Joshua Bennett
Brazil is the South American country with the most Catholics, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. This amounts to approximately 123 million people. The predominance of Catholicism in Brazil has roots in the country's colonial history under Portugal, and it remains a central part of Brazil's national identity. While Brazil has developed a diverse culture that incorporates various beliefs and traditions, the Catholic Church continues to exert influence in the country through organizations like the National Conference of Bishops.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country with the most Catholics in South America | Brazil |
| Number of Catholics in Brazil | 123 million |
| Percentage of Catholics in Brazil | 50-65% |
| Total number of Catholics in Latin America | 425 million |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who identify as Catholic | 69% |
| Percentage of Latin Americans raised Catholic | 84% |
| Percentage of Latin Americans who were unaffiliated with any religion | 8% |
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What You'll Learn
Brazil has the most Catholics
Brazil is the largest country in South America, with a population of approximately 213 million people. It is also the largest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world. It is a multicultural and multiethnic nation, having received immigrants from all over the world.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. This amounts to approximately 123 million citizens. The predominance of Catholicism in Brazil has roots in the country's colonial history under Portugal. Brazil was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, which brought Catholicism to the region as a dominant religion.
Over the years, Brazil has developed a diverse culture that incorporates various beliefs and traditions, including the notable presence of Allan Kardec's codification of Spiritism, followed by over 12 million people. However, Catholicism remains a central part of Brazil's national identity. The Catholic Church is highly influential in Brazil, and organizations like the National Conference of Bishops play a significant role in various aspects of Brazilian life.
While Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, it is important to note that identification with Catholicism has declined in the country, as is the trend across the region. According to a Pew Research Center survey, there has been a 20-percentage-point decline in the share of adults identifying as Catholic in Brazil. Despite this decline, Brazil remains a country deeply influenced by its Catholic heritage, with the religion continuing to shape its cultural and social landscape.
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Catholicism's influence in Brazil
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. This strong Catholic heritage can be traced back to its colonial history under Portugal in the 16th century, when Catholicism was introduced to the region as the dominant religion. The country's first Catholic mass was celebrated in 1500 by a priest who had arrived with Portuguese explorers. The faith that took root in Brazil was heavily influenced by Portuguese traditions but also incorporated African and Native Brazilian practices.
The Catholic Church has historically been very influential in Brazil, and it was the official religion of the country from 1824 until the Constitution of 1891 established a secular government. Even after the official separation of church and state, the Church remained politically influential, and the government avoided taking actions that might offend the religious majority. The Church's liberation theology movement in the late 20th century, for example, helped advance social justice and human rights causes. The Church also successfully pressured the federal government to remove a proposal to legalize abortion from the Third National Program of Human Rights.
Brazil's Catholic community is organized under the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which comprises over 400 bishops and archbishops. The country is divided into 44 ecclesiastical provinces, with 275 dioceses, eparchies, ordinariates, and territorial prelatures. The Catholic Church's influence is also felt at the local level, with popular traditions including pilgrimages to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's patron saint, and religious festivals like the "Círio de Nazaré" and the "Festa do Divino."
However, the Catholic Church in Brazil has faced challenges in recent decades, with a decline in adherents turning to Protestant churches or rejecting organized religion altogether. The percentage of Brazilians identifying as Catholic has dropped from 83.34% in 1991 to 56.7% in 2022, according to census data. This trend is part of a broader shift in Latin America, where the Catholic Church has experienced net losses in most countries surveyed. Despite these changes, Brazil remains the single country with the largest Catholic community in the world in terms of absolute numbers.
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Catholicism's decline in South America
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. However, this number has been declining, with a 2014 Pew Research Center survey showing that one in five Brazilians were former Catholics.
Catholicism is declining in South America, with the percentage of people identifying as Catholic dropping from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020, according to the Latinobarómetro survey. The decline is attributed to various factors, including the rise of evangelical faiths, secularism, and loss of trust in the Catholic Church due to human rights abuses and clergy sex scandals. The aging priesthood and the struggle to define the church's message for modern congregations have also contributed to the decline.
