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...

Articles

In the News

Journal unfolds transformations in Brazilian Catholicism - May 25, 2021
As evangelicals gain, Catholics on verge of losing majority in Brazil - National Catholic Reporter - February 5, 2020
The Catholic Cup: Brazil 2014 - Huffington Post - June 18, 2014
Evangelical Christians gain political clout in Catholic Brazil - Reuters - June 9, 2013

Demographics

National Demographics

Total Population:

210,867,954 1

Urban:

86.60% 1

Rural:

13.40% 1

Immigrants as % of Population:

0.3% 2

Homicides:

26.74 per 100,000 people (global median 6.9) 3

Level of Public Corruption:

79 (1=lowest, 176=highest corruption) 4

Gender Equality in the Economy, Health, Education and Politics:

79 (1=most equal, 144=least equal) 7

Fertility Rate:

1.78 births per adult woman 5

Children Who Do Not Live to Age 5:

1.60% 5

Life Expectancy at Birth:

75 years 5

Adult Literacy Rate:

90.38% 5

Internet Users:

58% 5

Gross National Income per Capita:

US$11,530 5

Population Living Below US$1.90 per Day:

4.9% 5

Catholic Demographics

These statistics are derived from the Vatican's official publication, Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2020 (Vatican City: Librera Editrice Vaticana, 2022). The numbers may differ from data reported by other sources on this site.

Baptized Catholics:

178,423,000

Baptized Catholics as % of Total Population:

84.24%

Baptisms per Year (Under age 7):

962,201

Baptisms per Year (Over age 7):

163,951

First Communions per Year:

618,721

Confirmations per Year:

575,896

Students Enrolled in Catholic Primary Schools:

547,254

Students Enrolled in Catholic Secondary Schools:

175,111

Students Enrolled in Catholic Higher Education:

525,726

Church Marriages per Year:

173,446

Church Marriages in Which Both Spouses are Catholics:

160,231

Priests:

22,556

Women Religious (Nuns & Sisters):

25,158

Catholics per Priest:

7,910

Parishes:

12,199

Mission Stations (no resident priests):

6,134

Catholic Hospitals:

261

Homes for Aged, Handicapped, Invalids:

707

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.

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