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Religion in Wisconsin
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. Wisconsin is the US state with the 20th 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 Wisconsin
Table of Content
Wisconsin Religion Percentage
Christianity is the largest religion followed by 71% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Wisconsin is Protestant (32%); Roman Catholic (28%); Mormonism (1%); Eastern Orthodoxy (1%); Jehovah’s Witnesses (1%).
About 25% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 4% follow other non-Christian-based religions. Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
| Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 71% |
| – Protestantism | – 44% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 25% |
| – Mormonism | – 1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – 1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – 1% |
| – Other Christian | – 1% |
| Other Religion | 4% |
| Judaism | 1% |
| Islam | 1% |
| Buddhism | <1% |
| Hinduism | <1% |
| Other religion | 1% |
| No religion | 25% |
| Don’t know | <1% |
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Wisconsin
Christianity with 64% followers is the largest in Wisconsin. All Protestant denominations accounted for 44% of the population, Catholics are 28% 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.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 44% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 22% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 18% |
| – Black church | – 4% |
| Roman Catholicism | 25% |
| Mormonism | <1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | 1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1% |
| Other Christians | <1% |
Source: Pew Research
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Wisconsin
Among Christians in Wisconsin, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 44% 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 22% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (18%) and Historically Black Protestants (4%)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 22% |
| Mainline Protestant | 18% |
| Black church | 4% |
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 protestant denominations by adherents in 2020 are as follows
| # | Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Mainline | Lutheran | 316,245 |
| 2 | Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 276,904 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | Evangelical | Lutheran | 209,788 |
| 4 | Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) | Evangelical | Lutheran | 179,478 |
| 5 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 72,792 |
| 6 | Assemblies of God | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 55,578 |
| 7 | United Church of Christ | Mainline | Congregationalists | 44,796 |
| 8 | Christian and Missionary Alliance | Evangelical | Holiness | 24,298 |
| 9 | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | Mainline | Presbyterian/Reformed | 21,407 |
| 10 | Amish Groups, undifferentiated | Evangelical | Mennonite/Amish | 21,063 |
read about Protestantism in the United States
Catholics in Wisconsin
Catholic Church at 25% 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 1,237,342 adherents and is the largest individual denomination if Protestantism is divided into various denominations instead of being counted as a single category.
There were five Catholic dioceses in the state, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (established as a diocese in 1843, made an archdiocese in 1875), and four suffragan sees Green Bay (1868), La Crosse (1868), Superior (1905), and Madison (1946).
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.
Other Religion – 4%
- Judaism – 1%
- Islam – 1%
- Buddhism – <1%
- Hinduism – <1%
- Other Faiths – 1%
also read about Population in Wisconsin
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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