Religion in El Salvador

Religious life in El Salvador includes the Iglesia Católica, evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist, Assemblies of God and other churches, as well as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islamic, Jewish, Bahá'í, Buddhist and Krishna communities. Indigenous and syncretic practices also exist. People generally access worship through a parish, congregation or temple, and participation is voluntary. Common practices include Masses, services, prayer meetings, vigils, processions, the Via Crucis, Santo Entierro, pilgrimages, patron-saint celebrations, tithes and offerings. Contributions are usually voluntary, and no nationwide religious fee schedule is documented. The 2024 UCA-IUDOP survey is not a population census, and Latinobarómetro 2024 reported different figures, including 35% evangelical and 21% with no religion. These differences reflect survey methods and should not be treated as exact population shares. The Constitution protects freedom of religion, subject to public morality and public order. It also establishes a non-confessional state. The Catholic Church has legal personality automatically under Article 26, while other religious institutions can obtain legal recognition through the applicable legal process administered by the Ministry of Governance and Territorial Development (MIGOBDT). A church recognition application generally includes a founding act, statutes and documents showing the election of its governing board. The general association or foundation registration process is separate; the available information gives it a registration fee of USD 34.29 and a period of about 20 working days when the application is complete. A religious institution seeking an income-tax exemption applies to the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII). That procedure is free and may take up to 20 working days, with proof of legal personality, statutes, a membership list and governing board documents. The MIGOBDT states that churches are exempt from the general associations and foundations law for their internal accounting, but they still need the applicable legal recognition and tax procedures. Holy Week is highly visible in public life. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are paid employment holidays. August 6 is a national holiday associated with the Fiestas Agostinas and the Divino Salvador del Mundo; San Salvador additionally observes August 3 and August 5. Elsewhere, the main day of the most significant local festival may be observed according to local custom. December 25 and November 2 are also holidays. Other religious calendars do not have a general nationwide statutory equivalent documented in the available research. Authorities, municipalities, employers and event organizers may coordinate traffic and public safety for large processions. Schools and training institutions must respect culture and religion. Current local evidence does not identify a national compulsory course in confessional religion. Education policy includes spiritual, moral and social development and opposition to intolerance. Private religious institutions may teach their own beliefs and practices within child-welfare limits. The Law for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents (LEPINA) protects children and adolescents' freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Religious education and activities therefore depend on the institution and school calendar, and school-related costs vary by provider. Religious baptism, confirmation, religious marriage, prayers and funeral rites do not by themselves establish civil status. A civil marriage must be performed by a legally authorized official under Articles 12 and 13 of the Family Code. Civil and religious arrangements should therefore be handled separately when a marriage needs legal effect. Burials take place in authorized cemeteries and generally occur 16 to 24 hours after death. Burial inside a temple is prohibited except in religious crypts, and cemetery authorization and municipal supervision involve the relevant authorities. Religious dialogue is mainly informal and event-based. A 2021 constitutional dialogue brought together 12 churches and communities, including Catholic, Assemblies of God, Tabernáculo Bíblico Bautista, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Latter-day Saint, Islamic and Krishna representatives. Participation depends on an invitation, and the available research does not identify a permanent state religious-dialogue office or national interfaith council. Religious activities are also permitted in prisons under conditions set by the correctional administration, and criminal law protects religious ceremonies and respect for burials.