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 nine of the countries surveyed, ranging from 89% in Paraguay to 64% in Brazil. Even in these heavily Catholic countries, however, Protestants now are a significant minority, constituting nearly 10% or more of the population in each country.

According 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. 

As per pew research, from 1900 through the 1960s, at least 90% of Latin America’s population was Catholic. Now, the Pew Research survey shows, that 69% of adults across the region identify as Catholic. Protestant churches are now growing in Latin America. While the Catholic Church has lost adherents through religious switching, both Protestant churches and the religiously unaffiliated population in the region have gained members. 

Paraguay is the South American country with the largest percentage of Catholics followed by Colombia and Ecuador. Uruguay is the with less than half of its population as Catholics (42%). It has a high percentage of religiously unaffiliated (37%) and 15% of Uruguayans identify as Protestant. 

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.

Religious Affiliations of South American Countries 

Source: Pew Research Center