Grace Thompson
Colombia is a secular country with freedom of religion enshrined in its 1991 constitution. While Colombia does not have an official religion, Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith, with an estimated 73% of the population identifying as Catholic in 2022. Introduced by Spanish colonists in the 16th century, Catholicism has become deeply ingrained in Colombian culture and society. The Catholic Church was once the official religion and owned about a quarter of the country's productive land. Today, it continues to exert influence in various aspects of Colombian life, from politics and social issues to language and daily phrases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Colombia that is Catholic | 70.9% to 79% (2014 est.), 73% (2022 est.) |
| Percentage of Colombia that is Christian | 90% |
| Percentage of Colombia that is Protestant | 13% to 15% (2014 est.), 14% (2022 est.) |
| Percentage of Colombia that is atheist or agnostic | 4.7% |
| Percentage of Colombia that believes in God but does not follow a specific religion | 3.5% |
| Percentage of Colombia that adheres to Jehovah's Witnesses and Adventism | 1.8% |
| Percentage of Colombia that adheres to other religions | Less than 1% |
| Percentage of Colombia that did not respond or replied that they did not know | 5% |
| Percentage of Colombia that does not actively practice their faith | 35.9% |
| Percentage of Colombia that reported following an Indigenous religion | 3% |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the dominant faith in Colombia
Colombia has some of the highest rates of Catholic baptism in the world, and the Church's influence is felt in almost all aspects of life, including politics, society, and the economy. Many Colombians consider the Pope to be the ultimate source of leadership and advice, and base their attitudes and opinions on social issues on the teachings of the Church. The practice of confession, for example, is a well-recognised way of seeking forgiveness for one's sins. This is particularly important in a country with a turbulent history, where many believe there is a connection between their actions in life and their treatment in the afterlife.
Catholicism is also deeply infused in the public life of Colombia, as can be seen in the language. Common phrases such as "Si dios quiere" (God willing), "Dios te bendiga" (God bless you), and "Gracias a dios" (thank God) are used frequently in everyday conversation. The Church has also played an important role in advocating for humanitarian relief during peace negotiations between the government and illegal armed groups, and in facilitating the resolution of kidnapping cases.
While Colombia is a secular country that guarantees freedom of religion, the influence of Catholicism is evident in its history, culture, and society. The country has been re-consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Colombian president also identifies as Catholic. While there has been a movement towards Protestantism in recent decades, with an estimated 14% of the population identifying as Protestant in 2022, Catholicism remains the dominant faith in Colombia.
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Colombia is a secular country
Despite this, Colombia remains a mostly Catholic country by baptism numbers, with an estimated 73% of the population nominally Catholic in 2022. Other estimates place the figure at 70.9%, 79%, or even as high as 90%. The Catholic Church is deeply culturally pervasive in Colombia, with many Colombians' lives marked by seminal Catholic moments such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and extreme unction. The Church also has influence in almost all aspects of life, from politics to economics. Many Colombians base their attitudes and opinions on social issues on the creed of the Church, and the Pope is seen as the ultimate source of leadership and advice.
However, there is a significant Protestant minority, estimated at 14% or 16.7% of the population, with a smaller percentage of Colombians adhering to other religions such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Hinduism, and Rastafari. Around 3% of the population follows an indigenous religion, and 4.7% are atheist or agnostic.
The Colombian government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, and accurate reports are difficult to obtain. However, the Ministry of Interior is responsible for formally recognizing churches, religious denominations, and religious federations, and associations of religious ministers. The government has also demonstrated a commitment to protecting the freedom of religion, with the Ministry of the Interior requesting assistance from the National Police to prevent attacks on the Muslim community following a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
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73% of Colombians are Catholic
Catholicism was introduced to Colombia by Spanish colonists in the 16th century and was the country's official religion until the 1991 constitutional reform. Even though Colombia is now a secular country, Catholicism remains the dominant faith, with an estimated 73% of the national population identifying as Catholic in 2022. This is reflected in the country's culture and language, with many common phrases referencing God and the Catholic Church, such as "Si dios quiere" (God willing), "Dios te bendiga" (God bless you), and "Gracias a dios" (thank God).
