Ethan Walker
Uruguay is a secular country with no official religion, and the state and church have been formally separated since the Constitution of 1917 or 1918. Despite this, various denominations of Christianity are practised in Uruguay, with the Catholic Church being the largest denomination. According to different sources and surveys conducted between 2008 and 2023, the percentage of Uruguay's population that identifies as Catholic ranges from 39% to 47%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are Roman Catholics | 39% (as of 2010) to 47% (as of 2008) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are Evangelical Protestants | 11% (as of 2010) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are non-religious | 44.5% (as of 2021) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are Christian | 57% (as of 2014) to 58.1% (as of 2008) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are religious but unaffiliated | 37% (as of 2014) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who believe in a god but do not belong to any religion | 30.1% (as of 2008) |
| Percentage of Uruguayans who are agnostic or atheist | 14% (as of 2008) |
| Separation of Church and State | Yes (since 1917/1918) |
| Religious Freedom | Yes |
| Discrimination on Religious Grounds | Illegal |
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What You'll Learn
Uruguay's religious landscape
Uruguay is a secular country with no official religion, and the state and church have been formally separated since the Constitution of 1917 or 1918. The country's constitution provides for freedom of religion, and any discrimination based on religion is illegal. Uruguay is considered the most secular nation in the Americas, with around 44.5% of the population being non-religious as of 2021.
Christianity is the dominant religion in Uruguay, with the Catholic Church being its largest denomination. According to a 2008 survey, 47% of the total population practices Catholicism, making it the main religion in the country. However, less than half of the Catholic population attends mass regularly, with higher attendance in rural areas, among women, and in the upper class. Other sources provide different estimates of the Catholic population, ranging from 39% in 2010 to 42% in 2014.
Protestants make up a significant minority, with around 11% of the population identifying as Evangelical Protestants in 2010 and 15% in 2014. Other Christian denominations are also present, including Anglicans, who built the first Anglican Church in Uruguay in 1844.
Judaism, Umbanda, and other religions have a notable presence in Uruguay, although their numbers are relatively small. Buddhism has a growing presence, particularly within the Indian community, and there are several Yoga organizations that spread Indian philosophies and thoughts. Islam and Hinduism have a negligible presence in the country, with a small number of followers.
While Uruguay has a predominantly Christian population and a deep-rooted Christian tradition, the country has taken significant measures to reduce the influence of religion in public life. For example, many Christian holidays, such as Christmas and Holy Week, are recognized as public holidays but are officially known by secular designations.
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Catholicism in Uruguay
Uruguay is a secular country with no official religion. While it is the most secularised country in the Americas, Christianity is the dominant religion, with the Catholic Church being its largest denomination. According to a 2008 survey, 47% of Uruguayans practice Catholicism, making it the main religion in the country. However, less than half of the Catholic population attends mass regularly, with higher attendance in rural areas, among women, and in the upper class. Other sources give a figure of 42% for the proportion of the population that identifies as Catholic.
Uruguay has a long history of religious freedom and separation of church and state. The Constitution of Uruguay, which dates back to 1917 or 1918, enshrines freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination. It states that the "state supports no religion". The National Institute of Human Rights, part of the parliament, hears complaints of religious discrimination and conducts investigations. Religious groups can register as non-profit organisations to receive tax breaks.
Various religious orders are present in Uruguay, some of which arrived during colonial times, such as the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (since 1896) and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (since 1929). There are two Eastern Catholic churches in the country: the Armenian Catholic Church and the Maronite Church. While the majority of Uruguayans do not actively practice a religion, they are nominally members of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church in Uruguay is organised into nine dioceses and an archdiocese, the Archdiocese of Montevideo, led by Archbishop Daniel Sturla. The country has one native saint, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, who is revered at the Cathedral Basilica of Florida. Several beatification processes are also underway. Catholicism in Uruguay has produced several notable figures, including the country's first and second cardinals, Antonio Barbieri and Daniel Sturla, respectively.
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Religious freedom in Uruguay
Uruguay has no official religion, and its constitution provides for freedom of religion. The country's constitution also affirms that the state does not endorse any specific religion. Uruguay is the most secularised country in the Americas, and it has implemented significant measures to reduce the influence of religion in public life. For example, while Christmas and Holy Week are recognised as public holidays, they are officially known by secular designations.
Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uruguay enshrines freedom of worship, making any discrimination based on religion punishable by law and obligating the government to ensure the protection of this freedom. The National Institute of Human Rights, part of the parliament, hears complaints of religious discrimination and conducts investigations. This institute also provides free legal resources to complainants.
