US EditionCatholicism Shrinks in Brazil as Evangelical Faith Surges
- According to the IBGE census, Brazil's Catholic population fell to 100.2 million, representing 56.7% of the total, as the number of evangelical Christians and people without religious affiliation continued to increase.
- The population shift follows a long-term decline in Catholic share since official records began in 1872, with evangelicals rising from 21.6% in 2010 to 26.9% last year.
- Evangelicals added 12 million followers since 2010, reaching 47.4 million, the highest number on record, while those declaring no religion grew to 16.4 million.
- Maria Goreth Santos of IBGE said residents once had to choose only Catholic or non-Catholic in 1872, and a recent poll showed 45% of Catholics but only 30% of evangelicals approve of President Lula's administration.
- This demographic trend may challenge Lula’s leftist Workers Party, which historically struggles to gain evangelical support amid the religious composition changes in Brazil.
13 Articles
13 Articles
RIO DE JANEIRO - The number of Catholics in Brazil is declining, while at the same time the number of evangelicals and atheists is increasing, according to the latest demographic research results released today.
The Straits Times
Investing.comCatholicism shrinks in Brazil as evangelical faith surges
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country, saw its Catholic population decline further in 2022 while evangelical Christians and those with no religion continued to rise, census data released on Friday by statistics agency IBGE showed. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The census indicated that Brazil had 100.2 million Roman Catholics in 2022, representing 56.7% of the population, less than 65.1% and 105.4 million of the 2010 census.
The data on religion of the 2022 Censorship was surprising: participation in the evangelical evangelicals grew, but remained below expectations. Common estimates indicated that they represented between 33% and 35% of the population. The final n was 26.9%, compared to 21.6% registered in 2010. Read more (06/07/2025)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
