Ethan Walker
Mexico remains a highly religious country, with Catholicism being the dominant religion. In 2020, the Mexican census reported that 78% of the population identified as Catholic, making Mexico the second-largest Catholic country in the world after Brazil. However, the number of Mexican Catholics has been declining in recent decades, with the growth of other Christian denominations such as various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. The percentage of Mexicans who are Catholic has decreased from 82.7% in 2000 and 96% in 1970. Despite the decline, Mexico's strong historical and cultural ties to Catholicism continue to shape its religious landscape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Catholic | 77.7% to 78% (2020 census); 77.8% (other source); 83% (2010 census); 82.7% (2000); 96% (1970); 82% (1960) |
| Number of Catholics in Mexico | 90,224,559 (one source); 97,864,220 (another source) |
| World ranking by number of Catholics | Second, after Brazil |
| Percentage of Mexicans with no religion | 8.1% (2020 census); 8.2% (another source); 4.7% (2010 census) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Protestant | 10% (2020 census); 11% (another source); 10% of those are Pentecostals and Charismatics; 11% (2000 census) |
| States with large Protestant communities | Chiapas and Tabasco |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are evangelical Protestant | 12% (2022); 15% (2022, another source); 10% (Hispanic Democrats) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Jehovah's Witnesses | 0.2% (2020 census); 1.5% (another source) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Mormon | Not found, but part of 10% Protestant population |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Jewish | 0.2% (2020 census); 1.5% (another source) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Muslim | 1.5% (2020 census) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Buddhist | Not found, but part of 0.2% "other religions" in 2020 census |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are Hindu | Not found, but part of 29,985 members of East Asian religions in 2020 census |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 0.3% (2022); 1.5 million (another source) |
| Percentage of Mexicans who are members of Luz del Mundo | 1.2% (2020 census); 1.5 million (another source) |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico
However, the late 19th century saw the rise of liberal movements that sought to reduce the power of the Church, and the Mexican Revolution was largely won by anticlerical Constitutionalists. The Mexican Constitution of 1917 imposed limitations on the Catholic Church and codified state intrusion into religious matters. A new constitutional framework was established in 1992, reiterating the separation of church and state and lifting most restrictions on religious freedom.
In recent decades, the share of Catholics in Mexico has been declining due to the growth of other Christian denominations, particularly various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. However, central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world, and Catholicism continues to permeate the country's physical and cultural landscape. Religious processions, shrines, and celebrations of Christian holidays such as Epiphany, All Saints' Day, and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe are common throughout Mexico.
While Mexico remains a highly religious country, the number of people identifying as non-religious or secular has also been increasing. The complexity of measuring irreligion and atheism in Mexico is due to the secular lifestyle patterns of many Catholics and Protestants. According to the 2020 census, 8.1% of the population reported having no religion, up from 5% in 2010. The states with the highest proportions of non-religious people include Quintana Roo, Baja California, and Mexico City.
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The percentage of Mexicans identifying as Catholic is declining
Mexico remains a highly religious country, with the Catholic Church being the dominant religion. However, the percentage of Mexicans identifying as Catholic is declining. According to the 2020 Mexican government census, approximately 78% of Mexicans identify as Roman Catholic, a decrease from 83% in 2010. The number of Mexican Catholics has been steadily declining, with a 5% drop in the first decade of the 21st century and a further decline in the following years. This decline can be attributed to the growth of other Christian denominations, such as various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism, which now constitute larger shares of the population.
Historically, the Catholic Church in Mexico has had a significant presence since the period of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. During the colonial era, the Church played a major role in the "spiritual conquest" of the indigenous population. After Mexican independence in 1821, the Catholic Church retained its privileged status as the official and unique religion. However, in the mid-19th century, Mexican liberals curtailed the exclusive standing of the Church, and the country adopted a secular stance, allowing freedom of religion.
The Mexican Revolution in the late 19th century was marked by violent conflict between conservative supporters of the Church and liberals seeking to reduce its power. The Revolution resulted in constitutional restrictions on the Catholic Church and its relationship with the state. The 20th century witnessed the expansion of Catholic involvement in religious educational institutions and the formation of a conservative political party, the National Action Party. Despite these efforts, the decline in Catholic affiliation continued, with a notable increase in religious diversity across Mexico.
In recent decades, the growth of Protestant denominations, including Evangelical Protestantism, has been significant. States such as Chiapas and Tabasco have large Protestant communities, and the presence of other religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, is also increasing. While Catholicism remains the dominant religion in mid-sized cities, the proportion of non-religious individuals in these areas is significantly higher than the national average. The complexity of measuring irreligion and atheism in Mexico is worth noting, as many Catholics and Protestants lead secular lifestyles, blurring the boundaries of religious affiliation.
In summary, while Mexico remains predominantly Catholic, the percentage of Mexicans identifying as Catholic is declining. This decline has been accompanied by the growth of other religious denominations and an increase in religious diversity across the country. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Mexican state has also evolved, with constitutional changes reiterating the separation between church and state and guaranteeing religious freedom.
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Mexico has the second-largest number of Catholics in the world
Mexico has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. During this period, the Catholic Church made significant efforts to evangelize the indigenous population, and it has remained an important part of the country's religious landscape ever since.
