Catholic Share Falls to 55% in Ibero-America
A Latinobarómetro study finds the Catholic share of Ibero-Americans has dropped 25 percentage points since 1995, while atheists and agnostics have quadrupled.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Religion — General
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The Latinobarómetro study, based on interviews with more than 2,200 people across 17 Central and South American countries including Brazil, reports the share of Ibero-Americans identifying as Catholic fell from 80% in 1995 to 55% in 2026. The regional share of atheists and agnostics rose from 4% to 16% over the same period.
Why it matters
The findings point to a sustained, region-wide shift in religious identity that spans a 30-year period. Its scale varies sharply by country, which shapes how religious institutions and social policy will need to respond across the region.
The survey covered more than 2,200 respondents in 17 countries, with Panama's Catholic share falling from 89% to 46% and Mexico's dropping 8 points from 77% to 69%. Paraguay has the highest Catholic share at 82%, while Uruguay has the largest atheist and agnostic share at 49%.
The players
Latinobarómetro
Latinobarómetro is a Chile-based public opinion research consortium that has tracked attitudes and values across Latin America since 1995.
The details
Nine of the 17 countries analyzed still have a Catholic majority, but the decline is uneven across the region. Honduras has the highest evangelical share at 44%, and Latinobarómetro compiled the data from the survey interviews.
Timeline
1995: Baseline survey measures an 80% Catholic share across Ibero-America.
January 2026: Pew Research publishes a report on six Latin American countries.
2026: Latinobarómetro measures the current 55% Catholic share.
Season Trajectory
This 2026 reading extends a 30-year series from Latinobarómetro, which recorded Catholic identification falling from 80% in 1995 to 55% today. The continued rise in atheist and agnostic identification to 16% marks a sustained departure from the region's historically Catholic baseline.
For readers in Latin America, the shift may influence community life, school and family traditions, and the role of local parishes and congregations. Those following regional social trends can use these figures to compare how religious identity is changing country by country.
The takeaway
Religious identity in Ibero-America is changing faster than many expect, with the share of non-religious residents now quadrupled since 1995. Readers tracking faith, family, or community trends should watch how each country's numbers diverge.
Further reading
Explore more on Religion — General for broader context on shifting faith identities worldwide.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EWTN News.
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