Mosques in Latin America

Definition

This entry provides some statistical information about Muslims and their place of worship, also known as mosques, or mezquitas in Latin America. This entry describes some of the prominent mosques in Latin America, specifically in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela. Until very recently, there has been limited information available on the growing number of Muslim communities and their mosques in the various locations across the continent.

In terms of religious identity, the prevailing image of Latin America is one that is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Indeed, Roman Catholicism continues to hold sway across much of Latin America. A 2014 study by the Pew Research Center found that there are about 425 million Roman Catholics throughout Latin America, some 40 % of the world’s Catholic population. Yet Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world and is gaining popularity across Latin America, including...