Religion in South America

> > Home >> South America > > Religion

Christianity is the majority religion in South America and in most South American countries, its followed by 80-90% of the population. South America is home to the largest Catholic population – nearly 30% of the world’s total Catholic population. Catholics make up an overwhelming majority (more than two-thirds) of the adult population in South American Countries.

In the past few decades, the religiously unaffiliated population in the region has also grown. Other Non-Christians faiths include Hinduism, Islam, Jews, and Buddhism. Folk and African religions also have followers in South American Countries.

also read about the Population of South America

South America Religion Percentage

According to the Pew Research Center survey in 2014, about 69% of Latin Americans identify as Catholic, while 19% belong to Protestant churches and 8% are religiously unaffiliated (atheist, agnostic, or no particular religion). The remaining 4% include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Spiritists, and adherents of Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian or indigenous religions, such as Umbanda and Candomble.

Religion	Percentage
Catholic	69%
Protestant	19%
Other Christians	1%
Unaffiliated/ Irreligious	8%
Others Religions	3%

Let’s have a look at the South American Countries by the religious percentage

Country	Christians (%)	Unaffiliated (%)	Folk Religions (%)	Hindus (%)	Muslims (%)	Other Religions
Argentina	85.4	12.1	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Bolivia	94	4.1	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Brazil	88.1	8.4	3.2	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Chile	88.3	9.7	1.5	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Colombia	92.3	6.7	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Ecuador	94	5.6	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Falkland Islands	67.2	31.5	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
French Guiana	84	3.9	8.6	1.4	1.3	< 1.0
Guyana	67.9	2	< 1.0	23.3	6.1	< 1.0
Paraguay	96.9	1.1	1.7	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Peru	95.4	3.1	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Suriname	52.3	6.2	5.6	18.8	14.3	1.9
Uruguay	57	41.5	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0
Venezuela	89.5	9.7	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0	< 1.0

Source: Pew research center

Christanity in South America

Chrisanity is the majority religion in South America. According to the Pew Research Center 2014 survey, 69% of Latin Americans identify as Catholic, while 19% belong to Protestant churches and others at 1-2% are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Eastern Orthodox, etc.

Catholics in South America

South America is home to the largest Catholic population – nearly 30% of the world’s total Catholic population. Catholics make up an overwhelming majority (more than two-thirds) of the adult population, ranging from 89% in Paraguay to 64% in Brazil. Paraguay is the South American country with the largest percentage of Catholics followed by Colombia and Ecuador. Uruguay with less than half of its population is Catholic (42%).

Country	Catholic Percentage
Paraguay	89%
Colombia	79%
Ecuador	79%
Bolivia	77%
Peru	76%
Venezuela	73%
Argentina	71%
Chile	64%
Brazil	61%
Uruguay	42%

Protestants in South America

Protestants are also now a significant minority, constituting nearly 10% or more of the population in each country. Brazil (26%) has the largest percentage of Protestants followed by Chile, Peru, and Venezuela. Paraguay has the lowest Protestants percentage in South America followed by Colombia and Ecuador.

Country	Protestant
Brazil	26%
Argentina	18%
Peru	17%
Venezuela	17%
Chile	17%
Bolivia	16%
Uruguay	15%
Colombia	13%
Ecuador	13%
Paraguay	7%

Unaffiliated Population in South America

In the last few decades, the number of people who don’t affiliate with any religion is growing in South America. The unaffiliated category includes individuals who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic, or having no particular religion. Uruguay is home to the largest percentage of religiously unaffiliated adults in Latin America (37%), roughly double the share of unaffiliated people in any other country in the region.

Across Latin America, as well as among Hispanics in the United States, most people who are unaffiliated say that they have no particular religion rather than describing themselves as atheist or agnostic. About one-in-ten or more adults in Uruguay (24%), the Dominican Republic (18%), El Salvador (12%), and Chile (11%) say they have no particular religion. In the United States, 15% of Hispanics fall into this category.

Country	Unaffiliated (%)	Other (%)
Uruguay Uruguay	37	6
Chile	16	3
Argentina	12	3
Brazil	8	5
Venezuela	7	4
Colombia	6	2
Ecuador	5	3
Bolivia	4	3
Peru	4	3
Paraguay	1	2

Source: Pew Research Center

Religion in South America | Christianity in South America