Belief in Heaven
% of adults who …in heaven
Survey year | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 72% | 21% | 7% | 35,071 |
2007 | 74% | 17% | 9% | 35,556 |
Learn More: Believe, Don't believe
Belief in Heaven by religious group
% of adults who …in heaven
Religious tradition | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Buddhist | 47% | 46% | 7% | 264 |
Catholic | 85% | 10% | 5% | 7,202 |
Evangelical Protestant | 88% | 5% | 7% | 8,593 |
Hindu | 48% | 42% | 9% | 199 |
Historically Black Protestant | 93% | 4% | 3% | 1,916 |
Jehovah's Witness | 50% | 38% | 12% | 245 |
Jewish | 40% | 49% | 11% | 847 |
Mainline Protestant | 80% | 12% | 8% | 6,083 |
Mormon | 95% | 2% | 3% | 664 |
Muslim | 89% | 7% | 4% | 237 |
Orthodox Christian | 81% | 10% | 9% | 186 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 37% | 53% | 9% | 7,556 |
Learn More: Believe, Don't believe
Switch Display To: religious group by belief in heaven
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution by belief in heaven
% of adults who are ages…
Belief in Heaven | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 21% | 34% | 27% | 18% | 23,849 |
Don't believe | 28% | 35% | 22% | 15% | 7,854 |
Other/don't know | 18% | 34% | 28% | 21% | 2,642 |
Learn More: 18-29, 30-49, 50-64, 65+
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Generational cohort by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 13% | 14% | 28% | 32% | 12% | 1% | 23,849 |
Don't believe | 17% | 18% | 27% | 27% | 9% | 1% | 7,854 |
Other/don't know | 11% | 13% | 28% | 34% | 13% | 2% | 2,642 |
Learn More: Younger Millennial, Older Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomer, Silent, Greatest
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Gender composition by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe | 45% | 55% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 58% | 42% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 49% | 2,761 |
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by gender
Racial and ethnic composition by belief in heaven
% of adults who identify as…
Belief in Heaven | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 64% | 14% | 3% | 15% | 4% | 24,029 |
Don't believe | 72% | 5% | 6% | 13% | 4% | 7,848 |
Other/don't know | 71% | 7% | 3% | 14% | 5% | 2,672 |
Learn More: White, Black, Asian, Latino, Other/Mixed
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Immigrant status by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 14% | 9% | 76% | 23,997 |
Don't believe | 16% | 13% | 71% | 7,892 |
Other/don't know | 14% | 9% | 77% | 2,704 |
Learn More: Immigrants, Second generation, Third generation or higher
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Income distribution by belief in heaven
% of adults who have a household income of…
Belief in Heaven | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 37% | 21% | 26% | 16% | 21,084 |
Don't believe | 25% | 19% | 29% | 27% | 7,175 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 20% | 25% | 22% | 2,231 |
Learn More: Less than $30,000, $30,000-$49,999, $50,000-$99,999, $100,000 or more
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Educational distribution by belief in heaven
% of adults who have completed…
Belief in Heaven | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 45% | 32% | 15% | 8% | 24,202 |
Don't believe | 29% | 29% | 23% | 18% | 7,935 |
Other/don't know | 37% | 32% | 19% | 12% | 2,731 |
Learn More: High school or less, Some college, College, Post-graduate degree
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Marital status by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 49% | 7% | 13% | 7% | 24% | 24,234 |
Don't believe | 44% | 10% | 12% | 4% | 30% | 7,940 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 7% | 13% | 6% | 24% | 2,717 |
Learn More: Married, Living with a partner, Divorced/separated, Widowed, Never married
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by marital status
Parent of children under 18 by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe | 30% | 70% | 24,244 |
Don't believe | 25% | 75% | 7,950 |
Other/don't know | 27% | 73% | 2,739 |
Learn More: Parents, Non-parents
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God by belief in heaven
% of adults who say they…
Belief in Heaven | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 76% | 19% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 22% | 20% | 12% | 1% | 40% | 5% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 50% | 23% | 10% | 2% | 4% | 11% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God
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Importance of religion in one's life by belief in heaven
% of adults who say religion is…
Belief in Heaven | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 65% | 26% | 6% | 3% | < 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 17% | 19% | 24% | 39% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 27% | 17% | 11% | 3% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important
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Attendance at religious services by belief in heaven
% of adults who attend religious services…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 43% | 36% | 20% | < 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 11% | 26% | 62% | < 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 30% | 29% | 39% | 2% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month/a few times a year, Seldom/never
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Frequency of prayer by belief in heaven
% of adults who pray…
Belief in Heaven | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 66% | 17% | 6% | 10% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 21% | 9% | 6% | 64% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 47% | 14% | 6% | 28% | 4% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seldom/never
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Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups by belief in heaven
% of adults who attend prayer group…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 29% | 11% | 9% | 50% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 8% | 4% | 4% | 83% | < 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 22% | 7% | 6% | 63% | 2% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
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Frequency of meditation by belief in heaven
% of adults who meditate…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 43% | 8% | 4% | 43% | 2% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 31% | 10% | 6% | 52% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 40% | 8% | 4% | 44% | 4% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
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Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing by belief in heaven