In 2023, Uruguay was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House, a US government-funded think tank. However, religious organisations have emphasised the need for more channels of communication and opportunities for dialogue with the government to discuss issues related to religious freedom. There have been reports of antisemitic social media commentary, particularly during public events involving the Jewish community, and surges in antisemitism after the October 2022 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Members of the Muslim community have also reported difficulties in getting employers in the private sector to respect prayer times and allow time off for Friday prayers.
In 2022, an Afro-Umbandist group filed a complaint with the National Institution of Human Rights and Defense of the People (INDDHH), reporting a violation of religious freedom after police raided and interrupted a religious ritual involving animal sacrifice. In April 2023, another Afro-Umbandist group filed a complaint with the National Institution of Human Rights and Ombudsman (INDDHH) against the Maldonado Department's government after local inspectors interrupted a religious ritual involving the use of drums in response to noise complaints.
Embassy officials have met with representatives of various religious groups, including Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and others, to discuss the government's position toward religion and religious freedom issues.
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Secularization in Uruguay
Uruguay is considered the most secular country in the Americas. While Christianity is the dominant religion, with the Catholic Church being its largest denomination, around 44.5% of the population is non-religious as of 2021. The country has no official religion, with the Constitution of 1918 establishing the separation of church and state. However, secularization measures had already been implemented by the 1870s.
Historically, the Catholic Church had less influence in Uruguay during the Spanish colonial period compared to other Hispanic regions due to the relatively small number of indigenous peoples. Catholicism was more easily introduced to Spaniards and mestizos, and until the first half of the nineteenth century, the church regulated the state and various institutions, as was the case in other Latin American countries.
The process of secularization in Uruguay was influenced by various factors. One factor was the resistance of the indigenous population to evangelization, which prevented the establishment of religion during the colonial era. Additionally, educated Uruguayans were influenced by skeptical European writers and ancient Greek philosophy, adopting secular and humanist political views. The Colorado Party, which governed during the mid-1860s, also played a role with its secular reforms, including civil marriage and a focus on technological and urban development.
In 1877, José Pedro Varela advocated for secular education in Uruguay, which was supported by the educated elite despite opposition from Catholic leaders. Secularization measures continued in the early 20th century with the leadership of José Batlle y Ordóñez, who allowed women to divorce and banned religious symbols from children's hospitals. The complete separation of church and state was enshrined in the Constitution of 1917 or 1918, with Uruguay becoming a secular republic.
Despite its secular nature, Uruguay still recognizes Christian holidays such as Christmas and Holy Week as public holidays. However, these are officially known by secular designations, such as "Tourism Week" for Holy Week. Uruguay also guarantees freedom of worship and protects against religious discrimination, with religious groups being able to register as nonprofit organizations to receive tax breaks.
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Other religions in Uruguay
Uruguay is a secular country with no official religion, and it upholds freedom of worship. While Christianity is the dominant religion, with the Catholic Church being the largest denomination, a significant proportion of the population is non-religious.
A 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 57% of the population has a Christian background, with 42% identifying as Catholic and 15% as Protestant. The same survey also revealed that 37% of respondents were religious but unaffiliated, and 6% belonged to other religions, including Baha'is, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the Valdense Church, Afro-Umbandists (a blend of Catholicism with African and Indigenous traditions), the Unification Church, and Brahma Kumaris.
Judaism is another notable religion in Uruguay, followed by Umbanda, although the number of followers of Umbanda is considerably smaller. Other world religions such as Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism have a negligible presence in the country. According to a 2010 study by Latinobarómetro, 3% of the population practices religions other than Christianity, including Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam.
Uruguay has taken significant measures to reduce the influence of religion in public life. Religious instruction is prohibited in public schools, and while these schools close for Christian holidays, the government does not refer to them by their religious names. Students from other religious backgrounds are allowed to miss classes to observe their religious traditions without penalty.
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Frequently asked questions
Christianity is the dominant religion in Uruguay, with the Catholic Church being its largest denomination.
The percentage of Uruguayans who identify as Catholic varies across sources and over time. According to a 2008 survey, 47% of the total population practiced Catholicism. A 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center reported a lower percentage, with 42% of the population identifying as Catholic. A 2010 study by Latinobarómetro found that 39% of Uruguayans are Roman Catholics.
Uruguay is a secular country with no official religion. The Constitution of Uruguay provides for the freedom of religion and states that "the State supports no religion." It is considered the most secular nation in the Americas, with around 44.5% of the population being non-religious as of 2021.
