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

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

Demographics of atheism

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

See also

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References

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  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.