the number of Latin Americans who identify as non-religious jumped by 6% from 2010 to 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Latin Americans who are Catholic | 36.2% (2024 M&R Consultadores survey); 65% (2022 survey); 54% (2024 Latinobarómetro); 57% (2020 Latinobarómetro); 69% (2014 Pew Research Center survey) |
| Percentage of Latin Americans raised Catholic | 84% |
| Percentage of South Americans who are Catholic | 82.1% (2013 average based on 10 countries); 83.4% (2020 projection by Pew Research Center) |
| Percentage of South Americans who are Christian | 90% |
| Countries with the highest percentage of Catholics in South America | Paraguay (89%), Colombia (94.1%), Peru, Argentina |
| Countries with the lowest percentage of Catholics in South America | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay (57.6%) |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who are Protestant | 19% (2024 M&R Consultadores survey); 19% (Pew Research Center survey); 22% (Brazil) |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who are irreligious | 8% (2024 M&R Consultadores survey); 8% (Pew Research Center survey); 19% (2024 Latinobarómetro) |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who are Evangelical | 160 million (no year specified) |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who are Pentecostal | 70 million (no year specified) |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic influence on South American culture
The Catholic Church has had a profound and lasting influence on South American culture. This influence dates back to the colonial era when Catholicism was the only permitted religion, and the native populations were forced to abandon their indigenous beliefs. The Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors and colonists brought Christianity to the New World, and converting the native people was one of their primary objectives. This conversion allowed the Spaniards to claim the New World as theirs and served to unify the new lands.
The process of converting the native populations was complex and faced several challenges, including significant cultural and language barriers. To overcome these obstacles, missionaries translated parts of the Bible into Nahuatl, the lingua franca of most of Mexico and parts of Central America. Despite these efforts, convincing people to abandon their long-held religious practices and beliefs was difficult. As a result, a distorted conversion occurred, with the natives blending Catholicism with their indigenous religions. This syncretism between indigenous religions and Catholicism still persists in countries with predominantly Amerindian populations, such as Bolivia and Peru.
The Catholic Church played a significant role in the suppression and protection of Indigenous peoples. On the one hand, the missions served as tools to force "civility" by imposing European languages, dress, and agricultural practices on the native populations. On the other hand, some Catholic missionaries, particularly the Jesuits, protected the natives from enslavement by the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers. The Jesuits established Christian Native American city-states called "reductions," where the Indians achieved a high degree of autonomy and economic success. This protection and autonomy contributed to the eventual expulsion of the Jesuits from the Americas in 1767.
The Catholic Church also had a significant influence on education in South America. Friars and missionaries worked to educate the Amerindians about Christianity, Spanish cultural expectations, social customs, and political organization. Pedro de Gante, one of the first missionaries to arrive in Latin America, requested funding from King Charles V of Spain to run a local school and reduce the Amerindians' workload to provide them with spiritual instruction.
While Catholicism has historically been the dominant religion in South America, its position has weakened in recent decades due to the growth of Protestantism and an increasing number of irreligious individuals. However, it remains the majority religion across much of Latin America, with countries like Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina having large Catholic populations. Additionally, Catholic religious education is mandatory in Peru, where Catholicism is the official religion.
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Catholic conversion of South Americans
Catholicism is the predominant religion in South America, with several countries having a majority Catholic population. The Catholic Church in Latin America began with the Spanish and Portuguese colonisation of the Americas, and the conversion of the indigenous populations was a primary objective of the conquest. This process of evangelisation was funded by papal grants, and the clergy felt it was their duty to spread Christianity.
Different religious orders took different approaches to converting the natives. The first of these were the Franciscans, who believed that emulating Christ would naturally draw the natives to Christianity. They relied on the "pursuit of apostolic poverty and charity" and hoped that their actions would speak for themselves. Other groups, like the Jesuits, created Christian Native American city-states called "reductions", where Indians were expected to adopt Christianity but not European culture. The Jesuits also played a role in the pacification, religious conversion, and education of Indian nations in Brazil, founding towns such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The language barrier was one of the biggest challenges faced by the missionaries. The natives spoke hundreds of different languages, so to overcome this obstacle, missionaries translated parts of the Bible into Nahuatl, the lingua franca of most of Mexico and parts of Central America. This allowed them to reach a larger number of people.
Despite these efforts, the conversion process was not always smooth. The natives had a deep-rooted history and culture, and many blended their traditional beliefs with the new religion, creating a hybrid that is still practised today in some regions. Additionally, there were those who opposed forced conversion, such as Dominican friar Antonio de Montesinos, who openly rebuked the Spanish authorities for their mistreatment of the American natives.
While Catholicism remains the majority religion in South America, there has been a recent decline due to the growth of Protestantism and an increase in those identifying as irreligious. According to a 2024 survey, 36.2% of Latin Americans identified as Catholic, a decrease from the 69% reported in a 2014 survey.
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Percentage of Catholics in South America
The percentage of Catholics in South America has been declining in recent years, with a rise in the number of people identifying as Protestants, atheists, or agnostics. However, Catholicism remains the predominant religion in the region, with about 82.1% of South Americans identifying as Catholics in 2013. The rate varies across countries, with Paraguay having the highest rate of 89%, followed by Colombia at 77%, and Uruguay at the lowest with 57.6%.
