Brazil's Religious Landscape: Evangelicals Rise, Catholics Decline

Brazil's Religious Landscape Shifts: Evangelicals Rise, Catholics Decline Brazil's religious landscape is undergoing a transformation, according to the 2022 Brazilian Census data. The census revealed a significant increase in the Evangelical population, now accounting for 26.9% of Brazilians aged 10 and older. Simultaneously, the Catholic population experienced a decline, falling to 56.7%, its lowest level ever recorded. These shifts are not uniform across the country. While the Northeast and South maintain a Catholic majority, northern states show a markedly different trend. "In states like Acre, the Evangelical population surpasses 40%," explains Leonardo Vieceli, a reporter for Folha de S.Paulo. The city of Arroio do Padre in Rio Grande do Sul stands out as having the lowest percentage of Catholics in Brazil, a phenomenon Vieceli attributes to the region's history of German colonization, which brought with it a strong Evangelical presence. The Census data paints a complex picture of Brazil's religious diversity, highlighting the growing influence of Evangelicalism while acknowledging the enduring strength of Catholicism in certain areas. The full data is available on the IBGE website and Folha de S.Paulo's website.