Irreligion in Guatemala

Irreligion in Guatemala is a minority of the population, as Christianity is the predominant faith in the country.[1] Irreligion has grown in the country since the 1990s. Most Guatemalans are Christian through cultural influence, and politically the Church still has a good relationship with the government.

According to the World Values Survey, 3.6% do not believe in God.[2] According to ARDA investigations, 15% is non-believer or atheistic.[3] According to the national Survey Prodatos, in 2016,[4] 11% of the population reported being non-religious. In 2002, according to nationwide surveys, 11.7% reported themselves as non-religious, whilst it was 9.5% in the metropolitan area. In other regions the percentage were substantially higher, being 15.4% in the north-west and 17.7% in Peten.[5][6] By 1998-1999, the Department of Health survey found that 16% of population was irreligious.[7]

During the 2010s, Pew Research Center reported that no more than 5% of the Guatemalan population was irreligious. This change of criteria could be influenced by the increase of poverty from 51% to 59% between 2006 and 2014,[8] along with the resistant conservative branch in the political environment.

Separation of Church and State edit

According to the Guatemala constitution all citizens have the right to practice or not practice the religion of their choice.[9]

Demographics of atheism edit

Atheism is prevalent amongst the Latino population.[10][11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ON RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION IN GUATEMALA: 1990-2018" (PDF). Prolades.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  2. ^ Believe in God World Values Survey 2017-2022 Wave
  3. ^ Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Guatemala - Analysis (Association of Religion Data Archives)
  4. ^ United States Department of State; International Office for the Freedom of Religion (2022). "GUATEMALA 2021 INFORME INTERNACIONAL SOBRE LA LIBERTAD DE RELIGIÓN" (PDF) (in Spanish). International Religious Freedom Report.
  5. ^ [1] Guttmacher Institute, p. 33
  6. ^ [2] Informe de Desarrollo Humano, p.85-86
  7. ^ Spiritual and Power - A 10 countries surveys of Pentecostals Pew Forum Research (page 77, 78 and 79.)
  8. ^ Bolaños, Rosa María (10 December 2015). "Pobreza sube a 59.3%: Son 9.6 millones de guatemaltecos los afectados". Prensa Libre (in Spanish).
  9. ^ "CONSTITUCIÓN POLÍTICA DE LA REPUBLICA DE GUATEMALA" (PDF). 27 May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Los múltiples rostros de la diversidad" (PDF). Url.edu.gt (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Los jóvenes sin religión". República (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2018-10-16.