The Catholic Church in Colombia is deeply culturally pervasive, with many Colombians raised in the Catholic faith and marking key life events with Catholic rites of passage such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and extreme unction. The Church also has influence in various public institutions, including teaching and health facilities. Additionally, the Church owns a significant amount of land in the country, further solidifying its presence in Colombia.
Colombia has some of the highest rates of Catholic baptism in the world, and the Church continues to play an active role in society. For example, the Catholic Church supported peace negotiations between the Petro government and the ELN, advocating for humanitarian relief for communities. The Church also serves as a facilitator in resolving cases of kidnapping by illegal armed groups.
While Catholicism is the dominant religion, Colombia also has a significant Protestant population, primarily Evangelical, representing around 14% of the population in 2022. There is also a small Eastern Orthodox presence in the country, as well as a small number of adherents to other religions such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and indigenous religions. Atheists and agnostics make up around 4.7% of the population, while 3.5% believe in God but do not follow a specific religion.
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The Catholic Church was the official religion until 1991
The Catholic Church was introduced to Colombia by Spanish colonists in the 16th century and remained the official religion until 1991. It has since become synonymous with the culture and society of Colombia. For many Colombians, life is marked by seminal Catholic moments, such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and extreme unction. These rites of passage mark key turning points throughout one's lifetime.
Colombia has some of the highest rates of Catholic baptism in the world. The church has had an influence in almost all aspects of life, including the political, social, and economic spheres. Many Colombians consider the Pope to be the ultimate source of leadership and advice, basing their attitudes and opinions on social issues on the creed of the church. A survey in 2014 found that 93% of Colombians viewed Pope Francis favourably. The Catholic Church in Colombia is organised into 13 ecclesiastical provinces, subdivided into 13 archdioceses and 52 dioceses, and a Maronite apostolic exarchate.
The 1991 Colombian Constitution disestablished the Catholic Church as the state religion and guaranteed freedom of religion. This was a significant shift, as it meant that all religious faiths and churches would be treated equally before the law. The Constitution includes two articles providing for freedom of worship: Article 13 states that "all people are legally born free and equal" and are not to be subjected to discrimination based on their "sex, race, national or familial origin, language, religion, political or philosophical opinion"; Article 19 expressly guarantees freedom of religion, stating that "every person has the right to freely profess his religion and to disseminate it individually or collectively."
Despite the official recognition of freedom of religion, Colombia remains a predominantly Catholic country. In 2022, it was estimated that 73% of the national population identified as nominally Catholic. Various studies and surveys suggest that about 90% of Colombians adhere to Christianity, with the majority of those (ranging from 70.9% to 79%) being Catholic. However, it is important to note that the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) does not collect religious statistics, so accurate reports are difficult to obtain.
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Catholicism is deeply culturally pervasive in Colombia
For many Colombians, life is marked by seminal Catholic moments such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and extreme unction. These rites of passage are turning points in one's lifetime. The country has some of the highest rates of Catholic baptism in the world. The Catholic Church also has a presence in many public institutions, such as teaching and health facilities.
The Church's influence is seen in the language, with phrases like "Si dios quiere" (God willing), "Dios te bendiga" (God bless you), and "Gracias a dios" (thank God) commonly used in daily conversation. Many Colombians also believe in a connection between their actions in life and the treatment they will receive after death, leading to a culture of forgiveness and the practice of confession.
Catholicism is also politically influential. The Church has supported peace negotiations between the government and illegal armed groups, and many people consider the Pope to be the ultimate source of leadership and advice, shaping their attitudes and opinions on social issues.
In addition to its cultural and political influence, Catholicism is also an essential part of Colombia's national identity. The country is often referred to as the Country of the Sacred Heart due to its annual consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that between 70.9% and 79% of Colombians identify as Catholic.
Protestantism is the second-largest religion in Colombia, making up 14% of the population.
Around 4.7% of Colombians are atheists or agnostics, while 3.5% believe in God but do not follow a specific religion.
