What's happened
Latin America sees a rise in Protestant Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, now about 11% of the population, with Pentecostal/Charismatic groups reaching 676 million adherents globally in 2026. The trend influences culture and politics across the region, including Brazil, where Pentecostalism intersects with social identity.
What's behind the headline?
Context and trajectory
- Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity has become a dominant force in Latin America, with 105 million Pentecostals/Charismatics in Brazil alone.
- The movement’s growth is tied to social and cultural shifts, offering a personal, embodied form of faith in contrast to traditional Catholic practices.
Implications for society
- This expansion shapes political attitudes and social identities, influencing policy debates and community dynamics.
- As religious affiliations shift, public life may see changes in education, gender norms, and charitable work.
Forward look
- Growth is expected to continue, potentially reshaping regional religious demographics and political affiliations over the coming decades.
- Watch for new denominational leaders and cross-border collaborations to consolidate influence.
How we got here
Pentecostalism in Latin America originated from early 20th-century revivals and has grown rapidly, especially in Brazil. Churches emphasize personal experiences of faith, spiritual gifts, and active community life. The movement’s expansion affects religious landscapes, social norms, and political engagement across the region.
Our analysis
Independent reports on Pentecostal demographics in Brazil and Latin America, with contextual data on global Pentecostalism and its political entanglements. AP News coverage provides insights into the SSPX schism and Vatican responses to traditional Catholic movements influencing global church politics.
Go deeper
- How might rising Pentecostalism affect local politics and policy in your country?
- What shifts in social behavior are linked to the growth of Pentecostal churches?
- Which denominations are expanding fastest, and why?
More on these topics
-
Bridgeport - County seat city of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The population was 148,654 in 2020, making it the fifth-most populous city in New England. It is a port city in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound, 60 miles (97 km) from Manhattan and 40 miles (64 km) from The Bronx. Bridgeport and other towns in Fairfield County make up the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, as well as the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk–Danbury metropolitan statistical area, the second largest metropolitan area in Connecticut and a component of the greater New York metropolitan area. Inhabited by the Paugussett Native American tribe until English colonisation in the 1600s, Bridgeport was incorporated as a town in 1821 and as a city in 1836. Showman P. T. Barnum was a resident of the city and served as the town's mayor in 1871. Barnum built four houses in Bridgeport and housed his circus in town during winter. In the early 20th century, the city saw an economic and population boom, becoming by all measures Connecticut's chief manufacturing city by 1905. Bridgeport was the site of the world's first mutual telephone exchange (1877), the first dental hygiene...
-
Pope Francis
Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory
-
Associated Press - News agency company
The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. Its members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters.
-
Switzerland - Country in Europe
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country situated in the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern.