2013-07-17-皮尤-Brazil_s_Changing_Religious_Landscape_11页_185kb

Brazil's Changing Religious Landscape Summary

Core Content

The Pew Research Center's report highlights the significant religious transformation in Brazil from 1970 to 2010, showing a decline in Roman Catholicism and a rise in Protestantism, as well as growth in other religious groups and the unaffiliated.

Main Trends

• Roman Catholics in Decline: Brazil's Roman Catholic population, once the majority, has been steadily decreasing. In 1970, 92% of the population identified as Catholic, but by 2010, this share had dropped to 65%.
• Protestants on the Rise: Protestantism has grown significantly, rising from 5% in 1970 to 22% in 2010. This includes historically mainline, evangelical, and Pentecostal denominations, as well as independent and neo-Pentecostal churches.
• Other Religions and Unaffiliated Groups: The number of Brazilians who identify with other religions, such as Afro-Brazilian faiths and global religions like Buddhism and Islam, increased from 2 million in 1970 to 10 million in 2010. The unaffiliated group also grew, from less than 1 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2010.

Key Information

Protestant Growth

• Pentecostalism: The most rapidly growing segment within Protestantism, increasing from 6% in 1991 to 13% in 2010.
• Historical Protestant Denominations: These have remained relatively stable, at about 3% to 4% of the population.
• Unclassified Protestants: This group, which includes those who identify as Protestant but are not classified into specific denominations, grew from less than 1% in 1991 to 5% in 2010.

Demographic Shifts

• Age: Younger generations are more likely to identify as Protestant or unaffiliated. For example, 22% of those aged 15-29 are Protestant, compared with 17% of those 70 and older.
• Urban vs. Rural: Urban areas have seen a greater shift away from Catholicism. In 2010, 62% of urban dwellers identified as Catholic, while 78% of rural residents did.
• Gender: Women are more likely than men to identify as Protestant (24% vs. 20%), while men are more likely to be unaffiliated (10% vs. 6%).
• Education: Adults with higher education levels are more likely to identify with other religions (9% vs. 4% for those with less education). Spiritist movements, in particular, are more common among those with higher education.

Methodology

• The data is based on Brazilian census information from 1970, 1980, 1991, 2000, and 2010.
• For the 2010 census, data was obtained directly from IBGE, while earlier years were sourced from IPUMS-International.
• The report distinguishes between Roman Catholics and other Catholic groups, such as independent churches, which are not included in the Roman Catholic count.
• Adjustments were made to previous reports to account for underreporting in younger age groups, but no such adjustment was applied in this report to align with 2010 census data.

Conclusion

The shift in Brazil's religious landscape reflects broader societal changes, including urbanization, educational attainment, and generational differences. The decline of Roman Catholicism and the rise of Protestantism, along with the growth of other religions and the unaffiliated, indicate a more diverse and secularizing religious environment in Brazil.