The decline of Catholicism in Latin America

 

The decline of Catholicism in Latin America

PROVIDENCIA (CHILE)
Axios [Arlington VA]

April 28, 2022

By Marina E. Franco

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[Chart above: Percentage of people in Latin American countries who identify with Catholicism. Data: Latinobarómetro; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios]

Catholicism is losing its grip in Latin America as the percentage of people who say they identify as evangelical has grown, data shows.

Why it matters: The Catholic Church has historically influenced Latin American laws and politics. Its decline is starting to impact some countries’ policies, even as other faiths grow.

• For example, several countries have recently decriminalized abortion, recognized gay marriage and pushed for transgender rights.

By the numbers: Overall, the number of Latin Americans who said they don’t have a religion jumped by six percentage points from 2010 to 2020, according to the most recent Latinobarómetro, the premier regional annual survey.

• The percentage of people who identify as Catholic dropped from 70% in 2010 to 57% in 2020, Latinobarómetro found.

Zoom in:  Evangelical faiths have…