In terms of numbers, Mexico has the second-largest number of Catholics in the world, with approximately 90-97 million Catholics, according to the 2020 census. This accounts for around 77-78% of the total population of Mexico, which is a slight decrease from 82-83% in 2010. The decline in the percentage of Catholics is due to the growth of other Christian denominations, such as various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. However, Mexico remains a highly religious country, with only 8.1-8.2% of the population reporting that they had no religion at all in the 2020 census.
The Catholic Church in Mexico is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and his Curia in Rome. The Church has a significant presence in the country, with 18 Ecclesiastical provinces and 90 dioceses. There are also separate jurisdictions for specific Eastern particular churches within the Catholic Church in Mexico, such as the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of the Martyrs of Lebanon and the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso in Mexico City.
The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Mexican state has evolved over time. In the early nineteenth century, following independence, Mexico established a legal framework that continued the privileged status of the Catholic Church as the official and unique religion. However, in the mid-nineteenth century, Mexican liberals curtailed the exclusive standing of the Church, and the country adopted a policy of freedom of religion. The Mexican Revolution further restricted the role of the Church in the country, and a new constitutional framework was created in 1992, reiterating the separation between the Church and the state and lifting most restrictions on religious freedom.
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Mexico is a secular country with freedom of religion
Mexico is a secular country that guarantees freedom of religion. The Mexican Constitution provides all persons the right to religious freedom, including the right to engage in religious ceremonies and acts of worship. It also requires that public education be secular and not include religious doctrine. Religious groups are permitted to operate private schools where they can teach religion and hold religious ceremonies, and students are exempt from participating in religious courses and activities if they are not affiliated with the school's religious group.
The country has allowed freedom of religion since the mid-19th century, when Mexican liberals curtailed the exclusive standing of the Catholic Church and Protestant missionaries from the United States were allowed to legally evangelize in Mexico. The Mexican Constitution of 1917 imposed limitations on the Catholic Church and sometimes codified state intrusion into religious matters. In 1992, the constitution was amended to lift almost all restrictions on religion, granting all religious groups legal status and conceding them limited property rights.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Mexico, comprising 91.3% of the population as of the 2020 census. Catholicism is the largest denomination, representing around 78% of the total population, followed by Protestantism at 11%. However, the share of Catholics has been declining in recent decades due to the growth of other Christian denominations, especially various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. Central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world.
Mexico's religious landscape is diverse, with the presence of various religious groups including Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Baha'is, Buddhists, Muslims, and Eastern Orthodox Christians. The country also has a significant number of atheists and irreligious individuals, although their numbers are difficult to measure accurately as many Catholics and Protestants lead secular lifestyles.
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Religious affiliation varies across Mexico's states and cities
Mexico is a secular country that has allowed freedom of religion since the mid-19th century. While Christianity is the predominant religion in Mexico, religious affiliation varies across its states and cities.
Christianity in Mexico
Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity in Mexico, representing around 78% of the total population as of the 2020 census, though this has been declining in recent decades. Mexico has the world's second-largest number of Catholics, only surpassed by Brazil. There are also Eastern Catholic Churches in Mexico, such as the Maronite Catholic Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which exist alongside the Latin Church and are in communion with the pope.
Protestantism is the second-largest Christian denomination in Mexico, with around 11% of the population identifying as Protestant as of the 2000 census. The Anglican Communion is represented by the Anglican Church of Mexico, and there are also Pentecostals and Charismatics (called Neo-Pentecostals in the census). Protestantism is strongest in states bordering Guatemala and the U.S. state of Texas, where the Catholic Church and Mexican state have less of a presence.
Evangelical Protestantism has seen modern growth in Mexico, with nearly half of the state of Chiapas's inhabitants identifying as evangelical Protestants or members of other Christian groups, including Seventh-day Adventists. Other Christian groups in Mexico include Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and followers of folk religions such as Mexicayotl.
Other Religions in Mexico
The presence of Jews in Mexico dates back to 1521, and there are now more than 67,000 Mexican Jews, most of whom live in the Greater Mexico City area. The Bahá'í Faith in Mexico began in the early 20th century, and there are now an estimated 12,000 Bahá'ís in the country. The 2020 census reported 190,000 followers of Luz del Mundo (LLDM), the Old Catholic Church, and the Church of Scientology, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Buddhists. There are also small numbers of Muslims in Mexico, with nearly half concentrated in Mexico City and the state of Mexico, and a small community of Ahmadi Muslims in the state of Chiapas.
Non-Religious People in Mexico
It is difficult to measure irreligion and atheism in Mexico, as many Catholics and Protestants lead secular lifestyles. The 2010 National Census reported 4.7% of the population as having no religion, while the 2020 census reported 8.2% of Mexicans as non-religious. The states with the highest proportions of non-religious people are Quintana Roo (22.5%), Baja California (20.4%), and Mexico City (15.6%).
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Frequently asked questions
According to the 2020 census, between 72% and 78% of Mexicans identify as Catholic.
There are around 90 million Catholics in Mexico.
The percentage of Mexicans who identify as Catholic has been declining over the past few decades. In 1970, 96% of Mexicans were Catholic, while in 2000, this number had dropped to 82.7%.
Besides Catholicism, the main religious groups in Mexico include Protestantism, evangelical Protestantism, and Jehovah's Witnesses. There are also small but significant communities of Jews, Muslims, and followers of indigenous spiritual traditions.
Mexico remains a highly religious country, with only 8.2% of the population reporting that they had no religion at all in the 2020 census. However, it's important to note that the concept of religion in Mexico is complex, and many Mexicans may lead secular lives even if they identify as Catholic or Protestant.
