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Religious Landscape Study

Religious Landscape Study

ReligionsGeographyTopics & QuestionsUser Guide

Religious composition of adults ages 65 and older

Christian 83%
Evangelical Protestant 29%
Baptist Family (Evangelical Trad.) 12%
Southern Baptist Convention 8%
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.) 3%
Nondenominational evangelical 1%
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.) 4%
Assemblies of God 2%
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.) 2%
Churches of Christ 2%
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 22%
Baptist Family (Mainline Trad.) 2%
American Baptist Churches USA 2%
Other Baptist (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Methodist Family (Mainline Trad.) 7%
United Methodist Church 7%
Other Methodist (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Nondenominational Family (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Interdenominational (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Other Nondenominational (Mainline Trad.)< 1%
Lutheran Family (Mainline Trad.) 3%
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2%
Other Lutheran (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Presbyterian Family (Mainline Trad.) 3%
Presbyterian Church (USA) 2%
Other Presbyterian (Mainline Trad.) 1%
Episcopalian/Anglican Family (Mainline Trad.) 2%
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 6%
Baptist Family (Historically Black Protestant Trad.) 4%
National Baptist Convention 2%
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 5%
Jewish 3%
Muslim< 1%
Buddhist 1%
Hindu< 1%
Other World Religions< 1%
Other Faiths 1%
Unitarians and other liberal faiths in the "Other Faiths" Tradition 1%
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") 12%
Atheist 2%
Agnostic 2%
Nothing in particular 8%
Nothing in particular (religion not important) 5%
Nothing in particular (religion important) 3%
Don't know < 1%

BeliefsandPractices

Belief in God among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who say they…

Chart
Trends
Table
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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
201470%17%4%2%6%2%9,327
200777%12%3%1%4%2%8,146
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 group

Learn More: belief in God, Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God

Importance of religion in one's life among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who say religion is…

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Trends
Table
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Survey yearVery importantSomewhat importantNot too importantNot at all importantDon't knowSample size
201465%20%7%8%1%9,327
200769%19%5%5%1%8,146
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 group

Learn More: importance of religion in one's life, Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important

Attendance at religious services among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who attend religious services…

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Trends
Table
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Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a month/a few times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201448%25%26%1%9,327
200753%24%22%1%8,146
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 group

Learn More: attendance at religious services, At least once a week, Once or twice a month/a few times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of prayer among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who pray…

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least dailyWeeklyMonthlySeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201465%13%4%17%2%9,327
200768%12%4%14%2%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of prayer, At least daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seldom/never

Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who attend prayer group…

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Trends
Table
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Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201430%7%8%53%1%9,327
200728%8%7%55%1%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of meditation among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who meditate…

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Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201453%7%4%32%3%9,327
200756%7%4%28%5%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of meditation, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…

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Trends
Table
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Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201465%11%7%15%2%9,327
200760%11%9%14%6%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201446%12%12%27%3%9,327
200741%12%12%28%8%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of feeling wonder about the universe, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearReligionPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample size
201440%7%43%7%3%9,327
200734%6%51%4%5%8,146
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 group

Learn More: sources of guidance on right and wrong, Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science

Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older 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
201437%59%2%2%9,327
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 group

Learn More: belief in absolute standards for right and wrong, There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation

Frequency of reading scripture among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who read scripture…

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
201442%9%7%40%2%9,327
200743%9%7%39%2%8,146
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 group

Learn More: frequency of reading scripture, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Interpreting scripture among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who say the holy scripture is…

Chart
Trends
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
201437%26%4%25%8%9,327
200739%25%6%19%11%8,146
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 group

Learn More: interpreting scripture, Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God

Belief in Heaven among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who …in heaven

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
201474%18%8%9,327
200774%15%11%8,146
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 group

Learn More: belief in Heaven, Believe, Don't believe

Belief in Hell among adults ages 65 and older

% of adults ages 65 and older who …in hell

Chart
Trends
Table
Share
Survey yearBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
201456%33%10%9,327
200757%28%15%8,146
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 group

Learn More: belief in Hell, Believe, Don't believe

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