Michael Brooks
Catholicism is the predominant religion in Costa Rica, with approximately 2.3 million Catholics, making up 47% of the total population. The country is divided into eight dioceses and one archdiocese, and the Catholic Church in Costa Rica is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The history of the Catholic Church in Costa Rica dates back to the fourth and final voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1502, when Fray Alejandre, a priest, first set foot in the country. The Catholic Church was established as the state religion in the country's first constitution, the Pact of Concord, and has been recognised as such in all subsequent constitutions, with the exception of the Decree of Basis and Guarantees. The Costa Rican government generally upholds religious freedom in practice, and the constitution provides for freedom of religion and the free exercise of religions that do not impugn universal morality or proper behaviour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Predominant Religion | Christianity |
| Largest Denomination | Catholicism |
| State Religion | Catholicism |
| Religious Freedom | Guaranteed by the Constitution |
| Religious Marriages Without a Lawyer | Only Catholic marriages are legal without a lawyer |
| Tax Exemption | Only the Catholic Church is tax-exempt |
| State Funding | Only the Catholic Church receives state funds |
| Religious Affiliation | 27% of Costa Ricans identify as Catholic |
| Catholic Population | 2.3 million |
| Number of Dioceses | 8 |
| Number of Archdioceses | 1 |
| Catholic Instruction in Schools | Not mandatory, but requires exemption |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the official state religion
The roots of Catholicism in Costa Rica can be traced back to the fourth and final voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1502. Fray Alejandre, who travelled with Columbus, is said to be the first priest to set foot on the continent. In 1508, Christianity slowly spread along the coasts of the Pacific. The first diocese erected on the Central American isthmus was Nuestra Señora de Santa María de la Antigua del Darién in 1513, with Franciscan Juan de Quevedo appointed bishop. Gil González Dávila and Diego de Agüero were the first to enter the area that would become Costa Rica, and their catechism activity led to the baptism of 32,264 people between 1522 and 1524.
Costa Rica's first constitution, the Pact of Concord, established Catholicism as the country's religion, banning all other religions except for foreigners who were in transit or for commerce. They could practice their religion as long as they did not proselytise. The 1825 Fundamental Law of the State of Costa Rica, as part of the Federal Republic of Central America, also established Catholicism as the state religion. However, in 1835, the Federal Constitution was reformed, granting freedom of religion and making the Central American Federation a secular state.
Despite Catholicism being the official state religion, the government generally upholds people's religious freedom in practice. Costa Rica is one of the few Western countries that has established Catholicism as its state religion. The country is divided into eight dioceses and one archdiocese. Catholic instruction is provided to children in public schools, although it is not mandatory.
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Costa Rica's religious landscape
Christianity is the predominant religion in Costa Rica, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. The country's constitution recognises Roman Catholicism as the state religion, and the government is required to contribute to the Catholic Church's maintenance. Catholicism is also the only religion whose marriages are automatically legal without the need for a lawyer. The country is divided into eight dioceses and one archdiocese, with around 2.3 million Catholics, comprising 47% of the population.
The earliest appearance of the Christian religion in Costa Rica dates back to the fourth and final voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1502. Christianity slowly spread along the Pacific coasts after 1508. The first diocese erected on the Central American isthmus was Nuestra Señora de Santa María de la Antigua del Darién in 1513, with Franciscan Juan de Quevedo appointed bishop. Gil González Dávila and Diego de Agüero were the first to enter the area that would become Costa Rica, and their activity led to the baptism of 32,264 people between 1522 and 1524.
Despite Catholicism being the state religion, Costa Rica's constitution grants freedom of religion, and the government generally upholds and respects this in practice. The constitution prohibits the state from impeding the free exercise of religions that do not impugn "universal morality or proper behaviour", and provides redress in cases of alleged violations of religious freedom. The Costa Rican Interreligious Forum encourages interreligious dialogue among religious groups, with participation from Catholic, evangelical Christian, Protestant, Lutheran, Jewish, Baha'i, Buddhist, and Indigenous faiths.
Evangelism is the most common religious affiliation in Costa Rica, with almost 55% of respondents in a 2023 survey identifying as such. The second most chosen religion was Catholicism, with nearly 27% of people interviewed. Other religious groups in the country include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jews, Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, members of the Unification Church, and followers of Islam, Taoism, and the Baha'i Faith, among others.
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Religious freedom in Costa Rica
Catholicism is the predominant religion in Costa Rica, and it is recognized as the state religion in the country's constitution. However, Costa Rica generally upholds religious freedom in practice. The constitution prohibits the state from impeding the free exercise of religions that do not impugn "universal morality or proper behavior," and provides redress for violations of religious freedom. While the Catholic Church enjoys certain privileges, such as tax exemption and state funding, the government generally respects the freedom to practice other religions as well.
The religious landscape of Costa Rica has evolved over time. During colonial times, the Catholic Church had less influence in Costa Rica compared to other parts of the Spanish Empire due to its rural and distant location. After independence, Costa Rica's first constitution, the Pact of Concord, established Catholicism as the official religion while banning other religions. However, subsequent constitutions granted freedom of religion and secularized the state. Today, while Catholicism remains the state religion, other religions are also practiced freely.
In terms of religious demographics, approximately 47% of Costa Ricans identify as Catholics, while about 19% are evangelical Christians, and 1% belong to other Protestant denominations. There are also small populations of Jews, Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, Muslims, Taoists, Baha'i Faith followers, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others.
