Religion in Venezuela


is the largest religion in Venezuela, with Roman Catholicism having the most adherents.
The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to a 2011 poll, 88 percent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic, and the remaining 17 percent Protestant, primarily Evangelicals. The Venezuelans without religion are 8%, almost 3% of the population follow other religion.
There are small but influential Muslim, Buddhist, and Jewish communities. The Muslim community of about 95,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese and Syrian descent living in Nueva Esparta State, Punto Fijo and the Caracas area; Venezuela also has a significant Druze community from the same countries. Buddhism in Venezuela is practiced by over 52,000 people. The Buddhist community is made up mainly of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans. There are Buddhist centers in Caracas, Maracay, Mérida, Puerto Ordáz, San Felipe, and Valencia.
The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.
LDS Church claims 165,527 members mostly in and around Caracas.
Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza and Jose Gregorio Hernandez.
In Venezuela, a population of Santeria followers has been growing since 2008. The rituals include the slaughtering of a rooster, a chicken, or a goat.

Religious freedom

The constitution of Venezuela provides for the freedom of religion insofar as it does not violate "public morality or decency". A 2017 constitutional law criminalizes "incitement to hatred" or violence, including provisions specifically concerning the incitement of hatred against religious groups.
Religious organizations must register with the government in order to obtain legal status. The Directorate of Justice and Religion, part of the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace, manages registrations, disburses funds to registered organizations, and promotes religious tolerance. Chaplain services in the military are available only for Catholics.
Religious education is allowed in public schools, although it is not part of any official curriculum proposed by the government. Representatives of the Catholic Church-affiliated National Laity Council have claimed that the government has at times pressured school administrators to not teach religious courses, but that in other cases teachers had autonomy to include religious education as long as their curricula were otherwise compliant with the Ministry of Education's standards.
Leaders of religious organizations who are vocal critics of the government faced harassment by pro-government groups who accused them of improperly politicizing their religious services. In some cases this harassment has escalated to violence. Jewish community leaders have accused state-funded media and some government officials of engaging in antisemitic rhetoric.