The Church is the most trusted institution in Latin America, according to new study

The Latinobarómetro 2026 report shows the Church is the most trusted institution in Latin America, with an average public confidence rating of 63%. This figure exceeds the 43% confidence levels reported for both radio and the armed forces. Political parties received the lowest level of trust at 15%.

The study is based on 19,207 in-person interviews conducted across 17 countries between May and June 2026. The report notes that the survey measures confidence in the Church as an institution rather than specifically the Catholic Church. It does not specify the number of respondents who identify as Catholic or practice their faith regularly.

Confidence levels vary by country. Honduras and Guatemala reported the highest trust at 77%, followed by Paraguay and El Salvador at 76%, and the Dominican Republic at 75%. Panama recorded 72%, Peru 66%, Mexico 55%, Chile 54%, Brazil and Ecuador 59%, and Venezuela 61%. Uruguay reported the lowest confidence at 42%, followed by Argentina at 44%.