SOUTH AMERICA

POPULATION

RELIGION

546.336.631

Christian
Non-Religious
Ethno-Religionist
Other
Muslim
Buddhist
Baha’i
Jew
Hindu
Chinese

 

92.14%
4.15%
2.74%
0.24%
0.23%
0.15%
0.14%
0.11%
0.07%
0.03%

Comprising 22 countries; 15% of the world’s land area. This continent can be divided into three almost equal areas in terms of population and land area: Central America, Spanish South America and Brazil.

In 1900, almost the entire Spanish and Portuguese-speaking population was considered Catholic, although much of it had syncretistic influences from pre-Columbian ethnic religions.  The changes since then have been dramatic – from a narrow traditionalism, with strong opposition to Protestant missionary activity, to freedom of religion and the continued rapid rise of evangelicals.