Religious demographic and social shifts in Argentina

Research from the University of Buenos Aires indicates significant shifts in Argentina’s religious landscape and the social role of religious institutions. A study by the Barómetro de las Religiones y las Creencias found that 35.5% of Argentine adults visited a religious institution in the previous year to seek assistance, with 45% of those visitors looking for economic, food, or employment help. Investigators Gabriela Irrazábal and Mariela Mosqueira noted that these sites function as “spaces of reference for thousands of people who look for both emotional consolation and material assistance.”

Broader demographic data from the Observatorio de las Creencias en Argentina (OCREAR) shows a decline in Catholicism, which now stands at 57.7% compared to 90% in 1960. The unaffiliated population has grown to 22.4%, while Evangelicals represent 17.4%. This decline in Catholicism is most notable among those aged 16 to 29.

There is also a trend toward private spirituality; 53.7% of respondents reported praying in private, while only 26.4% attended in-person ceremonies. Evangelicals reported higher levels of both private prayer and communal participation than Catholics.