Christianity is the dominant religion in Chile, with roughly 70% of the population identifying as Christian. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the religious landscape is split primarily between Roman Catholics (54%) and Evangelicals or Protestants (16.3%). While Christianity remains culturally deep-rooted, Chile has experienced a massive shift toward secularization, with the number of citizens claiming “no religion” surging to over 25%.
Major Christian Denominations
Roman Catholicism
Catholicism was introduced by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century and holds massive historical weight. Although officially separated from the state since 1925, the Catholic Church still retains a high-profile presence in institutional ceremonies.
However, its influence has plummeted. In 1930, 98% of Chileans identified as Catholic, falling to 70% in 2002, and hitting a historic low of 54%. This decline is heavily attributed to widespread institutional distrust following high-profile clerical sexual abuse scandals.
Protestantism and Pentecostalism
Protestants account for 16.3% of the population. The vast majority (around 90%) of Chilean Protestants belong to the Pentecostal movement, which uniquely evolved natively out of the local Methodist Church in 1909. Other smaller traditional denominations present include Lutherans (tied to German immigration), Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Baptists.
Other Christian Groups
Minority Christian organizations comprise less than 2% of the country:
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Orthodox Christianity (largely consisting of the prominent Palestinian-Chilean diaspora community)
Key Historical & Social Intersections
- Human Rights Advocacy: During the Augusto Pinochet military dictatorship (1973–1990), the Catholic Church—via the Vicaría de la Solidaridad—played a heroic role by legally defending political prisoners and documenting severe human rights abuses.
- Social Unrest & Arson: In recent years, deep-seated resentment against traditional institutions sparked aggressive civil unrest. Dozens of Catholic and Protestant churches have been targeted, vandalized, or completely destroyed by arson during political protests and regional conflicts in areas like Araucanía.
- Indigenous Christianity: Among Chile’s indigenous populations (primarily the Mapuche), religious affiliation deviates from the national norm. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Religious Freedom Report, more indigenous Chileans identify as Evangelical Protestant (38%) than Roman Catholic (30%), with many blending Christian teachings with traditional ancestral spirituality.
Links for further overview of Chile:
Stichting HEALING THE NATIONS 