Attributes such as community building and moral guidance in the United States can trace their roots to religion.
This visualization maps out the share of highly religious adults.
The data is based on a survey conducted by Pew Research Center.
TL;DR
- Mississippi ranks as the most religious U.S state, with 50% of adults classified as highly religious. The least religious state is Vermont at 13%.
- The ranking reveals that the “rural = religious” stereotype isn’t always valid.
For context, the survey engaged 36,908 adults between July 2023 and March 2024.
Where People are Most Religious in the U.S.
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Rank | State | Share of people who are highly religious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 1 | Mississippi | 50.30% |
| 2 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 2 | South Carolina | 45.60% |
| 3 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 3 | South Dakota | 44.70% |
| 4 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 4 | Louisiana | 44.50% |
| 5 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 5 | Tennessee | 43.50% |
| 6 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 6 | Utah | 42.20% |
| 7 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 7 | North Carolina | 40.60% |
| 8 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 8 | Arkansas | 40.30% |
| 9 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 9 | Alabama | 39.60% |
| 10 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 22/02/2026 11:46 AM | 10 | Kansas | 38.10% |
What the Numbers Actually Mean
“Highly religious” in this Pew survey means:
- Attends religious services weekly or more
- Prays daily
- Says religion is “very important” in their life
- Believes in God with absolute certainty
Meeting all four criteria is a high bar. Someone who believes in God but attends church monthly wouldn’t qualify.
This explains why even the most religious state (Mississippi, 50.3%) is barely above 50%—half the population doesn’t meet all four criteria.
For the average American, this means religiosity is declining across the board.
Even in the Bible Belt, only half the population is “highly religious” by Pew’s definition.
The rest are casually religious, spiritual but not religious, or secular.
The Bible Belt Dominates
The top 10 are overwhelmingly Southern states.
This is expected, especially given its “Bible Belt” reputation.
However, Utah ranks 6th (42.2%), the only non-Southern state in the top 10.
This reflects Utah’s unique Mormon (LDS Church) population. About 62% of Utah residents are LDS, one of the most religiously observant groups in America.
Utah’s placement shows religious concentration matters as much as regional culture
The Secular Northeast
The bottom five are all Northeastern states: Vermont (13.4%), New Hampshire (15.3%), Maine (17.2%), Massachusetts (19.6%), Rhode Island (21.7%).
Vermont’s 13.4% is stunning because it means only 1 in 8 adults is highly religious, comparable to Western European secularization levels (France ~15%, UK ~18%).
Meanwhile, Vermont and New Hampshire are among America’s whitest, oldest, and most rural states (demographics typically associated with higher religiosity).
Yet they’re the least religious.
This breaks the “rural = religious” stereotype.
Instead, it reflects New England’s historical Puritan decline and the rise of cultural secularism in educated, politically liberal regions.
ELI5: Religious States in America
According to a Pew Research Center survey, Mississippi is the most religious U.S. state, with 50% of adults classified as highly religious, followed closely by South Carolina at 46%.
It means that about half the adults there pray more frequently, attend religious services more, and have a stronger belief in God.
Although this is not faith-specific, as there are various religious types.
The least religious state is Vermont.
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