Protestantism in Colombia explained

The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) does not collect religious statistics, and accurate reports are difficult to obtain. However, based on various studies and a survey, about 90% of the population adheres to Christianity, the majority of which (70.9%) are Roman Catholic, while a significant minority (16.7%) adhere to Protestantism (primarily Evangelicalism).^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 2020, figures suggest that Protestants make up 14% of the country's population.^[4]

Protestant Christians present in Colombia are Baptists, Lutherans, Mennonites, Nazarenes, Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists.

List of Denominations

• Alianza Cristiana y Misionera
• Assemblies of God
• Asociación de Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas de Colombia: 831 (1998)
• Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International
• Church of the Nazarene

12,860 (1998)

• Hermanos en Cristo
• Iglesia Cruzada Evangélica
• Iglesia de Dios
• Iglesia Evangélica Luterana
• Misión Evangélica
• Mision Indigena
• Misión Nuevas Tribus
• Presbyterian Church of Colombia
• Unión Misionera Evangélica
• Seventh-day Adventist Church

Freedom of religion

The constitution provides for freedom of religion and the government generally is in support of this. However, international NGOs have stated that indigenous Protestants face threats, harassment and arbitrary detention in their communities due to their religious beliefs; in particular, Indigenous authorities in the Pizarro and Litoral de San Juan municipalities in the Chocó Department have prohibited the practice of Christianity and stated punishments for Protestants.

In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.^[5]

In the same year, the country was rank as the 22nd most difficulty place in the world to be a Christian.^[6]

See also

• Religion in Colombia
• Christianity in Colombia
• Protestantism by country

External links

• Adherents.com - Religion by Location
• 2000 Caribbean, Central & South America Mennonite & Brethren in Christ Churches
• World Christian Encyclopedia: Second edition, Volume 1, pp 205 /206
• Colombia, International Religious Freedom Report 2006
• Union Columbiana Adventista del Séptimo Día
• Colombia: nationwide Adventist effort feeds 80,000 in two hours

Notes and References

1. Web site: Del monopolio católico a la explosión pentecostal’. Beltrán Cely, William Mauricio. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Centro de Estudios Sociales (CES), Maestría en Sociología. Spanish. 978-958-761-465-7. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160327173229/http://www.bdigital.unal.edu.co/10780/1/Del%20monopolio%20cat%C3%B3lico%20a%20la%20explosi%C3%B3n%20pentecostal.pdf. 2016-03-27.
2. Web site: Descripción cuantitativa de la pluralización religiosa en Colombia. Beltrán Cely, William Mauricio. William Mauricio Beltrán Cely. Universitas humanística 73 (2012): 201–238. – bdigital.unal.edu.co. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329185722/http://www.bdigital.unal.edu.co/8486/1/williammauriciobeltran.2011.pdf. 2014-03-29.
3. Web site: Religion in Latin America, Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region. pewforum.org. Pew Research Center. November 13, 2014.
4. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/colombia US State Dept 2022 report
5. https://freedomhouse.org/country/colombia/freedom-world/2022 Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
6. https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/colombia/ Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08