Catholicism Has Declined in Latin America Over the Past Decade

About this research 3

Catholicism Has Declined in Latin America Over the Past Decade 6

How has the religious affiliation of Latin Americans changed? 8

What do former Catholics in Latin America identify as now? 12

How religious are Latin Americans today? 14

How different are Catholics, Protestants and ‘nones’ in Latin America? 16

Who is more religious: ‘Nones’ in Latin America or Christians in Europe? 19

1. Religious affiliation in Latin America 21

Religious composition of each country 22

Religious switching 27

2. Religious and spiritual beliefs in Latin America 31

Belief in God 32

Belief in a spiritual presence beyond the natural world 35

Belief in life after death 37

Belief in reincarnation 39

Belief in spells, curses and other magic 41

Belief in spirits or spiritual energies 42

3. Religious and spiritual practices in Latin America 44

Daily prayer 45

Attending religious services 46

Lighting incense or candles 48

Wearing religious symbols 49

Acknowledgments 50

Methodology 52

About Pew Research Center’s Spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey 52

Analysis 52

Determining how the share of Catholics in Latin America has changed since 1900 53