Unites States >> Religion >> Kentucky
Religion in Kentucky
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. Kentucky is a deeply religiously conservative state, with Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as its largest branch.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Unaffiliated population is on the rise. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have also spread, mainly from immigration.
also read about Race and Ethnicity in Kentucky
Table of Content
Kentucky Religion Percentage
Christianity is the largest religion followed by 76% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Kentucky is Protestants (65%) followed by Roman Catholics (10%), Mormonism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Other Christians.
Of the Protestants in the state, Evangelical Protestants compose 49% of the population, Mainline Protestants 11%, and Historically Black Protestants 5%.
22% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 2% follow other non-Christian-based religions.
Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
| Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 76% |
| – Protestantism | – 65% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 10% |
| – Mormonism | – <1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – <1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – <1% |
| – Other Christian | – <1% |
| Other Religion | 2% |
| Judaism | <1% |
| Islam | <1% |
| Buddhism | <1% |
| Hinduism | <1% |
| smaller faiths | <1% |
| No religion | 22% |
| Don’t know | <1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Kentucky
Christianity with 76% followers is the largest religion in Kentucky. All Protestant denominations accounted for 65% of the population, and Catholics are 10% 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 | 65% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 49% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 11% |
| – Black church | – 5% |
| Roman Catholicism | 10% |
| Mormonism | <1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | <1% |
| Other Christians | <1% |
read about Christianity in the United States
Protestantism in Kentucky
Among Christians in Kentucky, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 65% 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 49% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (11%) and Black Church (5 %)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 49% |
| Mainline Protestant | 11% |
| Black church | 5% |
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 denomination by adherents in 2020 is as follows
| # | Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Southern Baptist Convention | Evangelical | Baptist | 904,352 |
| 2 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 176,747 |
| 3 | Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 149,762 |
| 4 | Christian Churches and Churches of Christ | Evangelical | Restorationists | 128,612 |
| 5 | Churches of Christ | Evangelical | Restorationists | 51,719 |
| 6 | National Missionary Baptist Convention of America | Black Protestants | Baptist | 38,306 |
| 7 | Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 31,929 |
| 8 | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Mainline | Restorationists | 29,511 |
| 9 | Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. | Black Protestants | Baptist | 27,900 |
| 10 | Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 19,907 |
read about Protestants in the United States
Catholics in Kentucky
Catholic Church at 10 % 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 354,064 adherents and is the second-largest denomination in Kentucky after South Baptist Convention. Louisville is home to the Cathedral of the Assumption, the third-oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States.
Other Religions with 2% of the Kentucky population include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews, Islam, and other smaller faiths.
also read about Population in Kentucky
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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