Religion by Country
Religion in the Philippines: Statistics & Demographics
Asia's largest Catholic nation — overwhelmingly Christian, with a deeply rooted Muslim minority in the south.
Quick answer
Roman Catholics make up 78.8% of the Philippines' population, and Christianity as a whole around 89%, making it one of the most Christian countries in the world and the largest Catholic nation in Asia. Islam (6.4%) is the largest non-Christian religion, concentrated in the southern Bangsamoro region. Figures are from the 2020 census.
- Largest religion
- Roman Catholicism — 78.8%
- Christianity overall
- ~89% of the population
- Largest non-Christian faith
- Islam — 6.4% (majority in BARMM)
- Data source
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
- Reference year
- 2020 Census of Population and Housing
Religion in the Philippines at a glance
The Philippines is the largest predominantly Catholic nation in Asia and one of the most Christian countries in the world, with a significant Muslim minority concentrated in the south. Figures are from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2020 Census of Population and Housing.
| Affiliation | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 85.6 million | 78.8% |
| Islam | 7.0 million | 6.4% |
| Evangelical (PCEC) | ~5.2 million | ~4.8% |
| Iglesia ni Cristo | 2.8 million | 2.6% |
| Other Christian & faiths | ~8 million | ~7% |
The main affiliations
Roman Catholicism (78.8%) is the majority in 16 of the country's 17 regions, a legacy of more than three centuries of Spanish rule. Together with Evangelical and other Protestant churches, the home-grown Iglesia ni Cristo and the Aglipayan church, Christianity as a whole accounts for roughly nine in ten Filipinos. Islam (6.4%) is the largest non-Christian religion.
A Christian nation with a Muslim south
Religion in the Philippines is sharply regional. The one region where Catholicism is not the majority is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where Islam accounts for about 91% of the population. Islam has deep roots in the southern islands, predating Spanish colonisation, and shapes a distinct cultural and political identity there.
A short history
Islam reached the southern Philippines through trade before the 16th century. Spanish colonisation from 1565 made most of the archipelago Catholic, while the American period from 1898 introduced Protestant churches. Indigenous Christian movements such as Iglesia ni Cristo (founded 1914) and the Aglipayan church (1902) later emerged from this mix.
Belief and society
Religion is central to Filipino public life, with both Christian holy days and the Islamic Eid holidays recognised nationally. For a contrasting Southeast Asian profile, see religion in Indonesia and religion in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in the Philippines?
Roman Catholicism is the main religion, followed by 78.8% of the population at the 2020 census. Christianity overall accounts for about nine in ten Filipinos.
Is the Philippines a Catholic country?
Yes — it is the largest predominantly Catholic nation in Asia, with Roman Catholicism the majority religion in 16 of its 17 regions.
Where do Muslims live in the Philippines?
Islam is concentrated in the south, especially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where Muslims make up about 91% of the population.
What is Iglesia ni Cristo?
Iglesia ni Cristo is a Christian church founded in the Philippines in 1914; at the 2020 census it was the third-largest religious affiliation, at 2.6% of the population.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from the Philippine Statistics Authority's 2020 Census of Population and Housing, which records the self-reported religious affiliation of each household member. Christian totals combine Roman Catholic, Evangelical and other Protestant, Iglesia ni Cristo, Aglipayan and other churches.
- Philippine Statistics Authority, Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census).