Religion in Latin America
Introduction '''Religion in Latin America''' is characterized by the historical predominance of Catholicism, and growing number and influence of a large number of groups that belong to Protestantism, as well as by the presence of Irreligion. According to survey data from Statista in 2020, 57% of the Latin American population is Catholic and 19% is Protestant.
Christianity The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil is the second largest in the world, after only of the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City.The majority of Latin Americans are Christians (90%), mostly Roman Catholics. Membership in Protestant denominations is increasing, particularly in Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Puerto Rico. In particular, Pentecostalism has experienced massive growth. This movement is increasingly attracting Latin America's middle classes. Anglicanism also has a long and growing presence in Latin America.According to the detailed Pew Research Center multi-country survey in 2014, 69% of the Latin American population is Catholic and 19% is Protestant, rising to 22% in Brazil and over 40% in much of Central America. More than half of these are converts. According to the 2014 Pew survey, the 46 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean comprised, in absolute terms, the world's second-largest Christian population (24%; including U.S., British, Dutch and French territories), after the 50 countries and territories of Europe (26%; including Russia, excluding Turkey), but just before the 51 countries and territories of Sub-Saharan Africa (24%; including Mauritania, excluding Sudan).
Indigenous and Afro-Latin creeds Indigenous creeds and rituals are still practiced in countries with large percentages of Amerindians, such as Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Various Afro-Latin American traditions such as Santería, Candomblé, Umbanda, Macumba, and tribal-voodoo religions are also practiced, mainly in Cuba, Brazil, and Haiti.
Other world religions The Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab in Maicao, Colombia.Argentina hosts the largest communities of both Jews (180,000-300,000) and Muslims (500,000-600,000) in Latin America.Brazil is the country with more practitioners in the world of Allan Kardec's Spiritism. Practitioners of Judaism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Bahá'í Faith, and Shinto are also present in Latin America.
Statistics ===CID-Gallup 2010===+Religion in Latin America (2010) Country Christian(%) Catholic(%) Protestant(%) Other religions(%) Unaffiliated(%)   85,5  74,7  10,8  3,5  11,0  74,0  40,5  33,5  10,4  15,6  94,4  76,0  18,4  2,5  3,1  88,7  64,6  24,1  4,3  8,0  82,1  66,2  15,9  2,5  15,4  92,7  77,7  15,0  2,3  5,0  89,9  70,7  19,2  4,0  6,1  50,1  45,8  4,3  7,2  42,7  93,1  80,9  12,2  2,3  4,6  81,8  51,7  30,1  2,2  16,0  86,8  47,1  39,7  1,7  11,5  84,3  68,8  15,5  9,8  5,9   88,8  49,8  39,0  3,2  8,0  92,0  82,9  9,1  3,4  4,6  83,5  54,4  29,1  3,8  12,7  92,7  76,0  16,7  3,3  4,0   96,1  88,2  7,9  2,3  1,6  93,6  80,6  13,0  3,0  3,4  92,2  61,5  30,7  1,4  6,4  90,2  68,9  21,3  4,0  5,8  52,4  42,8  9,6  4,6  43,0  91,4  75,8  15,6  3,3  5,3===2014 Pew Research Center data===+Religion in Latin America (2014) Country  Catholic (%)  Protestant (%)  Unaffiliated (%)  Other (%)   Paraguay 89 7 1 2  Mexico 81 9 7 4  Colombia 79 13 6 2  Ecuador 79 13 5 3  Bolivia 77 16 4 3  Peru 76 17 4 3  Venezuela 73 17 7 4  Argentina 71 15 12 3  Panama 70 19 7 4  Chile 64 17 16 3  Costa Rica 62 25 9 4   Brazil 61 26 8 5  Dominican Republic 57 23 18 2  Puerto Rico 56 33 8 2  El Salvador 50 36 12 3  Guatemala 50 41 6 3  Nicaragua 50 40 7 4  Honduras 46 41 10 2  Uruguay 42 15 37 6 '''Latin America''''''69''''''19''''''8''''''4'''===Number of followers by country (2015 Pew Research Center projections for 2020)=== Countries Population Total Christians % Christian Population Unaffiliated % Unaffiliated Population Other religions % Other religions PopulationSource44,830,00085.4%38,420,00012.1%5,320,0002.5%1,090,00011,830,00094%11,120,0004.1%480,0001.9%230,000210,450,00088.1%185,430,0008.4%17,620,0003.5%7,400,00018,540,00088.3%16,380,0009.7%1,800,0002%360,00052,160,00092.3%48,150,0006.7%3,510,0001%500,0005,270,00090.8%4,780,0008%420,0001.2%70,00011,230,00058.9%6,610,00023.2%2,600,00017.9%2,020,00016,480,00094%15,490,0005.6%920,0000.4%70,0006,670,00088%5,870,00011.2%740,0000.8%60,00018,210,00095.3%17,360,0003.9%720,0000.8%130,000850,00067.9%580,0002%20,00030.1%250,00011,550,00087%10,040,00010.7%1,230,0002.3%280,0009,090,00087.5%7,950,00010.5%950,0002%190,000126,010,00094.1%118,570,0005.7%7,240,0000.2%200,0006,690,00085.3%5,710,00013%870,0001.7%110,0004,020,00092.7%3,720,0005%200,0002.3%100,0007,630,00096.9%7,390,0001.1%90,0002%150,00032,920,00095.4%31,420,0003.1%1,010,0001.5%490,00011,280,00088%9,930,00010.9%1,230,0001.1%120,000580,00052.3%300,0006.2%40,00041.5%240,0003,490,00057%1,990,00041.5%1,450,0001.5%50,00033,010,00089.5%29,540,0009.7%3,220,0000.8%250,000'''Latin America''''''653,390,000''''''89.7%''''''585,850,000''''''8%''''''52,430,000''''''2.3%''''''15,110,000'''
See also *Religion in Argentina*Religion in Belize*Religion in Bolivia*Religion in Brazil*Religion in Chile*Religion in Colombia*Religion in Costa Rica*Religion in Cuba*Religion in the Dominican Republic*Religion in Ecuador*Religion in El Salvador*Religion in Guatemala*Religion in Haiti*Religion in Honduras*Religion in Mexico*Religion in Nicaragua*Religion in Panama*Religion in Paraguay*Religion in Peru*Religion in Puerto Rico*Religion in Uruguay*Religion in Venezuela*Irreligion in Latin America*Latin American Muslims*Latin American Jews
References
Further reading * * D'Antonio, William V., and Frederick B. Pike, jt. eds. ''Religion, Revolution, and Reform: New Forces for Change in Latin America''. New York: F.A. Praeger, 1964