Latin America's Evolving Faith Landscape

The religious landscape in Latin America is shifting away from traditional Catholic dominance. Protestant and Pentecostal growth, alongside rising religious disaffiliation, shapes this change. Despite institutional decline, personal faith remains strong, showing a unique separation from secular trends seen in Europe and the U.S.

In the traditionally Catholic stronghold of Latin America, a profound shift in religious affiliation is underway. While the region remains home to over 575 million Catholics, accounting for more than 40% of global followers, alternative religious movements and non-affiliation are on the rise.

Protestant and Pentecostal communities saw significant growth, with Protestant identifiers increasing from 4% in 1970 to nearly 20% by 2014. Furthermore, there's a surge in the number of individuals rejecting institutional religion altogether. Yet, personal religiosity continues to exhibit strength, highlighting a unique cultural trend.

Recent data from the AmericasBarometer, analyzing responses from 220,000 individuals across 17 countries, shows a rise in religiously unaffiliated persons from 7% in 2004 to over 18% by 2023. Despite declining institutional affiliations and church attendance, personal belief in God remains robust, illustrating religious innovation rooted in Latin America's historical and cultural tapestry.

(With inputs from agencies.)