Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Newsletters Press Donate My Account Contacted By Us?

Religious Landscape Study

Religious Landscape Study

ReligionsGeographyTopics & QuestionsUser Guide

Religious composition of college graduates who are ages 50-64

Christian 74%
Evangelical Protestant 24%
Baptist Family (Evangelical Trad.) 8%
Southern Baptist Convention 5%
Independent Baptist (Evangelical Trad.) 3%
Missionary Baptist (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Conservative Baptist Association of America< 1%
Free Will Baptist< 1%
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches< 1%
Other Baptist (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Methodist Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Nondenominational Family (Evangelical Trad.) 6%
Nondenominational evangelical 3%
Nondenominational fundamentalist 1%
Nondenominational charismatic 1%
Nondenominational Christian (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Interdenominational (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Community Church (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Other Nondenominational (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Lutheran Family (Evangelical Trad.) 2%
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod 2%
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod< 1%
Other Lutheran (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Presbyterian Family (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Presbyterian Church in America 1%
Other Presbyterian (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Pentecostal Family (Evangelical Trad.) 2%
Assemblies of God 1%
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)< 1%
Foursquare Church< 1%
Pentecostal Church of God< 1%
Pentecostal Holiness Church< 1%
Calvary Chapel< 1%
Apostolic Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Nondenominational Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Church of God of the Apostolic Faith< 1%
Other Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Episcopalian/Anglican Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Restorationist Family (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Churches of Christ 1%
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ< 1%
Other Restorationist (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Congregationalist Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference< 1%
Other Congregationalist (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Holiness Family (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Church of the Nazarene< 1%
Wesleyan Church< 1%
Free Methodist Church< 1%
Christian and Missionary Alliance< 1%
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)< 1%
Other Holiness (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Reformed Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Christian Reformed Church< 1%
Other Reformed (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Adventist Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Seventh-day Adventist< 1%
Other Adventist (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Anabaptist Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Pietist Family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Other evangelical/fundamentalist family (Evangelical Trad.)< 1%
Nonspecific Protestant Family (Evangelical Trad.) 1%
Mainline Protestant 19%
Baptist Family (Mainline Trad.) 1%
American Baptist Churches USA 1%
Other Baptist (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Methodist Family (Mainline Trad.) 6%
United Methodist Church 6%
Other Methodist (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Nondenominational Family (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Interdenominational (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Other Nondenominational (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Lutheran Family (Mainline Trad.) 2%
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2%
Other Lutheran (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Presbyterian Family (Mainline Trad.) 2%
Presbyterian Church (USA) 1%
Other Presbyterian (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Episcopalian/Anglican Family (Mainline Trad.) 3%
Episcopal Church 2%
Anglican Church 1%
Other Episcopalian/Anglican (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Restorationist Family (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Disciples of Christ< 1%
Other Restorationist (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Congregationalist Family (Mainline Trad.) 1%
United Church of Christ 1%
Other Congregationalist (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Reformed Family (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Reformed Church in America< 1%
Other Reformed (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Anabaptist Family (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Friends Family (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Nonspecific Protestant Family (Mainline Trad.) 2%
Historically Black Protestant 3%
Baptist Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.) 2%
National Baptist Convention 1%
Progressive Baptist Convention< 1%
Independent Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Missionary Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Other Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Methodist Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
African Methodist Episcopal Church< 1%
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church< 1%
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church< 1%
Other Methodist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Pentecostal Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.) 1%
Church of God in Christ< 1%
Apostolic Pentecostal (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
United Pentecostal Church International< 1%
Other Pentecostal (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Holiness Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Nondenominational Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Nonspecific Protestant Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)< 1%
Catholic 24%
Mormon 1%
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1%
Other Mormon< 1%
Orthodox Christian< 1%
Greek Orthodox< 1%
Russian Orthodox< 1%
Orthodox Church in America< 1%
Other Orthodox Christian< 1%
Jehovah's Witness 1%
Other Christian 1%
Metaphysical Family 1%
Spiritualist< 1%
Unity Church< 1%
Other Metaphysical Christian ("Other Christian" Trad.)< 1%
Others in the "Other Christian" Tradition< 1%
Non-Christian Faiths 8%
Jewish 4%
Muslim< 1%
Buddhist 1%
Hindu< 1%
Other World Religions< 1%
Other Faiths 2%
Unitarians and other liberal faiths in the "Other Faiths" Tradition 2%
Unitarian 1%
Humanist< 1%
Deist< 1%
Spiritual but not religious< 1%
Eclectic, a bit of everything, "I have my own beliefs"< 1%
Other in the "Unitarian and other liberal faiths" family< 1%
New Age 1%
Pagan or Wiccan< 1%
Other in the New Age family< 1%
Native American Religions< 1%
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") 18%
Atheist 3%
Agnostic 5%
Nothing in particular 11%
Nothing in particular (religion not important) 7%
Nothing in particular (religion important) 4%
Don't know 1%

BeliefsandPractices

Belief in God among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who say they…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearBelieve in God; absolutely certainBelieve in God; fairly certainBelieve in God; not too/not at all certainBelieve in God; don't knowDo not believe in GodOther/don't know if they believe in GodSample size
201463%20%5%< 1%9%3%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: belief in God by age groupbelief in God by educational group

Importance of religion in one's life among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who say religion is…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearVery importantSomewhat importantNot too importantNot at all importantDon't knowSample size
201453%24%11%11%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: importance of religion by age groupimportance of religion by educational group

Attendance at religious services among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who attend religious services…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a month/a few times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201440%33%26%< 1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: religious attendance by age groupreligious attendance by educational group

Frequency of prayer among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who pray…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least dailyWeeklyMonthlySeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201457%15%6%22%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: frequency of prayer by age groupfrequency of prayer by educational group

Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who attend prayer group…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201425%6%9%59%< 1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: attendance at prayer groups by age groupattendance at prayer groups by educational group

Frequency of meditation among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who meditate…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201444%9%5%42%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: frequency of meditation by age groupfrequency of meditation by educational group

Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201462%16%10%12%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: frequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing by age groupfrequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing by educational group

Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201452%15%14%17%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: frequency feeling a sense of wonder about the universe by age groupfrequency feeling a sense of wonder about the universe by educational group

Sources of guidance on right and wrong among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearReligionPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample size
201435%13%39%10%3%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: sources of guidance on right and wrong by age groupsources of guidance on right and wrong by educational group

Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who say…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong depends on the situationNeither/both equallyDon't knowSample size
201442%56%1%1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: belief in existence of standards for right and wrong by age groupbelief in existence of standards for right and wrong by educational group

Frequency of reading scripture among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who read scripture…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201436%9%8%47%< 1%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: frequency of reading scripture by age groupfrequency of reading scripture by educational group

Interpreting scripture among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who say the holy scripture is…

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearWord of God; should be taken literallyWord of God; not everything taken literallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample size
201423%28%2%40%7%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: interpretation of scripture by age groupinterpretation of scripture by educational group

Belief in Heaven among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who …in heaven

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
201465%26%9%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: belief in heaven by age groupbelief in heaven by educational group

Belief in Hell among college graduates who are ages 50-64

% of college graduates who are ages 50-64 who …in hell

Chart
Table
Share
Survey yearBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
201450%41%9%2,648
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Compare: belief in hell by age groupbelief in hell by educational group

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center About Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Settings Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy Feedback Careers