> > Home >> South America > > Brazil >> Religion
Religion in Brazil
Brazil is a religiously diverse country where freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution, which strictly prohibits the state from supporting or interfering with any religious institution. Despite this secular framework, Christianity dominates Brazil’s religious landscape, and the country has the second-largest Christian population in the world, after the United States.
Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in Brazil, making the country home to the world’s largest Catholic population. Protestant Christianity—particularly Evangelical and Neo-Pentecostal denominations—has grown rapidly in recent decades. Other Christian groups in Brazil include Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and various independent Christian churches.
Brazil’s religious identity has been deeply shaped by history, blending Catholic traditions with Indigenous beliefs and African spiritual practices brought by enslaved peoples. This fusion gave rise to Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda, which continue to influence Brazilian culture. In addition, Brazil is home to Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and followers of other faiths, reflecting the country’s multicultural society and ongoing religious transformation.
👉 Read more about the Population of Brazil to understand how demographics shape religious trends.
Religion By Percentage in Brazil
According to the 2010 Brazilian Census, Christianity is practiced by 88.77% of Brazil’s population, making it overwhelmingly the dominant religion in the country. Roman Catholicism accounts for the largest share, followed by Protestant and Evangelical denominations, which have expanded rapidly over the past few decades.
In addition to Christianity, Brazil has a notable presence of Spiritism, particularly Kardecist Spiritism, as well as smaller religious communities including Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and followers of other faiths. A growing segment of the population also identifies as having no religious affiliation, reflecting changing social and cultural attitudes.
Religion in Brazil by Percentage (2010 Census)
| Religion / Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christianity | 88.77% |
| – Roman Catholicism | 64.60% |
| – Protestantism / Evangelical | 22.20% |
| – Other Christian groups | 1.98% |
| No religion | 8.00% |
| Spiritism | 2.00% |
| Other religions | 3.20% |
Brazil’s non-Christian population includes approximately 215,000 Buddhists, 107,000 Jews, and 35,000 Muslims, along with smaller communities practicing Shintoism, Rastafarianism, and other belief systems.
Source: Brazilian Census, 2010
Christanity in Brazil
Christianity is the majority religion in Brazil, although its composition has changed significantly in the 21st century. For much of Brazil’s history, Roman Catholicism was overwhelmingly dominant, but recent decades have seen a steady rise in Evangelical Protestantism and a growing share of people with no religious affiliation. To reflect these modern trends more accurately, data from the 2020 Latinobarómetro Survey is commonly referenced.
According to the Latinobarómetro 2020, 54.2% of Brazilians identify as Roman Catholic, marking a notable decline from earlier census figures. Protestants collectively account for 25.9% of the population, driven largely by the rapid expansion of Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, especially in urban and suburban areas.
Among Protestants, Evangelicals form the largest group, followed by Pentecostals and Adventists, with smaller shares belonging to other Protestant denominations. In addition, a small proportion of Brazilians identify with other Christian traditions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as syncretic and spiritist-influenced belief systems that blend Christian elements with Afro-Brazilian traditions.
Christian Population in Brazil by Affiliation (2020)
| Christian Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 54.20% |
| Protestants (Total) | 25.90% |
| – Evangelical | 20.50% |
| – Evangelical (Baptist) | 0.30% |
| – Evangelical Pentecostal | 3.70% |
| – Adventist | 0.60% |
| – Other Protestant groups | 0.80% |
| Other Christian & Christian-influenced groups | 3.00% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | 0.70% |
| – Spiritist / Afro-Brazilian syncretic beliefs | 2.00% |
| – Believers not affiliated with a church | 0.30% |
Source: Latinobarómetro Survey (2020)
Catholic vs Evangelical Population Trends in Brazil
From 2000 to 2020, Roman Catholic affiliation in Brazil fell sharply, declining from around 74% to 54% of the population. During the same period, Evangelical and Protestant groups expanded rapidly, rising from approximately 15% to nearly 26%. This trend highlights a major religious transformation driven by urbanization, social mobility, and the growing influence of Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.
Non-Christian Religions in Brazil
Non-Christian religions account for approximately 2.8% of Brazil’s population, reflecting the country’s growing religious diversity. These faiths are largely practiced by 21st-century immigrants and their descendants from East Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia, as well as by a smaller number of Brazilian converts. Major non-Christian religions in Brazil include Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, along with Shinto, Rastafarianism, and several other smaller belief systems.
Buddhism is the largest non-Christian religion in Brazil, with an estimated 215,000 followers. The country has the third-largest Buddhist population in the Americas, after the United States and Canada, largely due to Japanese immigration in the 20th century. Judaism has a long-established presence in Brazil, with around 120,000 Jews, making Brazil home to the second-largest Jewish population in Latin America.
Islam is a minority religion in Brazil, first introduced by enslaved African Muslims and later reinforced by Lebanese and Syrian immigration. According to the 2010 Census, Brazil had 35,207 Muslims. Hinduism in Brazil is practiced mainly by people of Indian origin, although the religion has also gained a small number of Brazilian converts, partly through the influence of Hare Krishna (ISKCON) movements.
Non-Christian Religions and No Religious Affiliation in Brazil
| Religion / Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Other (Non-Christian religions) | 2.80% |
| – Buddhism | ~1.00% |
| – Judaism | < 1% |
| – Hinduism | < 1% |
| – Islam | < 1% |
| – Smaller faiths | < 1% |
| No religious affiliation (Total) | 13.90% |
| – Agnostic | 0.40% |
| – Atheist | 0.50% |
| – None | 12.10% |
| – Don’t know | 0.50% |
| – No answer | 0.40% |
Source: Latinobarómetro Survey
Conclusion: Religion in Brazil
Religion in Brazil reflects the country’s deep historical roots and ongoing social change. While Christianity remains the dominant faith, Brazil has experienced a significant shift in religious affiliation over the past few decades. Roman Catholicism, once nearly universal, has steadily declined, while Evangelical and Pentecostal churches have expanded rapidly across urban and rural areas.
At the same time, Brazil’s religious landscape has diversified. Non-Christian religions, including Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, continue to grow through immigration and conversion, while an increasing share of Brazilians identify as having no religious affiliation. Together, these trends highlight Brazil’s transformation into a religiously plural and constitutionally secular society, where freedom of belief remains a core principle.
FAQs: Religion in Brazil
What is the main religion in Brazil?
Christianity is the main religion in Brazil. As of recent surveys, over 80% of Brazilians identify as Christian, with Roman Catholicism being the largest denomination, followed by Protestant and Evangelical churches.
Is Brazil a Catholic country?
Brazil is not officially a Catholic country, as it is a secular state. However, it has the largest Catholic population in the world, even though the percentage of Catholics has declined significantly since the early 2000s.
Why is Evangelical Christianity growing in Brazil?
Evangelical Christianity has grown due to active missionary work, strong community networks, media outreach, and social support systems, particularly in urban and low-income areas. Pentecostal churches have also been effective in adapting to modern social and economic realities.
What percentage of Brazilians have no religion?
Approximately 14% of Brazilians identify as having no religious affiliation, including atheists, agnostics, and those who believe in God but do not belong to any organized religion.
What are the major non-Christian religions in Brazil?
The major non-Christian religions in Brazil include Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, along with Afro-Brazilian and syncretic belief systems such as Candomblé and Umbanda.
Is religious freedom protected in Brazil?
Yes. The Brazilian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the government from favoring or discriminating against any religious group.
English
Español
Português
Deutsch