Religion in Brazil

Religion in Brazil is very important to many people who live there. Most Brazilians believe in Christianity, and the biggest group among them is the Catholicism faith. In fact, more than half of all Brazilians identify as Catholic.

Brazil became a country without an official religion in 1891, when a new constitution was created. Since then, people in Brazil have been free to choose any religion they like, or none at all. This means the government cannot support or stop anyone from practicing their beliefs.

Many different religions are found in Brazil today. Besides Catholicism, there are large numbers of people who follow Protestantism, and some who have No religion or practice Spiritism. There are also communities that follow Afro-Brazilian religions and other beliefs. This variety shows how Brazil is a place where many faiths can coexist.

Overview

Brazil has many different religions, with most people following Christianity. The largest group is the Catholic Church, which had about 57% of the population in 2022, though this number has been falling. In the same year, about 27% of Brazilians were Protestant, mainly from many different Evangelical groups. Around 9% said they had no religion, and the rest followed other beliefs such as Spiritism, Umbandism, Candomblé, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and more.

Brazilian religions often mix ideas from different traditions. This mixing happened especially during the time when Portugal ruled Brazil, bringing together Catholic, African, and indigenous beliefs. Even though Catholicism was very strong for a long time, newer groups like Neo-Pentecostal churches and Afro-Brazilian religions have grown a lot in recent years. Laws in Brazil protect people’s freedom to practice any religion, and it is illegal to mock or disturb religious practices. However, some groups have faced intolerance from others.

Christianity

Main article: Catholic Church in Brazil

Main articles: Protestantism in Brazil and Evangelicalism § Brazil

Main article: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil

Brazil has the largest number of Catholics in the world. Catholicism has been Brazil’s main religion since the 1500s. It began with Jesuit missionaries teaching the Native Brazilians during colonial times. Everyone in Brazil had to follow the Catholic faith and pay money to the church. After Brazil became independent, the first constitution in 1824 allowed people to practice other religions, but Catholicism was still the official religion. The government paid salaries to Catholic priests and helped choose bishops. The 1891 constitution separated religion from the government, making all religions equal, but the Catholic Church stayed very powerful until the 1970s. Even so, Brazil’s Catholic traditions include special holidays and events, like trips to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, who is Brazil’s patron saint.

Protestantism began in Brazil in the late 1800s with help from American missionaries. Since the 1900s, many Brazilians have joined Protestant and Evangelical groups. By 2010, about 22% of Brazil’s people, or 44 million, were Protestant. Today, Brazil has many types of Protestants, including Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. Some areas, like Rio de Janeiro, have many non-Pentecostal Protestants, while places like Goiânia have more Pentecostal Protestants.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is also in Brazil, with communities from many countries, such as Antioch, Poland, Serbia, Russia, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The biggest Orthodox church is in São Paulo and looks like famous buildings from Istanbul.

There are also many Jehovah's Witnesses in Brazil, with almost one million people saying they belong to this group.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started in Brazil with German immigrants and grew quickly. By 2024, it had about 1.5 million members, making Brazil one of the top countries for this church. Members meet in local chapels on Sundays and can visit special buildings called temples for important religious activities. The church also helps communities through programs like Helping Hands, which includes food drives and support after natural disasters.

Religious minorities

There are small groups of people in Brazil who follow religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Shinto, Rastafari, and many others. These groups often include immigrants from places like East Asia and the Middle East or their descendants.

African and indigenous religions

Afro-Brazilian religions, like Candomblé, have many followers, especially among Afro-Brazilians. These religions are mostly found in big cities in the Northeast, such as Salvador and Recife, and also in places like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Florianópolis. These religions mix beliefs from West Africa with Roman Catholic traditions. Another religion called Umbanda also mixes African traditions with Roman Catholicism, Spiritism, and Indigenous American beliefs.

People who follow these religions sometimes face challenges, including disagreements with other religious groups. Despite this, these traditions continue to be practiced and celebrated, especially through festivals.

Spiritism

Spiritism is a religion started in the 19th century by a French teacher named Allan Kardec. It explores ideas about life after death, spirits, and moral teachings. Many people in Brazil follow Spiritism, making it the largest non-Christian religion in the country as of 2020.

Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism in Brazil

Buddhism is one of the largest minority religions in Brazil, with around 215,000 followers, making up about 0.25% of the population as of 2020. Most Buddhists in Brazil are from the large Japanese Brazilian community. Popular forms of Buddhism include Jodo Shinshu, Nichiren Buddhism (especially the Soka Gakkai), and Zen. Tibetan Buddhism is also present, with centers founded by teachers like Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Buddhism came to Brazil mainly through Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century, and it continues to grow with many temples across the country.

Judaism

Main article: History of the Jews in Brazil

Jews first arrived in Brazil as people who had converted to Catholicism, often called cristãos-novos or conversos. Some were able to practice their religion openly after Brazil gained independence and freedom of religion in 1824. Later, many Jews came from places like Russia, Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Brazil has the second-largest Jewish population in Latin America, with around 120,000 people.

Islam

Main article: Islam in Brazil

Further information: Malê Revolt

There are around 204,000 Muslims in Brazil, making up about 0.1% of the population as of 2010. Islam in Brazil likely began with African slaves brought from West Africa. In 1835, during Ramadan, a group of enslaved people and freed people in Salvador da Bahia led a major uprising known as the Malê Revolt. Today, there are over 150 mosques where Muslims gather for prayers.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Brazil

Most Hindus in Brazil are from East Indian backgrounds, but there are also new followers due to groups like Hare Krishnas. There are Hindu organizations such as ISKCON and Brahma Kumaris active in Brazil. According to census data, the Hindu population in Brazil was about 9,500 in 2011.

Positivist Church of Brazil

The Positivist Church of Brazil is based on the ideas of the philosopher Auguste Comte. It uses an Amazonian tea called ayahuasca and combines these practices with secular ideas from the time of military rule in Brazil.

Baháʼí Faith

Main article: Baháʼí Faith in Brazil

The Baháʼí Faith began in Brazil in 1919 when Baháʼís first visited the country. The first local community was established in 1928, and by 1961, Brazil had its own national Baháʼí community. The community has grown and played a role in events like the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.

Japanese new religions

There are many followers in Brazil of Japanese new religions such as Oomoto, PL Kyodan, Seicho-no-Ie, and the Church of World Messianity. Together, these groups may have hundreds of thousands of adherents.

Beliefs

A survey from 2009 asked Brazilians about their beliefs. Most people, 64%, said they were Catholics. Other groups included 17% Pentecostal Protestants, 5% non-Pentecostal Protestants, 3% Spiritists, 3% followers of other religions, and 7% who were not religious or did not believe in any god.

Most Brazilians believe in God — 97% said they do. Many also believe in the Devil, with 75% agreeing. About Jesus, 93% believe He rose from the dead, and 87% believe in miracles. Many also believe in saints and pray to them for help.

Freedom of religion

In 2023, Brazil earned the top score for allowing people to practice their beliefs freely. However, some groups, especially those with African-Brazilian traditions, still face unfair treatment and safety concerns.

Regional data