Percentage of the Brazilian population went from 0.3% in 2010 to 1.05% in 2022, according to IBGE data
The number of Brazilians who declare themselves to be practitioners of African-based religions (umbanda and Candomblé) tripled from 2010 to 2022. According to data from the 2022 Demographic Census, from the (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), this group went from 0.3% to 1.05% of the population. In absolute numbers, the contingent now totals 1.8 million people. Read the data (PDF – 1 MB).
Among the Federation units, Rio Grande do Sul leads the national ranking, with 3.19% of the population declaring themselves to be practicing these religions. Rio de Janeiro (2.58%), São Paulo (1.47%), Bahia (1.00%) and Distrito Federal (0.85%) complete the top 5.
When breaking down by skin color, data from 2022 shows the following composition among Umbanda or Candomblé followers:
- white – 42,9%;
- brown – 33,2%;
- black – 23,2%.
HIGH EDUCATION
Umbanda and Candomblé practitioners have one of the highest educational profiles in the country. The group has the 2nd highest proportion of people with a higher education degree (25.5%), behind only spiritualists (48%). The illiteracy rate within this group is 2.4%, one of the lowest recorded by the Census.
RELIGIOUS TRANSITION IN BRAZIL
The 2022 Census shows a drop in the number of Catholics and a growth among evangelicals. Read the infographic below:
