Unites States >> Religion >> Missouri
Religion in Missouri
The United States had rich and diverse religious cultures, and the freedom to practice beliefs has helped give rise to a highly unique religious pluralism and freedom. Missouri is the US state with the 19th largest population, Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as its largest branch.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have spread, mainly from immigration.
also read about Race and Ethnicity in Missouri
Table of Content
Missouri Religion Percentage
Christianity is the main religion followed by 77% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Missouri is Protestants (58%); Roman Catholics (16%); Mormonism (1%).
About 20% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 3% follow other non-Christian-based religions.
Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
| Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 77% |
| – Protestantism | – 58% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 28% |
| – Mormonism | -1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – <1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – <1% |
| – Other Christian | – 1% |
| Other Religion | 3% |
| Judaism | <1% |
| Islam | <1% |
| Buddhism | 1% |
| Hinduism | <1% |
| Other religion | 1% |
| No religion | 20% |
| Don’t know | <1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Missouri
Christianity with 77% followers is the largest in Missouri. All Protestant denominations accounted for 58% of the population, Catholics are 16% of the population and are the largest individual denomination if Protestantism is divided into various denominations instead of being counted as a single category.
Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations.
Several religious organizations have headquarters in Missouri, including the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, which has its headquarters in Kirkwood, as well as the United Pentecostal Church International in Hazelwood, both outside St. Louis.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 58% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 36% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 16% |
| – Black church | – 6% |
| Roman Catholicism | 16% |
| Mormonism | 1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | <1% |
| Other Christians | 1% |
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Missouri
Among Christians in Missouri, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 32% of the state’s population. Protestantism in the United States has branched out into several branches, denominations, and various interdenominational and related movements.
Protestants by tradition can be further classified into three main denominations. Evangelical is the largest and followed by 36% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (16%) and Historically Black Protestants (6%)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 36% |
| Mainline Protestant | 16% |
| Black church | 6% |
Protestantism is also comprised of numerous denominational families (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal) that fit into one or more of the traditions. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the largest protestants denominations by adherents in 2020 is as follows
| # | Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Southern Baptist Convention | Evangelical | Baptist | 636,327 |
| 2 | Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 359,974 |
| 3 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 202,124 |
| 4 | Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 127,475 |
| 5 | Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) | Evangelical | Lutheran | 118,989 |
| 6 | National Missionary Baptist Convention of America | Black | Baptist | 79,178 |
| 7 | Christian Churches and Churches of Christ | Evangelical | Restorationists | 64,934 |
| 8 | Churches of Christ | Evangelical | Restorationists | 37,996 |
| 9 | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Mainline | Restorationists | 36,591 |
| 10 | United Church of Christ | Mainline | Congregationalists | 29,013 |
read about Protestantism in the United States
Catholics in Missouri
Catholic Church at 16% of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), In 2020 the Catholic Church has 769,057 adherents and is the largest individual denomination if Protestantism is divided into various denominations instead of being counted as a single category.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have spread, mainly from immigration. Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
As per the 2020 Survey, there are 18793 Jewish adherents in 19 synagogues, 53,443 Muslims in 51 masjids, 12,536 Buddhists in 30 temples, 9,271 Hindus in 23 temples, 2,500 Unitarians in nine congregations, 2,000 the Baháʼí Faith in 17 temples, five Sikh temples, a Zoroastrian temple, a Jain temple and an uncounted number of neopagans.
also read about Population in Missouri
Sources
Note: The US census does not contain questions about one’s religious affiliation. Our Article is based on surveys conducted by various institutions and agencies.
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