Bolivia Religion

Religion plays a significant role in Bolivian culture and traditions. Many Bolivian customs, holidays, and festivals are spiritual in origin, typically Catholic. Bolivia has a diverse population, though. In Bolivia, there are close to thirty distinct indigenous cultures, each with its unique set of values and traditions. Many of these tribes continue to worship or show respect to their ancestors' gods.

Catholicism is the predominant religion in Bolivia. More than 80% of Bolivians identify as Catholic. However, when the Spanish arrived to occupy South America in the early 1500s, this was imposed on the indigenous ethnic groups. Priests from the Franciscan, Dominican, and Jesuit orders all made numerous trips to South America to evangelize the local indigenous populations.

Along with Catholicism, other religions including Protestantism and others are growing in popularity in Bolivia. Every major city has a Mormon Church (also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The largest population of Bahai believers in the world is also found in Bolivia. There are also major churches and several missions belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Lutherans, and other evangelical groups. Another extremely numerous and fervent group that has colonized significant areas of Bolivia is the Mennonites, the majority of whom reside in southeast Santa Cruz. The small but existent Jewish and Muslim communities in Bolivia, as well as other Asian ethnicities like the Korean and Japanese groups, all practice their respective religions. Religion is also a noticeable thing among Bolivian Culture, Customs and Etiquette that you should know.