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Christianity is the main religion in Costa Rica.
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A nationwide survey of religion in Costa Rica, conducted in 2007 by the University of Costa Rica, found that 70.5% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics (with 44.9% practicing, 25.6 percent nonpracticing), 13.8% are Evangelical Protestants, 11.3% report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3% declare that they belong to another religion.
Another survery conducted in 2013 indicated a decline in the share of Catholics and rise in the share of Protestants, irreligious and others.
Established religion
Roman Catholicism is the official state religion according to the 1949 Constitution, which at the same time guarantees freedom of religion. It is the only state in the Americas which established Roman Catholicism as its state religion; other such countries are microstates in Europe: Liechtenstein, Monaco, Vatican City and Malta.
Religious presence
While the Catholic church is still the largest church body, the Evangelical Protestants are growing rapidly, in 2013 representing 13.8% of the population. In Latin America, most Protestants are called Evangelicos. Some of the Protestant churches are Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, and other Protestant groups have significant membership. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) claim more than 35,000 members and has a temple in San Jose that served as a regional worship center for Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Buddhism is the largest non-Christian religion with around 100,000 members, mostly among the Asian community, but with some converted. There are also approximately 2,500 members of the Jewish faith, Jewish people have an important cultural and social input, and many ministers, deputies and three Vice Presidents were Jewish.
Although they represent less than 1 percent of the population, Jehovah's Witnesses have a strong presence on the Caribbean coast. Seventh-day Adventists operate a university that attracts students from throughout the Caribbean Basin. The Unification Church maintains it's continental headquarters for Latin America in San Jose.
Other religious groups, including followers of Islam, Taoism, Hare Krishna, Paganism, Wicca, Scientology, Tenrikyo, and the Bahá'í Faith, claim membership throughout the country, with the majority of worshipers residing in the Central Valley (the area of the capital). While there is no general correlation between religion and ethnicity, indigenous peoples are more likely to practice animism than other religions.
Freedom of religion
Article 75 of the Costa Rican Constitution states that the "Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion is the official religion of the Republic." That same article provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The US government found no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007.