Mexican Relgions

Basilica de Guadalupe

In view of the fact that the Mexican constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Mexico does not have an official state religion. However, it is a widely accepted idea that the vast majority of Mexicans consider themselves to be Christians. This is very much evident in the abundance of religious symbolism incorporated into the Mexican culture and way of life. An estimated 89% of the population is predominantly Roman Catholic.

Mexico is the country with the second largest Catholic population, the first being Brazil. There are extreme variations of how Catholicism is practiced in Mexico. On one end are those who support and practice traditional folk religious practices, and on the other end are those who support and practice the highly-controversial theology of liberation.

A growing number of lay groups and organizations with different goals, purposes and orientations are also widely known and accepted in the country. Some of the larger and more-popularly known lay groups include the following: Mexican Catholic Action, Knights of Columbus, and Christian Family Movement.

Of the remaining 11% of the population, 6% consist of Mexicans who belong to various Protestant faiths, while the last 5% consist of Mexicans belong to other religions or have no religious affiliations.

A religion which is steadily growing, especially in the major border cities of northeastern Mexico, is Mormonism. Mormons belong to The Church of the Latter-day Saints and comprise about one million members throughout the country. Judaism has also been around for centuries in Mexico and there is an estimated presence of around 45,000 Jewish Mexicans in the country today. Islam also has a minor presence in Mexico, and is for the most part practiced by Arab and Muslim nationals residing in the country as well as a very small number of the indigenous population in Chiapas.