A 2024 survey by Latinobarómetro found that 36.2% of Latin Americans identified as Catholic, a significant drop from the previous years. The survey also found that 31% were non-denominational believers, and 27.7% were Protestant. Another survey in 2022 showed a similar decline, with the percentage of people identifying as Catholics dropping from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020. This decline is also reflected in the United States, where the percentage of Latino Catholics has decreased, while the percentage of those identifying as religiously unaffiliated has increased.
Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism have seen significant growth in South America, with Brazil being the most Protestant country in the region, with 22.2% of its population identifying as Protestant. The growth of Protestantism is attributed to the active evangelization efforts of Protestant churches, which have attracted many former Catholics. Additionally, the Catholic Church has been embroiled in scandals and accused of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses, leading to a decline in trust among the population.
Despite the decline, Catholicism remains an integral part of the culture in South America, with many people still celebrating Catholic traditions. Furthermore, 84% of Latin American adults report being raised as Catholics, indicating a strong historical influence of the religion in the region.
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Countries with the most Catholics in South America
South America has a rich religious history, with Catholicism being the predominant religion in the region for centuries. However, in recent times, there has been a notable shift towards Protestantism, and an increase in those identifying as irreligious. Nevertheless, Catholicism still has a strong presence in several South American countries. Here is a list of countries with the most Catholics in South America:
Paraguay
According to a survey, Paraguay has the highest percentage of Catholics, with 89% of its population identifying as such. This makes it one of the most Catholic countries in South America.
Peru
Peru is another country with a high proportion of Catholics. In addition, Roman Catholicism is the official religion in Peru, and Catholic religious education is mandatory. In 2023, over 60% of Peruvians identified as Catholic.
Colombia
Colombia has a significant Catholic population, with 94.1% of its people identifying as Catholic in 2013, making it the country with the highest percentage of Catholics in South America at that time. By 2023, this number had slightly decreased, but it still remained one of the countries with the highest proportion of Catholics in the region.
Argentina
Argentina is known for having the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Latin America. However, it also has a substantial Catholic population, with more than three-quarters of its population identifying as Catholic in 2020.
Brazil
Brazil has a diverse religious landscape. While it is the most Protestant country in South America, with 22.2% of its population being Protestant, it also has a significant Catholic population. Different sources provide varying percentages for the Catholic population in Brazil, with some stating 57%, while others claim it to be 64.63% or 68.6%.
It is worth noting that the religious landscape of South America is constantly evolving, and the percentages mentioned above may not reflect the most recent data. Additionally, within these countries, there is a mix of religious beliefs, with indigenous religions and rituals still being practised, and a growing number of people identifying as irreligious.
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The decline of Catholicism in South America
Catholicism has been a major influence on South American culture, philosophy, law, and art. However, in recent times, the number of South Americans who identify as Catholic has been declining. This is due to a variety of factors, including the rise of Protestantism, particularly evangelical Christians, the increasing number of irreligious people, and the influence of secularism.
Historically, Catholicism was the predominant religion in South America. During the colonial era, it was the only religion allowed, and indigenous peoples were forced to abandon their beliefs. However, many indigenous religions persisted and syncretism between indigenous religions and Catholicism occurred, continuing to the present day in countries with predominantly Amerindian populations, such as Bolivia and Peru.
In recent decades, the number of Catholics in South America has decreased significantly. According to the Latinobarómetro survey, the percentage of people who identify as Catholic in Latin America dropped from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020. A separate 2024 survey by M&R Consultadores found that 36.2% of Latin Americans identified as Catholic, a significant drop from previous years. This decline has been accompanied by a rise in Protestantism, particularly in Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico. Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth and is increasingly attracting the middle classes.
The decline in Catholicism is also evident in the decreasing number of baptisms, confirmations, and Catholic marriages. The number of annual baptisms in Latin America decreased from 8,197,000 in 2000 to 5,135,000 in 2020. This trend suggests that the number of Catholics in the region will continue to decrease in the future.
In conclusion, the decline of Catholicism in South America is evident through the decreasing number of adherents, baptisms, and marriages. The rise of Protestantism, the influence of secularism, and a loss of trust in the Catholic Church have all contributed to this decline. While Catholicism remains socially ingrained in Latin American culture, its influence on the region's policies and national identities is waning.
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Frequently asked questions
The percentage of South Americans who identify as Catholic varies across different countries. According to a 2020 Latinobarómetro survey, 57% of Latin Americans identify as Catholic. However, this number is declining, with a 2024 survey by M&R Consultadores finding that 36.2% of Latin Americans identify as Catholic. In countries like Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina, more than three-quarters of the population is Catholic. On the other hand, countries with large Amerindian populations, such as Bolivia and Peru, have a syncretism of indigenous religions and Catholicism.
The Catholic population in South America has been declining in recent years. The percentage of Latin Americans identifying as Catholic dropped from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020, according to Latinobarómetro. This decline is attributed to religious switching, with many people moving towards Protestantism or becoming irreligious.
The decline of Catholicism in South America can be attributed to several factors. One factor is the growth of other religious groups, especially evangelical Christians and Pentecostals. Additionally, there has been a rise in the number of irreligious people, with an increasing number of South Americans identifying as atheists or agnostics. Trust in the Catholic Church has also decreased due to various scandals and accusations of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.
