Unites States >>  Religion >> North Dakota

Religion in North Dakota

The United States has rich and diverse religious cultures, and the freedom to practice beliefs has helped give rise to a unique religious pluralism and freedom. North Dakota is 4th least populous, and the 4th least densely populated US  State. Christianity is the majority religion and Protestantism is 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 North Dakota

North Dakota Religion Percentage

Christianity is the main religion followed by 77% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in North Dakota is Protestant (51%) followed by Roman Catholics (26%), Mormonism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Other Christians.

Non-Christian faiths account for 3%, and the remaining 20% are classified as unaffiliated, which can mean agnostic, atheist, or “nothing in particular.”

Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.

Religion/AffiliationsPercentage
Christianity 77%
 – Protestantism – 51%
 – Roman Catholicism – 26%
 – Mormonism – <1%
 – Eastern Orthodoxy – <1%
 – Jehovah’s Witnesses – <1%
 – Other Christian – 1%
Other Religion3%
  Judaism <1%
  Islam 1%
  Buddhism <1%
  Hinduism <1%
  smaller faiths 2%
  No religion 20%
  Don’t know 1%

Source: Pew Research Center

read about Religion in United States

Christianity in North Dakota

Christianity with 77% followers is the largest religion in North Dakota. All Protestant denominations accounted for 51% of the population, Catholics are 26% 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 AffiliationsPercentage
Protestantism 51%
– Mainline  Protestant– 28%
– Evangelical Protestant– 22%
– Black church<2%
Roman Catholicism 26%
Mormonism <1%
Eastern Orthodoxy <1%
Jehovah’s Witnesses <1%
Other Christians <1%
Protestantism in North Dakota

Among Christians in North Dakota, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 51% 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. Mainline is the largest and followed by 28% of the population, Next are Evangelical Protestants (22%) and Historically Black Protestants at 2%.

Protestants Affiliation% of  population
Mainline Protestant28%
Evangelical Protestant22%
Historically Black Protestant 2%

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 is as follows

Protestant ChurchesTraditionFamilyAdherents
Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaMainline Lutheran 140,764
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)Evangelical Lutheran 17,968
Church of the NazareneEvangelical Holiness 17,585
Assemblies of God, General Council of theEvangelical Pentecostal 16,035
United Methodist ChurchMainline Methodist 10,855

read about  Protestants in United States

Catholics in North Dakota

Catholic Church at 26% of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. Catholics are the largest individual denomination if Protestantism is divided into various denominations instead of being counted as a single category. 

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the largest denomination by adherents in 2010 is the Catholic Church with 164,843 adherents.

Non- Christian based faiths are just 3% of the North Dakota population. 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 Religion3%
  Judaism <1%
  Islam 1%
  Buddhism <1%
  Hinduism <1%
  smaller faiths 2%

 also read about the Population of North Dakota

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.

Religion in North Dakota 2024 | Christianity in North Dakota