New Delhi (AFP): Less than two-thirds of Braziliansidentify as Catholics, marking a record decline in what is considered to be theworld's largest Catholic country, new figures showed Friday.

Just over 64 percent of the Brazilianpopulation of 191 million identifies as Catholic, said the figures, taken fromthe 2010 census.

In the year 2000, when the lastcensus was carried out, Catholics comprised almost 74 percent of thepopulation, down significantly from almost 92 percent in 1970.

Meanwhile, the number of BrazilianChristian evangelists has risen, up roughly seven percent to 22.2 percent from15.4 percent in 2000.

Eight percent of Brazilians reportedbeing atheist in 2010.

Pope Benedict XVI is expected totravel to the South American nation in July 2013 for a youth festival.