Survey year | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 42% | 13% | 10% | 34% | 1% | 18,725 |
2007 | 37% | 12% | 10% | 41% | 1% | 20,547 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who say religion is very important by religious group
% of adults who say religion is very important who attend prayer group…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 25% | 12% | 12% | 50% | 1% | 4,220 |
Evangelical Protestant | 52% | 14% | 9% | 24% | 1% | 6,904 |
Historically Black Protestant | 50% | 14% | 9% | 26% | 1% | 1,641 |
Jehovah's Witness | 89% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 224 |
Jewish | 40% | 13% | 15% | 31% | 1% | 279 |
Mainline Protestant | 32% | 14% | 11% | 41% | 1% | 3,317 |
Mormon | 81% | 7% | 3% | 9% | < 1% | 559 |
Muslim | 48% | 12% | 16% | 24% | 1% | 154 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 24% | 10% | 8% | 57% | < 1% | 826 |
Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are ages…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 15% | 33% | 30% | 22% | 7,674 |
Once or twice a month | 22% | 37% | 25% | 16% | 2,221 |
Several times a year | 19% | 33% | 28% | 21% | 1,927 |
Seldom/never | 16% | 31% | 30% | 22% | 6,307 |
Don't know | 11% | 22% | 21% | 46% | 143 |
Generational cohort among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 10% | 10% | 28% | 35% | 16% | 1% | 7,674 |
Once or twice a month | 13% | 15% | 31% | 30% | 10% | 1% | 2,221 |
Several times a year | 10% | 15% | 26% | 33% | 14% | 1% | 1,927 |
Seldom/never | 9% | 12% | 26% | 36% | 15% | 2% | 6,307 |
Don't know | 4% | 9% | 19% | 30% | 32% | 5% | 143 |
Gender composition among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 42% | 58% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 42% | 58% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 44% | 56% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 44% | 56% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 31% | 69% | 161 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who identify as…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 59% | 19% | 2% | 16% | 4% | 7,758 |
Once or twice a month | 56% | 19% | 3% | 19% | 3% | 2,238 |
Several times a year | 64% | 14% | 3% | 14% | 4% | 1,941 |
Seldom/never | 64% | 12% | 2% | 17% | 4% | 6,356 |
Don't know | 54% | 22% | 2% | 19% | 3% | 149 |
Immigrant status among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 16% | 7% | 77% | 7,777 |
Once or twice a month | 17% | 8% | 75% | 2,241 |
Several times a year | 16% | 7% | 77% | 1,940 |
Seldom/never | 15% | 10% | 75% | 6,352 |
Don't know | 20% | 5% | 75% | 155 |
Income distribution among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who have a household income of…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 39% | 21% | 27% | 14% | 6,716 |
Once or twice a month | 39% | 20% | 25% | 16% | 1,989 |
Several times a year | 34% | 22% | 27% | 18% | 1,710 |
Seldom/never | 39% | 21% | 23% | 16% | 5,429 |
Educational distribution among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who have completed…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 44% | 31% | 16% | 9% | 7,831 |
Once or twice a month | 43% | 32% | 14% | 10% | 2,264 |
Several times a year | 39% | 32% | 17% | 12% | 1,951 |
Seldom/never | 47% | 31% | 13% | 8% | 6,408 |
Don't know | 52% | 29% | 14% | 6% | 157 |
Marital status among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 57% | 4% | 13% | 9% | 18% | 7,838 |
Once or twice a month | 52% | 5% | 14% | 6% | 23% | 2,272 |
Several times a year | 53% | 6% | 12% | 8% | 21% | 1,958 |
Seldom/never | 49% | 7% | 15% | 9% | 21% | 6,411 |
Don't know | 38% | 1% | 14% | 27% | 20% | 152 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 32% | 68% | 7,840 |
Once or twice a month | 36% | 64% | 2,267 |
Several times a year | 32% | 68% | 1,956 |
Seldom/never | 27% | 73% | 6,429 |
Don't know | 20% | 80% | 156 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say they…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 92% | 7% | < 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 86% | 12% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 87% | 10% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 83% | 13% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 78% | 9% | < 1% | 10% | < 1% | 3% | 161 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who attend religious services…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 87% | 9% | 3% | < 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 60% | 36% | 4% | < 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 48% | 48% | 4% | < 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 30% | 43% | 26% | 1% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 56% | 21% | 9% | 14% | 161 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who pray…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 91% | 7% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 82% | 14% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 78% | 17% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 71% | 18% | 4% | 6% | 1% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 67% | 3% | 1% | 5% | 24% | 161 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who meditate…
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 | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 66% | 6% | 2% | 24% | 2% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 50% | 13% | 4% | 32% | 2% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 45% | 9% | 7% | 36% | 2% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 41% | 7% | 3% | 46% | 2% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 57% | 1% | 2% | 18% | 22% | 161 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
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 | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 87% | 7% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 74% | 16% | 5% | 3% | < 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 70% | 16% | 11% | 4% | 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 66% | 14% | 8% | 11% | 2% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 74% | 8% | 1% | 2% | 15% | 161 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
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 | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 56% | 15% | 8% | 19% | 2% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 45% | 21% | 12% | 20% | 2% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 44% | 17% | 15% | 22% | 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 45% | 13% | 12% | 28% | 2% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 46% | 14% | 4% | 17% | 18% | 161 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 69% | 4% | 21% | 3% | 3% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 55% | 7% | 31% | 5% | 3% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 50% | 8% | 34% | 5% | 2% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 39% | 8% | 44% | 6% | 3% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 49% | 5% | 30% | 2% | 13% | 161 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 49% | 48% | 2% | 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 42% | 56% | 1% | 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 40% | 58% | 1% | 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 34% | 63% | 2% | 2% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 35% | 53% | 6% | 7% | 161 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who read scripture…
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 | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 85% | 7% | 2% | 6% | 1% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 60% | 24% | 6% | 9% | 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 45% | 19% | 21% | 15% | 1% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 30% | 14% | 11% | 45% | 1% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 59% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 22% | 161 |
Interpreting scripture among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say the holy scripture is…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 61% | 26% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 52% | 32% | 3% | 8% | 5% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 43% | 36% | 4% | 11% | 6% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 35% | 35% | 4% | 18% | 9% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 43% | 18% | 12% | 9% | 18% | 161 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who …in heaven
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 87% | 6% | 6% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 90% | 6% | 5% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 89% | 6% | 5% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 87% | 7% | 6% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 80% | 6% | 13% | 161 |
Belief in Hell among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who …in hell
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 78% | 15% | 7% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 79% | 15% | 6% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 75% | 18% | 7% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 68% | 23% | 9% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 65% | 14% | 21% | 161 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who identify as…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 46% | 18% | 35% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 44% | 15% | 42% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 45% | 15% | 40% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 38% | 19% | 43% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 28% | 40% | 32% | 161 |
Political ideology among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who are…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 54% | 25% | 13% | 7% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 45% | 31% | 18% | 5% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 46% | 33% | 16% | 5% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 39% | 33% | 20% | 7% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 42% | 24% | 11% | 23% | 161 |
Views about size of government among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who would rather have…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 55% | 39% | 3% | 3% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 50% | 44% | 3% | 2% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 52% | 42% | 3% | 3% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 50% | 42% | 4% | 5% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 36% | 42% | 6% | 16% | 161 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say government aid to the poor…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 49% | 44% | 4% | 2% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 48% | 47% | 4% | 1% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 48% | 47% | 4% | 2% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 46% | 48% | 4% | 3% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 40% | 46% | 4% | 11% | 161 |
Views about abortion among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say abortion should be…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 28% | 68% | 5% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 38% | 59% | 3% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 43% | 53% | 4% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 46% | 49% | 6% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 33% | 49% | 18% | 161 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say homosexuality…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 32% | 60% | 5% | 4% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 50% | 43% | 4% | 3% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 52% | 39% | 4% | 5% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 60% | 31% | 5% | 4% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 29% | 47% | 7% | 17% | 161 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who …same-sex marriage
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 23% | 69% | 8% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 39% | 54% | 8% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 42% | 50% | 8% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 49% | 42% | 9% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 22% | 51% | 27% | 161 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 46% | 47% | 3% | 4% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 42% | 53% | 2% | 3% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 43% | 53% | 1% | 2% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 40% | 53% | 3% | 4% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 42% | 32% | 5% | 21% | 161 |
Views about human evolution among adults who say religion is very important by attendance at prayer groups
% of adults who say religion is very important who say humans…
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At least once a week | 9% | 23% | 2% | 59% | 6% | 7,880 |
Once or twice a month | 15% | 30% | 3% | 49% | 4% | 2,275 |
Several times a year | 16% | 33% | 4% | 44% | 5% | 1,962 |
Seldom/never | 19% | 33% | 4% | 37% | 6% | 6,447 |
Don't know | 6% | 24% | 7% | 42% | 21% | 161 |