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Catholic Church Losing Ground Across Latin America as Religious Disaffiliation Surges
Catholicism’s once-firm grip on Latin America has significantly weakened over the past decade, according to a comprehensive new study released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center. The survey, which examined religious trends across six of the region’s most populous nations, reveals a dramatic decline in Catholic identification while the number of religiously unaffiliated adults continues to rise.
“Our analysis found that the Catholic share of the population in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru — which collectively make up about 75% of Latin America’s population — has significantly declined since 2013-14, while a growing share of adults in the region are religiously unaffiliated,” explained Kirsten Lesage, research associate at Pew and the study’s lead author.
The exodus from Catholicism is striking in a region historically considered a stronghold for the faith. Despite Latin America’s deep Catholic roots and connections to Pope Francis, who hails from Argentina, the percentage of Catholics has dropped by at least 9 percentage points in each surveyed country since 2014.
Today, Catholics represent between 46% and 67% of adults across these nations – still the dominant religion, but a marked decline from a decade ago when approximately six in ten or more adults in each country identified as Catholic. Brazil and Chile now hover around 50% Catholic, while Mexico and Peru maintain stronger Catholic majorities at about two-thirds of their populations.
Meanwhile, the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated – those describing themselves as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” – have swelled dramatically, increasing by at least 7 percentage points in each country. The unaffiliated now constitute between 12% and 33% of adults across the six nations.
“In fact, there are now more religiously unaffiliated adults than Protestants in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico,” Lesage noted. In Mexico specifically, about one-fifth of adults identify as having no religious affiliation, compared to just one-tenth who identify with any branch of Protestantism.
Analysts attribute Catholicism’s decline to several factors, including clergy sex abuse scandals and the Church’s conservative positions on social issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. In countries like Argentina, many people are increasingly exploring spiritual paths outside traditional religion, turning to practices like yoga, tarot, and astrology.
Interestingly, while Catholicism has declined, Protestantism has remained relatively stable throughout the region. Brazil maintains the highest Protestant population at 29%, up only slightly from 26% a decade ago.
Perhaps most striking is that despite these shifts in religious identification, Latin Americans remain deeply religious overall. Belief in God remains nearly universal, with roughly 9 in 10 adults across all surveyed countries expressing faith in a deity. Even among the religiously unaffiliated, most still profess belief in God.
The importance of religion in daily life also remains high by global standards. About half or more adults in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru describe religion as “very important” to them, and majorities in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru report praying at least once daily.
“By these measures, Latin Americans are more religious than adults in many other countries the Center has surveyed in recent years, especially in Europe, where many adults have left Christianity since childhood,” the Pew analysis noted.
The comprehensive survey included 6,234 Latin American adults interviewed between January 22 and April 27, 2024. The margin of error varies by country, ranging from plus or minus 4.0 to 4.5 percentage points.
This religious transformation mirrors broader social changes across Latin America, as younger generations increasingly question traditional institutions and seek more individualized forms of spirituality. While Catholicism remains culturally influential throughout the region, its institutional authority continues to erode amid changing social values and growing secularization.
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14 Comments
Intriguing to see the decline of Catholicism’s dominance in Latin America. The rise in religious disaffiliation is noteworthy, and I wonder what social and cultural forces are driving this change. Is it a sign of growing secularization or a shift in how people approach organized religion in the region?
Indeed, the data suggests a significant transformation in the religious landscape of Latin America. It will be valuable for researchers to explore the complex factors shaping this trend, from political and economic changes to evolving social attitudes and cultural influences.
The shift away from Catholicism in Latin America is a significant development, especially given the region’s deep historical ties to the faith. I’m curious to understand the drivers behind the growing religious disaffiliation – is this a reflection of broader societal changes, or are there specific factors at play?
Absolutely, this is an intriguing trend that warrants further investigation. Unpacking the nuances and complexities behind the decline of Catholicism and the rise in religious disaffiliation could provide valuable insights into the evolving social and cultural dynamics in Latin America.
The decline of Catholicism’s influence in Latin America is a noteworthy shift. I wonder what’s behind the growing religious disaffiliation in the region – is it a reflection of broader social and cultural changes, or are there particular factors driving this trend?
Good question. Analyzing the complex interplay of social, political, and economic forces shaping this shift in religious affiliation could yield important insights. It will be interesting to see how this trend develops and what implications it may have for the region’s future.
Interesting to see the Catholic Church’s dominance waning in Latin America, a region historically so closely tied to the faith. The growth in religious disaffiliation is noteworthy – I wonder if this signals a broader societal shift, or if there are particular factors contributing to this change.
Good point. Analyzing the reasons behind the decline of Catholicism and the rise in religious disaffiliation could shed light on broader social, cultural, and political dynamics shaping the region. It will be valuable for researchers to explore these complex trends in depth.
The declining influence of Catholicism in Latin America is a fascinating development. I’m curious to learn more about the underlying reasons behind the rise in religious disaffiliation. Is this a reflection of broader social and cultural shifts in the region, or are there specific factors at play?
Agreed, this shift in religious affiliation is an important trend to monitor. Understanding the nuances and drivers behind the move away from Catholicism could provide valuable insights into the evolving religious landscape of Latin America.
Fascinating to see the decline of Catholicism in Latin America. Seems like a shift in religious affiliation is underway, with more people identifying as religiously unaffiliated. I wonder what’s driving this change – perhaps a growing secularization or dissatisfaction with organized religion?
Could be a range of factors at play – social, cultural, and economic changes in the region may be influencing people’s relationship with organized religion. It will be interesting to see how this trend develops over time.
The Catholic Church’s influence waning in its traditional Latin American strongholds is a significant development. Curious to learn more about the underlying reasons behind the rise in religious disaffiliation. Is it a reflection of growing secularization or shifting cultural values in the region?
Good point. The shift away from Catholicism could stem from a combination of factors, like disillusionment with the Church, the appeal of new religious movements, or simply a growing preference for a non-religious identity. It will be important to analyze the nuances behind this trend.