Uruguay - Religions

Since 1919, church and state have been separated, and the constitution, as revised in 1966, guarantees religious freedom. Uruguay is the only Latin American nation that approaches religious pluralism. About 52% of Uruguayans identify themselves as Roman Catholic. Approximately 16% of the population is Protestant or other Christian, and 1% are Jewish. As many as 30% are members of other religions or profess no religious faith whatsoever. Primary Protestant denominations include Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists. Others include Pentecostals, Mennonites, Eastern Orthodox, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses. There are small communities of Muslims and Baha'is. In a 1998 poll, 13% of the population claimed to be atheist or agnostic. About 6% claimed to practice animism.