What is the main religion in Mexico?

While Mexico is technically a secular state, religiousness is a feature that defines through religious traditions, rituals, and beliefs that have been developing for a long time. The country is officially secular, but the impact of religion is significant in most areas of Mexican culture, customs, and everyday life. This paper discusses the main religious belief among Mexican people, how it has changed in the past, and its significance to residents in Mexico or those who are considering moving there.

The Dominance of Christianity and Catholicism

The statistics say that Christianity is the most widespread religion in Mexico, but it is the cornerstone of approximately 91% of the Mexican population apart from being the biggest in terms of the Catholic denomination with around 77.7% - 77.8% of those that are Catholics, as indicated in the latest census statistics.

Consequently, Roman Catholicism is the most dominant religion in Mexico. As the 2020 census stated, among the citizens of Mexico, who are Catholics, that is, approximately 77.7% to 77.8% of it, the Catholic Church is the largest denomination of Christianity.

The country is home to one of the largest Catholic populations in the world, but it falls short of Brazil's being the first.6

The presence of Catholicism is evident in the grandiosity of cathedrals, those that one can find by the sides of roads to different corners of the country, and the holidays and celebrations that the masses observe. Holy Week, Christmas, and the Day of the Dead are some of the main events in which Catholicism is heralded through a fusion4.

Protestantism Emerges and Other Christian Sects

Even though Catholicism is ongoing, the decline of its share of humanity has been a constant fact over the last century. One hundred years ago, almost 99% of Mexicans declared Roman Catholic; in 2020 barely 78% of the population remained faithful to this religion. The decrease has been mainly due to the increase in the number of Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations, which are now responsible for approximately 11% to 13.5% of the population.

By far the most significant of these is the predominance of Eastern Christianity in the south of the country and in the poorest areas. Evangelical churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons have had a considerable impact on church attendance and contributed to the ongoing religious changes in Mexico.

Though they are smaller than those of the Catholics and mainline Protestants, other Christian groups such as the Adventists and Pentecostals also have a presence.

Religious Minorities and Secularism

Besides Christianity, there is a small section of Mexico's population belonging to different religions. This can include Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, as well as indigenous religious beliefs only that neither of them comprises 1% of the total population. Such as, there are only 59,000 Jews and less than 8,000 Muslims in Mexico.

There's an increasing portion of Mexico's society that is described as non-religious or unaffiliated category of people, and now it constitutes about 7.7% to 8.4% of the country’s population as of the most recent census. Many Mexicans are reported to believe in a higher power, albeit without religion, which mirrors the broader global trends of secularism and spiritual pluralism. This legal framework was established in the mid-19th century and reinforced in the 1917 Constitution, following periods of conflict between the government and the Catholic Church.

Today, religious groups are free to practice their faith in Mexico; however, they are subject to certain restrictions regarding their roles in politics and education. The state does not provide financial resources to religious institutions, and it is forbidden for ministers to occupy public offices. Even with these legal limits, the influence of religion on Mexican culture is deeply felt, affecting everything from festivals to social norms.

Syncretism and Indigenous Traditions

An essential aspect of religion in Mexico is syncretism, which refers to the mix of Catholicism with indigenous and African traditions. This feature is visible in customs like the Day of the Dead, where Catholic and pre-Hispanic practices are combined; and saints’ adoration and the Virgin of Guadalupe, who besides being a Catholic icon, is also a symbol of indigenous identity, and even more so a parallel one—indigenous.

People’s folk religions like Mexicayotl and local shamanic practices are still celebrated in some areas, which adds up to the already high religious diversity of the country!

Trends and Changes in Religious Affiliation

The share of Catholics in Mexico has been gradually falling over the last century compared to the Protestant and Evangelical churches whose numbers have been on the rise. This drift is assumed to proceed further as the new generations opt out from the traditional spiritual paths and reject organized religion in entirety.

Movement of people to cities, access to the internet, and globalization are some of the reasons why the attitudes of people towards religion are shifting. However, religious festivals, family traditions, and public rituals remain a key part of Mexican life.

Moving to Mexico: Religion and Daily Life

If a person is thinking of moving to Mexico, they need to understand the religious environment of the country since that is necessary for community integration. Public life may be dominated by Catholic practices, but there is a growing understanding and acceptance of religious diversity and secular perspectives. Newcomers who participate in local festivals, as well as respect religious traditions, can get through tough times and, at the same time, come to realize and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Mexico.

Moving to Mexico also means that one will be in a society where the people’s faithfulness and traditions are an inextricable part of their everyday lives, but at the same time, the legal system will guarantee the freedom of one’s personal beliefs.

The most popular religion in Mexico is Christianity, followed by Catholicism as the most popular fraction, Protestant, and Evangelical churches. Even though Catholicism is no longer dominant, it still is the backbone of Mexican culture and society. There is an increase of different religious groups and secularism similar to the U.S. while the faithful still do shape the identity of Mexico.

Moving to Mexico opens up a new, beautiful, and powerful experience of tradition, spirituality, and a sense of sharing among people, regardless of religion.