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'{{Religion by Country}} '''Religion in South America''' has been a major influence on [[art]], [[culture]], [[philosophy]] and [[law]]. [[Christianity]] is the main [[religion]], with [[Roman Catholic]]s having the most adherents. Sizeable minorities of non-religious people and adherents of other religions are also present. == Religious freedom == Currently, all countries in the region in general are separate of the Catholic Church and declared secular states, which guarantees freedom of religion for its inhabitants. However, in Peru, and the Dominican Republic Roman Catholicism serves as the [[official religion]]. In both countries Catholic religious education is mandatory, and in most nations Roman Catholicism still sways the population. == Christianity == [[File:Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, 2007.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida]] is the second largest in the world, after only of the [[Basilica of Saint Peter]] in [[Vatican City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1984236-EI306,00.html|title=Basílica de Aparecida aguarda 160 mil pessoas}}</ref>]] According to [[Pew Research Center]] 83.43% of the South American population is [[Christians|Christian]],<ref>[https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/ ''Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050'']</ref> although less than half of them are devout. === Catholicism === In many South American countries Catholicism is the most professed Christian denomination. In [[Paraguay]], [[Peru]], [[Colombia]] and [[Argentina]] more than three-quarters of the population is Catholic. [[Catholicism]] was the only religion allowed in the [[colonial era]]; the indigenous were forced to abandon their beliefs, although many did not abandon it at all, for example, countries with predominantly [[Amerindians|Amerindian population]] such as [[Bolivia]] and [[Peru]] there is a syncretism between [[indigenous religions]] and the Catholic religion, that has occurred since colonial times. In [[Brazil]] or [[Colombia]], Catholicism was mixed with certain [[African religion|African rituals]]. === Protestantism === [[Protestantism]] has been a presence since the nineteenth century, as a minority, but has had a strong increase since the 1980s. The majority of Latin American Protestants in general are [[Pentecostals]].<ref name="Luis Palau"/> [[Brazil]] today is the most Protestant country in South America with 22.2% of the population being Protestant,<ref name="census2010">[https://censo2010.ibge.gov.br/noticias-censo?id=3&idnoticia=2170&view=noticia Censo Demográfico 2010]</ref> 89% of Brazilians evangelicals are Pentecostals, in [[Chile]] represents 79% of the total evangelicals in that country, 69% in [[Argentina]] and 59% in [[Colombia]].<ref name="Luis Palau">«Luis Palau: Evangelist to Three Worlds», Christianity Today, 20 de mayo de 1983, pp. 30-1. Luis Palau, «The Gospel's Social Impact», Briefing (Portland, Oregon: Cruzada Luis Palau), verano de 1984, pp. 14-16.</ref> On the other part, in [[Uruguay]] 66% of evangelicals are [[Methodists]], while only 20% are Pentecostal.<ref name="Luis Palau"/> === Spiritism === [[Brazil]] is the country with more practitioners in the world of [[Allan Kardec]]'s codification of the [[Spiritism]], followed by over 12 million people, with 30 to 45 million sympathizers. Most followers of the [[Spiritism]] are people that were mostly Catholic, Protestants and Atheists respectively. [[Chico Xavier]] wrote over 490 books, which complements the [[Spiritism|spiritualist doctrine]]. === Eastern Orthodoxy === [[Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] was brought to South America by groups of immigrants from several different regions, mainly [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Middle East]]. This traditional branch of Eastern Christianity has also spread beyond the boundaries of immigrant communities. There are several Eastern Orthodox ecclesiastical jurisdictions in South America, organized within the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oca.org/directories/organizations/assembly-of-canonical-orthodox-bishops-of-latin-america|title=Organizations - Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Latin America|website=oca.org}}</ref> === Oriental Orthodoxy === Several groups of Christian immigrants, mainly from the [[Middle East]], [[Caucasus]], [[Africa]] and [[India]], brought [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] to the South America. This ancient branch of Eastern Christianity includes several ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the South America, like [[Coptic Orthodox Church in South America]] and [[Syriac Orthodox Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriacpatriarchate.org/2016/10/meeting-with-the-president-of-brazil|title=Meeting with the President of Brazil|date=27 October 2016}}</ref> === Other Christians === Practitioners of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] religions also are exercised in Latin America. == Other religions == [[File:2017 Bogotá mezquita Central Abou Bakr Alsiddiq - calle 80 con carrera 30.jpg|thumb|The Mosque of Abou Bakr Alsiddq in [[Bogotá]].]] [[Argentina]] has the largest communities of both [[Jews in Argentina|Jews]]<ref name=nl>{{cite web|title=World Jewish Population|last=LeElef|first=Ner|url=http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/world-jewish-population.htm#_ftnref1|access-date=2008-01-09}}</ref><ref name=jpppi>[http://www.jpppi.org.il/JPPPI/SendFile.