Joshua Bennett
While Catholicism remains the largest religious group among Latinos in the United States, the percentage of Latinos who identify as Catholic has been declining. In 2010, 67% of Latino adults identified as Catholic, but this figure dropped to 43% in 2022. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger Latinos, with 64% of Hispanics being born and raised in the United States. Despite this decline, the share of U.S. Catholic adults who are Hispanic is growing, with about a third of U.S. Catholics identifying as Hispanic. This shift has implications for the profile of Catholic Americans, as Hispanic Catholics tend to be younger and more devout in their religious practices compared to White Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of U.S. Catholics who are Hispanic | 33-36% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who are under 50 | 44% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who are over 50 | 21% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who go to confession at least once a year | 28% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who wear or carry religious items with them at least monthly | 56% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who practice devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favorite saint at least monthly | 50% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who pray the rosary monthly | 37% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who light candles or incense for religious or spiritual reasons at least once a month | 25% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Catholics who read the Bible at least monthly | 26% |
| Percentage of U.S. Hispanics who are former Catholics | 14-24% |
| Percentage of U.S. Latinos who are Catholic | 43-55% |
| Percentage of U.S. Latinos who were raised Catholic | 65% |
| Percentage of U.S. Latinos who are religiously unaffiliated | 13-15% |
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What You'll Learn
36% of US Catholics are Hispanic
According to a 2025 study, 36% of all Catholic adults in the United States are Hispanic, up from 29% in 2007. This growing demographic is a distinctive part of American Catholic religious life, with unique practices and beliefs that set them apart from White Catholics.
Hispanic Catholics are more inclined to participate in a variety of Catholic devotional practices. For example, they are more likely to wear or carry religious items (56% vs. 39%), practice devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favourite saint (46% vs. 31%), pray the rosary (37% vs. 22%), and light candles or incense for spiritual reasons (26% vs. 11%). They are also more likely to attend Mass conducted in Spanish and go to confession at least once a year (28% vs. 20%).
The growth in the number of Hispanic Catholics in the US is attributed to immigration and higher birth rates within the community. However, it is important to note that the percentage of Hispanics who identify as Catholic has been declining. This is due to religious switching, with many Hispanics leaving the Catholic Church for evangelical Protestantism or atheism. Despite these shifts, the absolute number of Hispanic Catholics continues to grow, and they represent an increasingly large share of US Catholics.
The Catholic Church in the United States needs to adapt to these changes. Some suggest that the Church should focus on supporting youth and families at the local level and improving pastoral outreach to better retain second-generation Hispanics and address their unique needs.
In conclusion, the fact that 36% of US Catholics are Hispanic has significant implications for the Catholic Church in the United States. It highlights the diverse nature of American Catholicism and the need for the Church to evolve its practices and outreach to cater to the growing and dynamic Hispanic Catholic community.
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Hispanic Catholics are younger
About a third of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic, and this number is growing. In 2007, 29% of Catholic adults in the United States were Hispanic, and this number rose to 36% in 2025. The share of U.S. Catholics who are White has dropped by 8 percentage points since 2007, while the share who are Hispanic has increased by 4 points. This shift has implications for the profile of Catholic Americans, as White Catholics and Hispanic Catholics differ in various ways.
One notable difference is that Hispanic Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics. While nearly six-in-ten Catholic adults (58%) are ages 50 and older, fewer than half of Hispanic Catholics (43%) fall into this age group. Additionally, only 14% of Hispanic Catholics are 65 and older, compared to 38% of White Catholics. These statistics suggest that the future of Catholicism in the United States may be increasingly influenced by the Hispanic community.
The younger demographic of Hispanic Catholics is also reflected in their religious practices. Hispanic Catholics are more likely than White Catholics to participate in various Catholic devotional practices. For example, they are more likely to wear or carry religious items (56% vs. 39%), practice devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favorite saint (46% vs. 31%), pray the rosary (37% vs. 22%), and light candles or incense for spiritual reasons (26% vs. 11%). These practices are often associated with more traditional and frequent religious observance, which may be more common among younger, more devout Catholics.
However, it is important to note that the religious landscape among U.S. Hispanics is changing. While Catholicism remains the largest religious group within Latino communities, its share among Latino adults has been steadily declining. In 2010, 67% of Latino adults identified as Catholic, but this number dropped to 43% in 2022. This decline coincides with an increasing number of younger Latino adults who are religiously unaffiliated.
The shift away from Catholicism among younger Hispanics is also evident in their religious switching patterns. Many Latinos switch from their childhood religion, and Catholicism has seen the greatest losses due to religious switching among Hispanics. While about two-thirds of Hispanic adults (65%) say they were raised Catholic, only 43% currently identify as Catholic. Additionally, among Hispanic immigrants who have changed their religion, roughly half say this change occurred after moving to the U.S. This suggests that the cultural and religious environment in the U.S. may be influencing the religious choices of young Hispanics.
In conclusion, while Hispanic Catholics make up a significant and growing proportion of U.S. Catholics, they tend to be younger than their White Catholic counterparts. This younger demographic is reflected in their religious practices and devotion. However, the declining affiliation with Catholicism among younger Hispanics and their religious switching patterns present challenges for the Catholic Church in the United States. To address these challenges, the Church needs to focus on better supporting the youth and families at the local level and improving pastoral outreach to the second generation of Hispanics born in the United States.
