Protestantism in the United States
The Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that began in Europe in the 1500s. It resulted in the creation of a branch of Christianity called Protestantism, a name used collectively to refer to the many religious groups that separated from the Roman Catholic Church due to differences in doctrine. It follows the tenets of the Protestant Reformation, against what its followers perceived to be errors, abuses, innovations, discrepancies, and theological novums within the medieval Catholic Church.
Among Christians in the United States, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 46.6% of the country’s population. The United States has the largest Protestant population of any country in the world. Twelve of the original Thirteen Colonies were Protestant, (except Maryland), and now Protestants are in majority in 45 states of United.
Protestantism in the U.S. is not homogeneous; rather, it is divided into three distinct traditions – evangelical Protestant churches (25.3% of the overall adult population and roughly one-half of all Protestants); mainline Protestant churches (14.7% of the adult population and more than one-third of all Protestants); and historically black Protestant churches (6.5% of the overall adult population).
Protestantism is also comprised of numerous denominational families (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal) that fit into one or more of the traditions. Let’s try to understand it by different definitions.
Read about Religion in United States
Protestants by Tradition
Protestants, by tradition, trace their roots to the 16th-century Reformation movement led by figures such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, emphasizing principles such as sola scriptura (scripture alone), justification by faith, and the priesthood of all believers.
Protestants by tradition in the United States can be further classified into three main denominations. Evangelical is the largest and followed by 25.4% of the US population, 14.7% are Mainline Protestants (14.7%) and 6.5 % follow the Black Church.
| Protestant’s Affiliation by Tradition | % of U.S. population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 25.4 |
| Mainline Protestant | 14.7 |
| Historically black Protestant | 6.5 |
Protestants by Branch
Protestants, by branch, encompass a diverse array of denominations ranging from Lutheranism and Anglicanism to Presbyterianism, Baptist, Methodist, and beyond, each with distinct theological emphases, worship practices, and organizational structures.
Baptists comprise about one-third of American Protestants and are the largest branch of Protestants followed by 15.4% of the US population. Next are Non-Nondenominational Protestant (6.2%), Methodist (4.6%), and Pentecostal (4.6%).
A complete list of Protectants Branches is given below.
| Protestants by Branch | % of U.S. population |
| Baptist | 15.4 |
| Nondenominational Protestant | 6.2 |
| Methodist | 4.6 |
| Pentecostal | 4.6 |
| Unspecified Protestant | 3.8 |
| Lutheran | 3.5 |
| Presbyterian | 2.2 |
| Restorationist | 1.9 |
| Episcopalian/Anglican | 1.3 |
| Holiness | 0.8 |
| Congregationalist | 0.6 |
| Adventist | 0.6 |
| Anabaptist | 0.3 |
| Other evangelical/ fundamentalists | 0.3 |
| other Reformed | 0.3 |
| Pietist | 0.3 |
Source: Pew Research Center, 2014
Protestants by Denominations
The Southern Baptist Convention (5.3% of the US population) is the largest single Protestant denomination in the U.S. comprising one-tenth of American Protestants. Next are the United Methodist Church (3.6%) and American Baptist Church (1.5%).
A complete list of Protectants Denomination is given below
| Protestants by Denomination | % of U.S. population |
| Southern Baptist Convention | 5.3 |
| United Methodist Church | 3.6 |
| American Baptist Churches, USA | 1.5 |
| Churches of Christ | 1.5 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | 1.4 |
| National Baptist Convention, USA | 1.4 |
| Assemblies of God, USA | 1.4 |
| Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod | 1.1 |
| Presbyterian Church (USA) | 0.9 |
| Episcopal Church | 0.9 |
| Church of God in Christ | 0.6 |
| Seventh-day Adventist Church | 0.5 |
| United Church of Christ | 0.4 |
| Presbyterian Church in America | 0.4 |
| Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) | 0.4 |
| Other denomination | 25.2 |
Source: Pew Research Center, 2014
Protestants Churches in United States
Churches in United States (Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal etc.) can fit into one or more of the traditions. So Baptist Churches can be in Evangelical Tradition, Mainline or in Historically black Churches. List of Churches.
