Brazil evangelical churches grow 543% in 30 years

Evangelical churches in Brazil have experienced a 543% increase over a 29-year period. According to a study by the Center for Metropolis Studies (CEM) at the University of São Paulo, the number of evangelical churches rose from 7,033 in 1990 to 109,566 in 2019.

This growth reflects a significant shift in the country's religious demographics. Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics shows that the percentage of Brazilians identifying as evangelical rose from 9% in 1990 to 22.2% in 2010. More recent surveys, including a 2020 Datafolha poll, indicate that this upward trend continues.

The fastest-growing segments are Pentecostal and Charismatic groups, which account for 56% of these churches. Traditional evangelical denominations, such as Baptists or Methodists, represent approximately 22,400 of the institutions.