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More devout than White Catholics
Hispanic Catholics make up about a third of all Catholic adults in the United States, a proportion that has been increasing over the years. In 2020, they constituted 8% of all Christians in the country and 33% of Catholics. In the South, 45% of Catholics are Hispanic, while in the West, they make up 58% of Catholics, outnumbering White Catholics.
Hispanic Catholics tend to be more devout than their White counterparts. They are more likely to engage in various Catholic devotional practices and consider them essential to their Catholic identity. For instance, they are more inclined to wear or carry religious items (56% vs. 39%), practice devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favourite saint (46% vs. 31%), pray the rosary (37% vs. 22%), and light candles or incense for spiritual reasons (26% vs. 11%). They are also more likely to attend Mass in Spanish and go to confession at least once a year (28% vs. 20%).
Hispanic Catholics are also more likely to associate their faith with social and political issues. They consider caring for immigrants (47% vs. 20%), protecting the environment (43% vs. 24%), and helping the poor and needy (55% vs. 34%) as integral parts of their Catholic identity. Politically, 56% of Hispanic Catholic voters identify with or lean towards the Democratic Party, compared to 36% of White Catholic voters.
However, it is important to note that the retention of Hispanic Catholics in the Church is a challenge. While Hispanic migration has been associated with a growing Catholic population in the US, a significant portion of the second generation and beyond tend to leave the faith, often moving towards Evangelical Protestantism or atheism. This trend is attributed to inadequate pastoral outreach and a focus on immigrant populations rather than those born and raised in the US.
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Less likely to take Communion
Despite the fact that Hispanic Catholics are as likely as White Catholics to attend Mass weekly, they are much less likely to say they regularly receive Communion. While 56% of White Catholics receive Communion every time they attend Mass, only 21% of Hispanic Catholics do the same. About a third of Hispanic Catholics say they take Communion only some of the time they attend Mass (35%), and roughly a quarter say they never receive the Eucharist (27%).
There are several reasons why Hispanic Catholics may be less likely to take Communion. One reason could be that they feel a sense of unworthiness or feel like they need to have gone to confession beforehand, as suggested by some users on Reddit. This could be due to a higher awareness of the rules and guidelines surrounding Communion among Hispanic Catholics, as well as a desire to be devout and respectful. Additionally, some Hispanic Catholics may have irregular marriages or relationships that disqualify them from receiving Communion according to Catholic doctrine.
Another factor could be the language barrier. Hispanic Catholics are more likely to attend Mass conducted in Spanish, and there may be a perception that receiving Communion during a Spanish Mass is less acceptable or less common. This could be due to a variety of factors, including cultural differences, a lack of understanding of the rules, or a desire to adhere to traditional practices.
Furthermore, Hispanic Catholics have a distinctive social and demographic profile that sets them apart from White Catholics. A significant portion of Hispanic Catholics are immigrants or the children of immigrants, and they may face unique challenges and circumstances that could influence their participation in Communion. Additionally, Hispanic Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics, with fewer than half (43%) being over the age of 50, compared to about two-thirds (68%) of White Catholics.
It's worth noting that the share of U.S. Catholic adults who are Hispanic is growing. In 2023, 36% of all Catholic adults in the United States were Hispanic, up from 29% in 2007. However, there are concerns that the percentage of Hispanics who are Catholic is declining due to secularization and inadequate pastoral outreach to second-generation Hispanics.
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More likely to go to confession
About a third of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic, and this number is growing. Hispanic Catholics are more likely to practice devotions than White Catholics, but they are less likely to take Communion at Mass.
Hispanic Catholics are more likely to go to confession at least once a year than White Catholics. 28% of Hispanic Catholics say they go to confession at least once a year, compared to 20% of White Catholics. This may be because Hispanic Catholics are more likely to consider certain items essential to their Catholic identity. For example, 76% of Hispanic Catholics believe that having a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" is essential to being Catholic, compared to 65% of White Catholics. Similarly, 63% of Hispanic Catholics view "devotion to the Virgin Mary" as essential, while only 42% of White Catholics agree.
Hispanic Catholics are also more likely to engage in other Catholic devotional practices. For instance, 56% of Hispanic Catholics regularly wear or carry religious items, compared to 39% of White Catholics. Additionally, 46% of Hispanic Catholics practice devotions to the Virgin Mary or a favorite saint at least monthly, while only 31% of White Catholics do the same. Hispanic Catholics are also more likely to pray the rosary (37% vs. 22%) and light candles or incense for spiritual or religious reasons (26% vs. 11%).
The higher rate of confession among Hispanic Catholics may be related to their stronger devotion to specific aspects of the Catholic faith. It's worth noting that the share of U.S. Hispanics who are Catholic is declining, and the Church is facing challenges in retaining the second generation of Hispanic immigrants and those born in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
About a third of US Catholics are Hispanic. This number has been increasing, up from 29% in 2007 to 36% in 2025.
While most US Latinos (65%) say they were raised Catholic, only 43% identify as Catholic as of 2022. This number is declining, with younger Latinos being more religiously unaffiliated.
The increase in the percentage of Hispanic Catholics in the US is due to the growing number of Hispanic immigrants, who are more likely to be Catholic than US-born Latinos. However, it is important to note that a large portion of these immigrants eventually leave Catholicism, with some switching to evangelical Protestantism or atheism.