The decline in Catholicism has had an impact on South American policies, with countries decriminalizing abortion, recognizing gay marriage, and pushing for transgender rights. The Catholic Church has historically influenced laws and politics in the region, and its waning influence has led to social and cultural changes.
While the number of Catholics in South America is declining, there is a variation among countries. Mexico remains overwhelmingly Catholic, with 80-81% of its population identifying as such. Paraguay also has a high percentage of Catholics, with 89%. On the other hand, countries like Honduras and El Salvador have lower percentages of Catholics, with only 37% and 39%, respectively.
The Catholic Church is facing a challenge in retaining its Latino members, who have been a source of growth for the Church in the US. However, the share of Catholic believers among Latinos is dropping, with a decline from 70% in 2006 to 57% by 2015. The Church will need to adapt to the cultural realities and social changes in Latin America to stem the tide of its declining influence in the region.
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Protestantism's growth in South America
Brazil is the South American country with the most Catholics, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. This predominance has roots in Brazil's colonial history under Portugal, which brought Catholicism to the region as a dominant religion.
Protestantism has been witnessing a strong increase in South America since the 1980s. In Latin America, about one in five people now identify themselves as Protestants, in a region where 50 years ago, 90% of the population was Catholic. The growth of Protestantism in South America is mainly driven by the rise of evangelical Christians. In particular, Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth and is increasingly attracting Latin America's middle classes. Anglicanism also has a long and growing presence in the region.
Protestantism has also grown due to a decline in confidence in the Catholic Church. Historical data suggests that for most of the 20th century, at least 90% of Latin America's population was Catholic. Today, the Catholic Church has experienced net losses from religious switching, as many Latin Americans have joined evangelical Protestant churches or rejected organized religion altogether.
The growth of Protestantism in South America has had a significant impact on the region's religious landscape. In Brazil, for example, the number of Protestants has risen to 22.2% of the population, with 89% of Brazilian evangelicals being Pentecostal. Similarly, Guatemala has become the most Protestant country in the Spanish-speaking world, with an estimated 25-40% of its population identifying as Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians.
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Religious syncretism in South America
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic. This predominance has roots in Brazil's colonial history under Portugal, which brought Catholicism to the region as a dominant religion. Brazil is also the most Protestant country in South America, with 22.2% of the population being Protestant.
In many South American countries, Catholicism is the most professed Christian denomination. In Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina, more than three-quarters of the population is Catholic. In countries with predominantly Amerindian populations, such as Bolivia and Peru, there is a syncretism between indigenous religions and the Catholic religion that has occurred since colonial times. In Brazil and Colombia, Catholicism was mixed with certain African rituals.
The decline of Catholicism in South America is due in large part to the growth of Protestantism, particularly evangelical Christians. A smaller number of South Americans are also beginning to identify as irreligious. Sizeable adherents of other religions are also present, including various indigenous religions, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Hinduism. Argentina has the largest communities of both Jews and Muslims in Latin America.
The movement of renewal and reform undertaken by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) favoured mainstream Catholic teaching and practice at the expense of popular "folk Catholicism". This inspired an influential minority of priests and nuns to seek a synthesis of religious faith and political commitment under the banner of liberation theology. This brand of activism met with general disapproval from Latin American governments, especially military regimes, some of which brutally persecuted the clergy involved.
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Frequently asked questions
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in South America, with around 50-65% of its population identifying as Roman Catholic.
It is hard to say which country is second, as the percentage of Catholics in South American countries has been declining over the years. However, some sources suggest that Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay have more than three-quarters of the population identifying as Catholic.
Brazil is the largest country in South America with a diverse culture that incorporates various beliefs and traditions. Catholicism has been a central part of its national identity since the country was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, bringing Catholicism to the region as the dominant religion.
Yes, identification with Catholicism has declined throughout the region. Historical data suggest that for most of the 20th century, from 1900 to the 1960s, at least 90% of Latin America’s population was Catholic. However, according to a 2014 survey, only 69% of adults across the region identified as Catholic.
