Uruguay religious demographics show high secularism in new survey

A recent survey by Cifra regarding religious identity in Uruguay reveals a highly secularized population. Exactly one-third of adults identify as Catholic, though only 9% of that group are active practitioners, while 24% identify as Catholic but do not practice. Another 28% of the population believes in God but does not feel close to any specific religion, and 28% identify as agnostic or atheist.

Other religious groups, including Protestants, Evangelicals, and Jews, account for 11% of the population. Among these minority groups, 7% are practitioners. The data shows demographic variations: Catholic identification is higher among women and those living outside the capital, Montevideo.

Age and education also influence these trends. Among those under 30, only 16% identify as Catholic, with just 5% being practitioners, while 42% are agnostic or atheist. In contrast, 40% of those over 60 identify as Catholic. Higher levels of formal education correlate with higher proportions of agnostics and atheists, though a significant proportion of highly educated individuals also identify as practicing Catholics.