Brazil

The fifth largest country in the world, Brazil is also the country with the largest Catholic population in the world. Almost 2/3 of the country’s population – 123 million people – identify as Catholic. Such a large geography and population means that Brazilian Catholicism is far more diverse and multifaceted than might often be portrayed.

From small but fervent community gatherings to read gospel and discuss social welfare issues, to the grand spectacle of Holy Week passion plays and processions, and the mass popularity of iconic singing priests, Brazilians have found forms of Catholicism that respond to their modern lifestyles. Read more...

Demographics

  • 1. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2018). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision, Online Edition.
  • 2.United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision.
  • 3.United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Homicide Statistics 2015.
  • 4.Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2016.
  • 5.UNICEF, State of the World's Children, 2016.
  • 6. Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2020 (Vatican City: Librera Editrice Vaticana, 2022).
  • 7.World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report, 2016.

Footnotes