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Which religions are practiced by many people in Rio de Janeiro?

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Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, showing the city's buildings, Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay with boats, and surrounding green hills. — Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In Rio de Janeiro, the population is primarily Roman Catholic. However, the religious landscape is diverse, and many residents simultaneously observe the practices of syncretic religions.12

Specifically, Macumba and Umbanda have many adherents in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Umbanda, which is particularly prevalent in urban areas like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, is a sophisticated religion that incorporates elements of African religions, Roman Catholicism, and Brazilian Spiritualism, and it also reflects influences from Hinduism and Buddhism.23

These syncretic traditions are characterized by the blending of Christian beliefs—such as the veneration of saints—with rites and spiritual practices imported from Africa. It is common for practitioners to identify their deities with Roman Catholic saints, believing these figures intercede on their behalf with a supreme being.23