Evangelical faith gains traction in rural Peru with young populations moving away from established religious establishments.
Evangelicals on the Rise in Peru amid Shift from Catholicism
Peru's religious landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades, with evangelicals gaining ground at the expense of Catholics. The growing number of evangelicals and shrinking Catholic population became evident in a survey by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), mirroring trends seen in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Guatemala.
The IEP, a renowned think tank, revealed that whereas in 2024, 63.5% of Peruvians identified as Catholics, the figure dropped to 60.2% in 2025. This decline stemmed from a series of internal events that damaged the Church's image. On the other hand, the number of evangelicals rose from 8.4% to 11.3% during this period.
The IEP study also showed that those identifying as "another religion" fell by one point, from 14% to 13%, while agnostics and atheists declined further from 2% to 1%. Interestingly, the number of people without religious affiliation (the "nones") increased from 11% to 12% of the population.
Evangelical presence in public life, particularly in politics, has grown as a result of this trend. Parliamentarians like Milagros Jaúregui de Aguayo and Alejandro Muñante have made their mark, advocating for issues such as life, family, child welfare, and the reintegration of foster children.
Some experts believe that the growing number of people without religious affiliation can be attributed to disillusionment among the younger generation, especially university students. Verónica Lecaros, a theologian, explained that young people feel disappointed with the Church due to its perceived inability to adapt to modern times.
Scandals tarnishing the image of some Catholic institutions, such as the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) and allegations of sexual abuse against Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, have fueled this disillusionment. The widespread disappointment underscores the challenges ahead for Catholicism in Peru.
It's worth noting that socioeconomic factors, religious experiences, outreach strategies, perceptions of religious institutions, and demographic trends have all played a part in this religious shift. For instance, urbanization and economic mobility have contributed to the rise of evangelical churches in urban areas, while their community support and practical assistance have made them attractive alternatives. Moreover, their personalized faith, strong sense of community, active evangelization, and adaptability have increased their appeal to younger generations and diverse Peruvian populations.
In contrast, Catholics in Peru have criticized the Church for its perceived slowness in addressing social issues, the perception of over-alignment with the establishment, and the impact of scandals on trust in the institution.
Despite these challenges, Catholic-affiliated institutions like the National University of Engineering and the Universidad Particular de Chiclayo continue to exert influence in areas such as education. Yet, they have not been able to reverse the overall demographic shift toward evangelical congregations in religious life.
- The growth in Peruvian evangelical population extends beyond internal church matters, significantly impacting the political landscape, as parliamentarians like Milagros Jaúregui de Aguayo and Alejandro Muñante have become influential figures, advocating for issues such as life, family, child welfare, and the reintegration of foster children.
- General-news reports frequently cover the escalating influence of evangelicals in Peru, not only in religious matters but also in politics, with urbanization, economic mobility, and personalized faith attracting youth demographics to evangelical churches and altering the nation's religious landscape.
