Religion in Venezuela

Religion in Venezuela (2013)^[1]

  Catholic (79%)

  Protestant (13%)

  agnostic/atheist (6%)

  Other religion (2%)

  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 the 2011 census, 88 percent of the population is christian, primordialy Roman Catholic (71%), and the remaining 17 percent Protestant. The Venezuelans whitout religion are 8% (atheist 2% and agnostic or indifferent 6%), almost 3% of the population follow other religion (1% of them are of santeria).^[2]

There are small but influential Muslim, Buddhist, and Jewish communities. The Muslim community of more than 100,000 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.

Currently there are approximately 161,309 Mormons (LDS Church) mostly in and around Caracas.^[3]

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 growing population of Santeria followers has been growing since 2008.^[4] The rituals can cost 40,000 bolivars and include the slaughtering of a rooster, a chicken, or a goat.^[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Religion in Venezuela.

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