The Costa Rican Interreligious Forum plays a crucial role in promoting interreligious dialogue and engagement among various faiths, including Catholic, evangelical Christian, Protestant, Lutheran, Jewish, Baha'i, Buddhist, and Indigenous faiths. The forum encourages religious leaders to discuss religious freedom and respect for religious diversity. Additionally, U.S. embassy representatives actively engage with religious leaders and government officials to discuss policies, legislative initiatives, and social issues pertaining to religious freedom and diversity in Costa Rica.
While Costa Rica generally upholds religious freedom, there have been instances of religious discrimination. For example, there were lawsuits filed in the Supreme Court based on religious discrimination, such as a case involving a Seventh-day Adventist student's exam schedule and another case concerning a student's objection to wearing a school uniform with a religious symbol. Additionally, Jewish community leaders have reported instances of antisemitic comments and social media posts, reflecting a need for continued dialogue and respect for religious diversity.
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Catholic instruction in public schools
Catholicism is the official state religion in Costa Rica, and the government is required by the constitution to contribute to the Catholic Church's maintenance. The constitution also guarantees freedom of religion, and the government generally upholds religious freedom in practice.
Catholic instruction is given to children in public schools in Costa Rica. While it is not mandatory, students who wish to be exempted from religious instruction must have their teacher, parents, and school director agree on an alternative form of instruction during the time allotted for religious studies. This has led to some complaints from religious leaders, as children may be required to remain in the classroom during Catholic instruction due to a lack of resources to provide other instruction.
The history of religious education in Costa Rica has been influenced by the country's religious landscape and cultural values. During the 19th century, religious neutrality was introduced in public schools, where students were taught about different religions but were not required to practice any of them. This led to an increase in the number of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews within the Costa Rican population. In the 20th century, there was a growing trend of interculturalism and religious education in the country.
Today, there are several models of religious education that coexist in Costa Rican institutions. One model, "religious instruction should be given at school," has been dominant since the 1940s. The Catholic religion is the only religion taught in public schools and high schools. Religion classes are mandatory for Catholic students, but there has been an increase in agnostic students who do not attend these classes. This has sparked debate among legislators about whether to eliminate religious education from public schools entirely.
The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) in Costa Rica promotes a culture of dialogue and peace among different religious groups. While the MEP affirms that the religious education curriculum is meant to foster moral values and respect for human rights rather than promote a specific religious doctrine, there have been legal disputes regarding religious freedom in schools. For example, there was a case involving a Seventh-day Adventist student who was not allowed to reschedule an exam that fell on a Saturday. In another instance, a student attending a public school objected to wearing the school uniform, which displayed a picture of the Virgin Mary, citing that it went against her beliefs relating to the display of idols.
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Early Christianization
The early Christianization of Costa Rica began with the arrival of Christopher Columbus on his fourth and final voyage in 1502. Fray Alejandre, a priest travelling with Columbus, became the first priest to set foot on the continent. After 1508, Christianity slowly spread along the coasts of the Pacific. The first diocese in Central America was Nuestra Señora de Santa María de la Antigua del Darién, established in 1513 with Franciscan Juan de Quevedo as bishop. Gil González Dávila and Diego de Agüero were the first to catechize in the area that would become Costa Rica and Nicaragua, baptizing 32,264 people between 1522 and 1524.
In 1526, the iconoclastic priest Diego de Escobar celebrated his first Holy Week in the New World on the island of Chira. His zeal in destroying native idols created animosity towards Christians, making later evangelization difficult. Despite this, early priests continued to penetrate hostile regions, armed with nothing more than a crucifix. This zeal resulted in the first Costa Rican martyr, Juan Pizarro, in 1581.
In 1564, Juan Vásquez de Coronado and a group of settlers founded Cartago, replacing native populations that had been decimated by diseases introduced by earlier colonization attempts. Conquistadores and priests also entered the territory of Talamanca, lured by rumors of gold deposits and a large native population. The city of Santiago de Talamanca, founded in 1605, was later destroyed by the natives, and its inhabitants were massacred.
During colonial times, the Catholic Church in Costa Rica had less power and influence than in other parts of the Spanish Empire due to its distance from the local capital and rural nature. This may have contributed to the liberal hegemony and lack of conservative-liberal wars uncommon in Latin America.
After Central America gained independence, Costa Rica's first constitution, the Pact of Concord, established Catholicism as the official religion, banning all other religions except for foreigners transiting or conducting commerce. The 1825 Fundamental Law of the State of Costa Rica, as part of the Federal Republic of Central America, reaffirmed Catholicism as the state religion while granting freedom of religion. However, in 1835, the Federal Constitution was reformed, making the Central American Federation a secular state.
Today, Costa Rica remains the only state in the Americas with a state religion, and its constitution continues to recognize Roman Catholicism as such. However, the constitution also guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the state from impeding the free exercise of other faiths.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Costa Rica is a Catholic country with Catholicism as its state religion.
The earliest appearance of Christianity in Costa Rica dates back to Christopher Columbus's fourth voyage in 1502. The priest Fray Alejandre, who travelled with Columbus, was the first of his faith to set foot in the country. In 1508, Christianity began to spread along the Pacific coasts and the first diocese was erected in 1513.
According to a 2023 survey, 27% of Costa Ricans identify as Catholic, making it the second most common religion in the country after Evangelism (55%). Another source places the figure at 47%.
Catholic instruction is given to children in public schools, but it is not mandatory. If a student wants an exemption, an alternative form of instruction must be agreed upon by the student's teacher, parents, and the school director.
The Catholic Church is the only religious organisation in Costa Rica that can be tax-exempt and receive state funds and property transfers. Marriages performed by the Catholic Church are the only ones that are legal without the need for a lawyer. The Church also has the right to engage in the political process.
