Editing Demographics of Uruguay (section)

==Religion==
{{Main article|Religion in Uruguay}}
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Uruguay <ref name="CIAPAPUANEWGUINEA">{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/uruguay/|title=South America :: URUGUAY|date=10 May 2022 |publisher= CIA The World Factbook}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1='''Religion'''
|right1='''Percent'''
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholic]]|GREEN|47.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Nondenominational]] |RED|23.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Agnosticism|Agnostic]] or [[Atheism|Atheist]] |blue|17.2}}
{{bar percent|Non-Catholic Christian|pink|11.1}}
{{bar percent|Other|orange|1.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Judaism|Jewish]]|black|0.3}}

}}
Uruguay has no official religion, church and state are officially separated, and [[religious freedom]] is guaranteed. A 2008 survey by the [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Uruguay)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]] of Uruguay gave Catholicism as the main religion, with 45.7% of the population, 9.0% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.6% are [[Animists]] or [[Umbanda|Umbandists]] (an [[Afro-Brazilian]] religion) and 0.4% Jewish. 30.1% reported believing in a god, but not belonging to any religion, while 14% were [[Atheist]] or Agnostic.<ref name="ine-rel">{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/anda/ddibrowser/?id=11&section=variable&varid=V157 |title=Encuesta Continua de Hogares 2008 – Religion |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |access-date=2010-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114015256/http://www.ine.gub.uy/anda/ddibrowser/?id=11&section=variable&varid=V157 |archive-date=14 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> Among the sizeable [[Armenians in Uruguay|Armenian]] community in Montevideo the dominant religion is Christianity, specifically [[Armenian Apostolic]].<ref>{{cite web|author=1/0 Technology Corp. – Paul R. Williams, John BUDDAY Running |url=http://www.agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=533 |title=Armenian General Benevolent Union – Publications |publisher=Agbu.org |access-date=2010-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116205137/http://agbu.org/publications/article.asp?A_ID=533 |archive-date=16 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Political observers consider Uruguay the most secular country in the Americas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html |title=UMM &#124; Latin American Area Studies – Countries |publisher=Morris.umn.edu |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=2010-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714153604/http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/laas/Uruguay.html |archive-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Uruguay's secularization began with the relatively minor role of the church in the colonial era, compared with other parts of the [[Spanish Empire]]. The small numbers of Uruguay's Indians and their fierce resistance to proselytism reduced the influence of the ecclesiastical authorities.<ref name="rel-cs"/>

After independence, [[Anti-clericalism|anticlerical]] ideas spread to Uruguay, particularly from France, further eroding the influence of the church.<ref name=government>{{cite web |title=Explore Uruguay – About Uruguay Government |url=http://www.explore-uruguay.com/uruguay-government.html |publisher=Explore Uruguay |access-date=23 March 2011}}</ref> In 1837, civil marriage was recognized and in 1861 the state took over the running of public cemeteries. In 1907, divorce was legalized and in 1909, all religious instruction was banned from state schools.<ref name="rel-cs"/> Under the influence of the [[Colorado Party (Uruguay)|Colorado]] reformer [[José Batlle y Ordóñez]] (1903–1911) complete separation of church and state was introduced with the new [[Constitution of Uruguay|constitution of 1917]].<ref name="rel-cs">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/43.htm |title=Religion – Uruguay |publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies |access-date=23 February 2011}}</ref>