Top Two Religions in Brazil: Catholicism & Protestantism (Evangelical Rise)

Brazil remains the world's largest Catholic country by absolute numbers, but Protestantism — especially Pentecostal/Neopentecostal — has surged.

1. Roman Catholicism

• Adherents: ~123 million (58% of population, 2020 Census / Datafolha).
• History: State religion 1500–1891; cultural bedrock (festivals, calendar, architecture, family rites).
• Decline: 92% (1970) → 65% (2000) → 58% (2020). Losses to Protestantism, "no religion," Spiritism.
• Institutions: CNBB (bishops), 275 dioceses, vast school/hospital/charity network.

2. Protestantism (Evangelical)

• Adherents: ~42–65 million (20–31%) — range due to census vs. survey methodology.
• Composition:
  • Historical (Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran) — ~30%.
  • Pentecostal (Assemblies of God, Foursquare, God is Love) — ~50%.
  • Neopentecostal (Universal Church, Mundial, Renascer) — ~20%. Media-savvy, prosperity theology, political power.
• Growth: 5% (1970) → 22% (2010) → ~30% (2023 est.). Fastest-growing religious segment.
• Impact: Electoral bloc (Bancada Evangélica ~200 deputies), media empires (Record TV), social services (addiction recovery, prisons).

Others of Note

• Spiritism (Kardecist): ~2–4% (4–6M) — highest per capita globally. Allan Kardec codified in France; Brazil adopted enthusiastically.
• Afro-Brazilian (Candomblé, Umbanda): ~1–2% declared; vastly more practitioners (syncretic).
• No Religion: ~8–15% (rising fast, especially youth).

Brazil's religious landscape: Catholic majority eroding, Evangelical rising, Spiritism unique, Afro-Brazilian resilient, secularism growing. Pluralism is the new norm.