Veera Korhonen
Research expert covering United States data for society
Christianity in the U.S. - statistics & facts
The United States has the largest number of Christians worldwide by a significant margin. As of 2010, there were about 246,78 million Christians in the U.S. Christianity has been a pillar of the United States since it was established in the early colonial period, when settlers from Europe brought Christianity along with them. Many settlers, such as the Pilgrims, settled in the United States in order to escape persecution of their particular denomination of Christianity in Europe. Although Christianity is the most common religion in the U.S., the religious population can vary greatly between individual states. In 2010, about 79 percent of Utah’s population were religious adherents, compared to about 28 percent of Maine’s.
According to a 2019 study, the religious landscape in the United States has been rapidly evolving. The share of Americans who identify as Christians has seen a steady decrease, as the number of Americans who claim no religion has been increasing. Between the 1970s and 2010s, the number of Christians in the U.S. has fallen by nearly 20 percent.
Christianity in America is experiencing a growing generational divide. In the U.S. in 2014, 70 percent of adults age 65 were absolutely certain of the existence of God, as well as 65 percent who said religion was a very important part of their lives. In 2017, 81 percent of adults 65 and older belonged to a Christian denomination, nearly double the number of adults between the ages of 18 and 29, which stood at 47 percent. There has also been a drop in religious affiliation overall, with 38 percent of 18 to 29 year olds placing themselves as unaffiliated, compared to 12 percent of those 65 and older.
In 2022, 90 percent of Catholics in the U.S. were registered to vote. Exit polls of the 2016 presidential elections suggest that Christians in the U.S. are more likely to vote Republican, with the majority of Christians in the U.S. having voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Despite American politics being closely affiliated with religion, a 2022 survey showed 75 percent of Americans believed religion as a whole was losing its influence on American life.
The religious landscape of the United States
In 2022, about 34 percent of Americans were Protestants, making it the most common form of Christianity in the United States. Protestantism has been the most prominent form of Christianity historically, yet has been steadily decreasing throughout the last decades, with nearly 70 percent of Americans belonging to the Protestant church in 1948. The share of practicing Catholics in the United States has seen minimal fluctuation yet has remained consistent throughout the years. As of 2022, the share of Americans who belonged to the Catholic faith was 23 percent, around the same as it was in 1948. Due to the diversity of Protestant denominations, Catholics boast the largest number of Christian adherents among the various denominations. Churches in the United States often operate through individual donations. In 2008, individual donations made up 97 percent of the income of Conservative Protestant churches in the U.S.According to a 2019 study, the religious landscape in the United States has been rapidly evolving. The share of Americans who identify as Christians has seen a steady decrease, as the number of Americans who claim no religion has been increasing. Between the 1970s and 2010s, the number of Christians in the U.S. has fallen by nearly 20 percent.
Christianity in America is experiencing a growing generational divide. In the U.S. in 2014, 70 percent of adults age 65 were absolutely certain of the existence of God, as well as 65 percent who said religion was a very important part of their lives. In 2017, 81 percent of adults 65 and older belonged to a Christian denomination, nearly double the number of adults between the ages of 18 and 29, which stood at 47 percent. There has also been a drop in religious affiliation overall, with 38 percent of 18 to 29 year olds placing themselves as unaffiliated, compared to 12 percent of those 65 and older.
Separation of church and state?
Despite the separation of church and state, American Christianity has played a significant political role throughout history and remains an important part of U.S. politics today. As of 2023, over 86 percent of the 534 members of U.S. Congress practice Christianity, which is a larger percentage than the American public. Nevertheless, a survey reflects that U.S. adults were 44 percent more likely to support politicians belonging to the Christian faith, whereas 32 percent were less likely to support Atheist politicians.In 2022, 90 percent of Catholics in the U.S. were registered to vote. Exit polls of the 2016 presidential elections suggest that Christians in the U.S. are more likely to vote Republican, with the majority of Christians in the U.S. having voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Despite American politics being closely affiliated with religion, a 2022 survey showed 75 percent of Americans believed religion as a whole was losing its influence on American life.
Veera Korhonen
,
Jul 3, 2024
Veera Korhonen
Research expert covering United States data for society