The list given below will make you understand better about Protestant Churches
Evangelical Protestant Churches | Mainline Protestant Churches | Historically Black Churches |
Baptist in the Evangelical Tradition | Baptist In the Mainline Tradition | Baptist In the Historically Black tradition |
| – Southern Baptist Convention | – American Baptist Churches in USA | – National Baptist Convention |
| – Independent Baptist in the Evangelical Tradition | – Baptist in the Mainline Tradition. others | – Progressive Baptist Convention |
Pentecostal in the Evangelical Tradition | Methodist In the Mainline Tradition | Methodist In the Historically Black tradition |
| – Assemblies of God | – United Methodist Church | – African Methodist Episcopal |
| – Church of God Cleveland Tennessee | – Other Methodist | – Other Methodist denomination |
| – Pentecostal others | ||
Other Evangelical Churches | Other Mainline Churches | Other Black Churches |
Lutheran in Evangelical Tradition | Lutheran in Mainline Tradition | Pentecostal (Church of God in Christ) |
Presbyterian in Evangelical Trad. | Presbyterian in Mainline Tradition | Protestant nonspecific |
Restorationism (Church of Christ) | Restorationism (Disciples of Christ) | |
Reformed in Evangelical Trad. | Reformed in Mainline Tradition | Nondenominational |
Holiness in Evangelical Trad. | Holiness in Black Protestants | |
Congregationalist in Evangelical Trad. | Congregationalist in Mainline Tradition | Non-Protestants Churches |
Anabaptist in Evangelical Trad. | Anabaptist in Mainline Tradition | Catholic Churches |
Adventist ( Seventh Day Adventist) | Anglican/Episcopal | Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) |
Protestant nonspecific | Other/Protestant | Jehovah’s Witness |
Nondenominational | Nondenominational | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Pietist | Metaphysical | |
Other Evangelical | Spiritualist |
Protestants denominations by adherents
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the largest 20 Protestants denominations by adherents in 2010 are
| Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| Southern Baptist Convention | Evangelical Protestant | Baptist Family | 19,896,279 |
| Non-denominational | Evangelical Protestant | Other Groups Family | 12,241,329 |
| United Methodist Church | Mainline Protestant | Methodist Family | 9,860,653 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Mainline Protestant | Lutheran Family | 4,181,219 |
| Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical Protestant | Pentecostal Family | 2,944,887 |
| Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | Mainline Protestant | Presbyterian/Reformed Family | 2,451,980 |
| Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) | Evangelical Protestant | Lutheran Family | 2,270,921 |
| Episcopal Church | Mainline Protestant | Anglican/Episcopal Family | 1,951,907 |
| National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. | Black Protestant | Baptist Family | 1,881,341 |
| Churches of Christ | Evangelical Protestant | Restorationists Family | 1,584,162 |
| American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. | Mainline Protestant | Baptist Family | 1,560,572 |
| Christian Churches and Churches of Christ | Evangelical Protestant | Restorationists Family | 1,453,160 |
| United Church of Christ | Mainline Protestant | Congregationalists (United Church of Christ) Family | 1,284,296 |
| Seventh-day Adventist Church | Evangelical Protestant | Adventist Family | 1,194,996 |
| Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) | Evangelical Protestant | Pentecostal Family | 1,109,992 |
| African Methodist Episcopal Church | Black Protestant | Methodist Family | 1,009,682 |
| Church of the Nazarene | Evangelical Protestant | Holiness Family | 893,649 |
| Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Mainline Protestant | Restorationists Family | 785,776 |
| Church of God in Christ | Black Protestant | Pentecostal Family | 624,419 |
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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