While the US has a few non-religious states, such as Maine and New Hampshire, most of our country is filled with incredibly religious people. If you’ve ever wondered which group is most devoted to God, read on to find out the 17 most religious states in America.
Ohio
A majority of Ohio residents consider themselves highly religious, and they have many things to show for it. Over 8,000 churches in the state receive attendees at least once a week, and the state also has a Museum of Art and History specifically dedicated to its Catholic faithful.
South Dakota
In South Dakota, 83% of residents are affiliated with one religion or another, with Christians understandably constituting the largest share of this. South Dakotans were so religious in the 18th century that they forbade public sports, trade, and even traffic other than on foot on Sundays—before many of these were subsequently repealed.
Missouri
Although most Christians in Missouri are Protestants, Roman Catholicism was the first to spread across the region, and some of its biggest religious centers, like the St. Francis de Sales and Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, emerged from it. Pew Research reveals that 60% of Missouri’s 6 million residents are still incredibly religious.
Virginia
Since the Bishop of London sent Anglican missionaries to Native Americans, Christianity has been a major part of the Virginian lifestyle. There are significantly more religious folks in the state than “nones,” and the evangelical Protestants have become the most dominant group across Virginia.
Kentucky
With Christians accounting for three-quarters of its population, Kentucky hugely respects the Sabbath day. It only allows the sale of alcohol on Sundays past 1 p.m., and the state even has a specific “Bible Literacy Bill,” which NBC says has allowed Bible classes to be taught in public schools since 2017.
Utah
In Utah, Mormons take center stage over more popular sects of Christianity. After a thousand-mile escape from persecution, the “Pioneers” settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847 as the first Latter-day Saints. Today, almost half of Utah’s population practices Mormonism.
Texas
Texas sits on the same table as Utah when it comes to religion. From just over 300 churches in the 1850s, mostly Roman Catholic, there are now more than 27,000 churches and 210 megachurches in the state. The non-denominational Lakewood Church here has one of the largest congregations in the entire US.
North Carolina
Evangelical and Mainline Protestants are the most dominant religious groups in North Carolina, and 39% of the state’s population attends church at least once a week. There are even narrations about how the first settlers in North Carolina were Quakers fleeing persecution in England for the freedom to practice.
Georgia
Georgia is another highly religious US state. A majority (79%) of the population are Christians, and some of the state’s most sacred locations are of Christian origin. For a faith-based visit, tourists should visit places like the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and the Jewish William Breman Heritage Museum.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, religious sites like the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Philip Protestant Episcopal Church are considered “must-visit” attractions. Evangelical protestants make the most of the state’s highly religious population, and it’s only recently that AP says legislators approved the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
West Virginia
Out of West Virginia’s 1.7 million population, only 18% don’t have affiliations with any religious group, and almost half go to church every week! Residents see religion as important to nurturing communities, and they have thousands of churches, synagogues, and mosques to show for it.
Arkansas
Arkansas is part of what YouGov calls the “bible belt”—a group of states where Protestant Christianity plays a key role in society. A huge 70% of residents here regard themselves as extremely faithful to their religion, with baby boomers and Generation X believing in God the most.
Louisiana
Unlike many other states, Louisiana has a culture that allows the less dominant non-Christian faiths to thrive. Buddhism is the most widespread of them, and Voodoo is said to be the religion of New Orleans—practiced by locals since its arrival alongside enslaved West Africans in 1719.
Tennessee
Since the arrival of early European settlers, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian faiths have spread across Tennessee. The Bellevue Baptist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church have become two of the most respected sites in the state, and 73% of the population now considers themselves very religious.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a state filled with 2.4 million Christians, over 9,000 churches, and three-quarters of residents who say they pray daily. It’s so religious that selling alcohol on Sundays is prohibited in most parts of it, and 30 counties (known as dry counties) ban the sale of alcohol altogether.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the US state with the highest share of religious residents per capita, with a whopping 93% having links to Christianity alone. Christianity (specifically Roman Catholicism) was introduced to the five native Oklahoma tribes in 1801, and today, almost half of its residents attend services at least once per week.
Alabama
Finally, data from Pew Research reveals that Alabama is the most religious state in the US, with 77% extremely faithful residents. Alabama is the only state on our list, with the majority of its inhabitants attending church at least once per week, and almost 5,000 religious organizations are operating within it today.
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