% of adults who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 64% | 15% | 9% | 11% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 42% | 16% | 10% | 30% | 2% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 56% | 13% | 10% | 18% | 4% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
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Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe by belief in heaven
% of adults who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 44% | 16% | 13% | 26% | 2% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 50% | 16% | 13% | 20% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 14% | 11% | 20% | 4% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
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Sources of guidance on right and wrong by belief in heaven
% of adults who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Belief in Heaven | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 41% | 8% | 43% | 6% | 2% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 9% | 19% | 51% | 19% | 2% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 14% | 46% | 8% | 6% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science
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Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong by belief in heaven
% of adults who say…
Belief in Heaven | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 36% | 61% | 1% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 22% | 76% | 1% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 33% | 63% | 3% | 2% | 2,761 |
Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation
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Frequency of reading scripture by belief in heaven
% of adults who read scripture…
Belief in Heaven | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 43% | 12% | 9% | 36% | 1% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 12% | 5% | 7% | 76% | < 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 8% | 7% | 51% | 3% | 2,761 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
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Interpreting scripture by belief in heaven
% of adults who say the holy scripture is…
Belief in Heaven | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 39% | 33% | 3% | 19% | 6% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 7% | 8% | 1% | 79% | 5% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 19% | 16% | 4% | 41% | 20% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by interpretation of scripture
Belief in Hell by belief in heaven
% of adults who …in hell
Belief in Heaven | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 76% | 18% | 5% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 7% | 92% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 25% | 54% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Believe, Don't believe
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Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation by belief in heaven
% of adults who identify as…
Belief in Heaven | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 41% | 18% | 41% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 23% | 18% | 58% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 26% | 39% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Republican/lean Rep., No lean, Democrat/lean Dem.
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Political ideology by belief in heaven
% of adults who are…
Belief in Heaven | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 41% | 33% | 19% | 6% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 18% | 33% | 43% | 6% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 32% | 22% | 12% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Conservative, Moderate, Liberal
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Views about size of government by belief in heaven
% of adults who would rather have…
Belief in Heaven | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 53% | 41% | 3% | 3% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 47% | 46% | 4% | 3% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 52% | 33% | 6% | 9% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Smaller government; fewer services, Bigger government; more services
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Views about government aid to the poor by belief in heaven
% of adults who say government aid to the poor…
Belief in Heaven | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 48% | 47% | 4% | 2% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 34% | 62% | 3% | 1% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 46% | 7% | 5% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Does more harm than good, Does more good than harm
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Views about abortion by belief in heaven
% of adults who say abortion should be…
Belief in Heaven | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 46% | 50% | 4% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 77% | 20% | 3% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 53% | 38% | 8% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Legal in all/most cases, Illegal in all/most cases
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Views about homosexuality by belief in heaven
% of adults who say homosexuality…
Belief in Heaven | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 56% | 37% | 4% | 4% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 83% | 13% | 2% | 2% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 61% | 27% | 6% | 6% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Should be accepted, Should be discouraged
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage by belief in heaven
% of adults who …same-sex marriage
Belief in Heaven | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 46% | 46% | 8% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 79% | 16% | 5% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 53% | 34% | 13% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Strongly favor/favor, Oppose/strongly oppose
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Views about environmental regulation by belief in heaven
% of adults who say…
Belief in Heaven | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 42% | 53% | 2% | 3% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 24% | 72% | 2% | 2% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 37% | 52% | 5% | 7% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy, Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost
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Views about human evolution by belief in heaven
% of adults who say humans…
Belief in Heaven | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe | 22% | 30% | 3% | 41% | 5% | 24,337 |
Don't believe | 70% | 11% | 4% | 14% | 2% | 7,973 |
Other/don't know | 36% | 16% | 11% | 28% | 9% | 2,761 |
Learn More: Evolved; due to natural processes, Evolved; due to God's design, Always existed in present form
Switch Display To: belief in heaven by views about human evolution