Religion in Venezuela

Religion in Venezuela (2011 census)^[1]

  Catholic (71%)

  Protestant (17%)

  agnostic/atheist (8%)

  Other religion (3%)

  unknown (1%)

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, Aragua de Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela

Venezuela, like most South American nations, is a predominantly Catholic nation. The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to a 2011 poll (GIS XXI), 88 percent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic (71%), and the remaining 17 percent Protestant, primarily Evangelicals (in Latin America Protestants are usually called Evangelicos). The Venezuelans without religion are 8% (atheist 2% and agnostic or indifferent 6%), almost 3% of the population follow other religion (1% of them are of santeria).^[1]

There are small but influential Muslim, Buddhist, and Jewish communities. The Muslim community of more than 1.000,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese and Syrian descent living in Nueva Esparta State, Punto Fijo and the Caracas area. Buddhism in Venezuela is practiced by over 52,000 people. The Buddhist community is made up mainly of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans. There are Buddhist centers in Caracas, Maracay, Mérida, Puerto Ordáz, San Felipe, and Valencia. The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.

LDS Church (Mormons) claims 164,048 members (October 2015) mostly in and around Caracas.^[2]

Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza and Jose Gregorio Hernandez.

In Venezuela, a population of Santeria followers has been growing since 2008.^[3] The rituals can cost 40,000 bolivars and include the slaughtering of a rooster, a chicken, or a goat.^[4]

Detailed religious affiliation in Venezuela. (2011, GIS XXI)^[1]

Affiliation	% of Venezuela population
Christian	88
Catholic	71
Protestant and other Christians	17
Other faiths	3
Santería	1
Atheist	2
Agnostic/indiferent	6
Don't know/refused answer	1
Total	100

References

1. Aguire, Jesus Maria (June 2012). "Informe Sociográfico sobre la religión en Venezuela" (PDF) (in Spanish). El Centro Gumilla. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
2. "LDS Starics". Mormon Newsroom. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
3. "Santeria surges in Venezuela - World news - Venezuela | NBC News". MSNBC. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
4. "Hasta 40 mil bolívares cuesta hacerse "El Santo" - Actualidad | Últimas Noticias". Ultimasnoticias.com.ve. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2013-02-18.