Unites States >> Religion >> Arkansas
Religion in Arkansas
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. Arkansas is a South Central US state, Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as its largest branch.
Like most other Southern states, Arkansas is part of the Bible Belt and predominantly Protestant. 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 Arkansas
Table of Content
Arkansas Religion Percentage
Christianity is the largest religion followed by 79% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Arkansas is Protestants (70%) followed by Roman Catholics (8%) and Other Christians.
About 18% 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 | 79% |
| – Protestantism | – 70% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 8% |
| – Mormonism | – <1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – <1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – <1% |
| – Other Christian | – 1% |
| Other Religion | 3% |
| Judaism | <1% |
| Islam | 2% |
| Buddhism | <1% |
| Hinduism | <1% |
| Other religion | <1% |
| No religion | 18% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Arkansas
Christianity with 79% followers is the largest in Arkansas. All Protestant denominations accounted for 70% of the population, Catholics are 8% of the population.
Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 70% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 45% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 16% |
| – Black church | – 8% |
| Roman Catholicism | 8% |
| Mormonism | <1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | <1% |
| Other Christians | M1% |
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Arkansas
Among Christians in Arkansas, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 70% 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 46% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (16%) and Historically Black Protestants (8%)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 46% |
| Mainline Protestant | 16% |
| Black church | 8% |
Protestantism is also comprised of numerous denominational families (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal) that fit into one or more of the traditions. Like most other Southern states, Arkansas is part of the Bible Belt and predominantly Protestant.
The largest denominations by the number of adherents in 2020 were the Southern Baptist Convention with 607,751; the United Methodist Church with 134,454; and the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America with 109,090 adherents.
read about Protestants in United States
Catholics in Arkansas
Catholic Church at 8% of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. In contrast with many other states, the Catholic Church as of 2014 was not the single largest Christian denomination in Arkansas. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), In 2020 the Catholic Church has 153,358 adherents.
Other Religions are at 3% of the Arkansas population and it includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths. 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 Population of Arkansas
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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