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&GID=489 The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute; Annual Assessment, 2007 ]</ref><ref name=ujc>[http://www.ujc.org/section.html?id=29 United Jewish Communities; Global Jewish Populations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531003148/http://www.ujc.org/section.html?id=29 |date=2008-05-31 }}</ref> and [[Islam in Argentina|Muslims]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26516.htm|title=Argentina}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108511.htm|title=Argentina}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/specials/newsid_4294000/4294241.stm|title=Arabs and Muslims in Latin America|date=17 March 2005|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> in Latin America.Practitioners of the [[Judaism]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Islam]]ic, [[Hinduism in South America|Hinduism]], [[Bahá'í Faith in South America|Bahá'í Faith]], and [[Shinto]] denominations and religions also exercised in [[Latin America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/religion/|title=Religion & Theology in Latin America - LANIC|website=lanic.utexas.edu}}</ref> [[Hinduism]] is the second-largest religion in [[Suriname]]. According to the 2012 census of Suriname, Hindus constitute 22.3% of the population. [[Hinduism in Suriname|Suriname]] has the second largest percentage of [[Hindus]] in the Western Hemisphere, after [[Guyana]] (24.8%). Indigenous creeds and rituals are still practised in countries with large percentages of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Amerindians]], such as [[Bolivia]] and [[Peru]]. == Statistics == Country By Religion in South America (2020 estimate): {| class="wikitable sortable" !width="170 px" style="background:Lavender; color:Black"| Countries !Total Population ! width="170 px" style="background:Lavender; color:Black" | Christians % !Christians Population ! width="170 px" style="background:Lavender; color:Black" | Unaffiliated % !Unaffiliated Population !width="170 px" style="background:Lavender; color:Black"| Other % !Other Population !Sources |- |{{flag|Argentina}} |43,830,000||85.4% |37,420,000 ||12.1% |5,320,000 ||2.5% |1,090,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Bolivia}} |11,830,000||94% |11,120,000 ||4.1% |480,000 ||1.9% |230,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Brazil}} |210,450,000||88.1% |185,430,000 ||8.4% |17,620,000 ||3.5% |7,400,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Chile}} |18,540,000||88.3% |16,380,000 ||9.7% |1,800,000 ||2% |360,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Colombia}} |50,000,000||79.5% |39,750,000 ||15.5% |10,000,000 ||5% |2,500,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Ecuador}} |16,480,000||94% |15,490,000 ||5.6% |920,000 ||0.4% |70,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Guyana}} |850,000||67.9% |580,000 ||2% |20,000 ||30.1% |250,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Paraguay}} |7,630,000||96.9% |7,390,000 ||1.1% |90,000 ||2% |150,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Peru}} |32,920,000||95.4% |31,420,000 ||3.1% |1,010,000 ||1.5% |490,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Suriname}} |580,000||52.3% |300,000 ||6.2% |40,000 ||41.5% |240,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Uruguay}} |3,490,000||57% |1,990,000 ||41.5% |1,450,000 ||1.5% |50,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |{{flag|Venezuela}} |33,010,000||89.5% |29,540,000 ||9.7% |3,220,000 ||0.8% |250,000 |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/2020/percent/all/|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|website=www.pewforum.org|access-date=2020-10-18}}</ref> |- |'''South America''' |'''422,194,269''' |'''83.43%''' |'''385,210,000''' |'''9.18%''' |'''35,480,000''' |'''7.39%''' |'''11,080,000''' | |} ==See also== * [[Major religious groups]] * [[Religion in Africa]] * [[Religion in Asia]] * [[Religion in Europe]] * [[Religion in Oceania]] * [[Religion in North America]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{South America topic|Religion in}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In South America}} [[Category:Religion in South America| ]]'