Unites States >> Religion >> Michigan
Religion in Michigan
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. Michigan is the US state with the 10th largest population, Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as its largest branch. Despite Protestants having the majority still, Michigan has a good percentage of Catholics.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have spread, mainly from immigration. The irreligious percentage is also on the rise and 24% of the state population doesn’t follow or affiliate with any religion.
also read about Race and Ethnicity in Michigan
Table of Content
Michigan Religion Percentage
Christianity is the main religion followed by 70% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Michigan is Protestants (51%) followed by Roman Catholics (18%), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1%), Mormonism (<1%), Orthodoxy (<1%), and Other Christian (1%).
24% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 5% follow other non-Christian-based religions.
Other Religions include Hinduism (1%), Buddhism(1%), Jews (1%), Islam (1%), and other smaller faiths.
| Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 70% |
| – Protestantism | – 51% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 18% |
| – Mormonism | – <1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – <1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – 1% |
| – Other Christian | – 1% |
| Other Religion | 5% |
| Judaism | 1% |
| Islam | 1% |
| Buddhism | 1% |
| Hinduism | 1% |
| Other religion | 1% |
| No religion | 24% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in the United States
Christianity in Michigan
Christianity with 70% followers is the largest religion in Michigan. All Protestant denominations accounted for 51% of the population, Catholics are 18% of the population, and is the largest individual denomination if Protestantism is divided into various denominations instead of being counted as a single category.
Of the Protestants in the state, Evangelical Protestants compose 25% of the population, Mainline Protestants 18%, and Historically Black Protestants 8%.
Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations. Battle Creek, Michigan, is also the birthplace of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was founded on May 21, 1863.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 51% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 25% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 18% |
| – Black church | – 8% |
| Roman Catholicism | 18% |
| Mormonism | <1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1% |
| Other Christians | 1% |
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Michigan
Among Christians in Michigan, 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. Evangelical is the largest and followed by 25% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (18%) and 8 % are Historically Black Protestants.
Protestants by Tradition
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 25% |
| Mainline Protestant | 18% |
| Historically Black Protestants | 8% |
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 2020 survey by the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the largest Protestant denomination is as follows
| Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 508,904 |
| Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) | Evangelical | Lutheran | 172,123 |
| United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 167,730 |
| National Missionary Baptist Convention of America | Black | Baptist | 132,118 |
| Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 93,206 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Mainline | Lutheran | 82,376 |
| National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. | Black | Baptist | 77,470 |
| Christian Reformed Church in North America | Evangelical | Presbyterian/Reformed | 64,026 |
| Reformed Church in America | Mainline | Presbyterian/Reformed | 62,850 |
| American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. | Mainline | Baptist | 51,027 |
| Church of God in Christ | Black | Pentecostal | 49,529 |
read about Protestants in the United States
Catholics in Michigan
The Catholic Church comprises 18% of the state’s population, making it the second-largest religious group after Protestantism. According to the 2020 survey by the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), the Roman Catholic Church has the highest number of followers with 1,492,732 adherents, making it the largest denomination in the state.
The Roman Catholic Church has six dioceses and one archdiocese in Michigan; Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, Saginaw, and Detroit. The Roman Catholic Church was the only organized religion in Michigan until the 19th century, reflecting the territory’s French colonial roots.
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 (1%), Buddhism (1%), Jews (1%), Islam (1%), and other smaller faiths.
Jews in Michigan
In 2010 the number of Jewish adherents in the state of Michigan was estimated at 44,382. The first Jewish synagogue in the state was Temple Beth El, founded by twelve German Jewish families in Detroit in 1850.
Hinduism in Michigan
Michigan has a Sizeable Hindu population, most of them Indian Americans. According to the U.S. Census, there are more than 112,000 Indian Americans in Michigan, many of them Hindu. There are also Hindus in Michigan rooted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other countries. There are many Hindu Temples in Metro Detroit such as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Detroit and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Sterling Heights.
Islam in Michigan
Islam was introduced by immigrants from the Near East during the 20th century. Michigan is home to the largest mosque in North America, the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn. and as per 2010 estimates, the population of Muslims in Michigan is 120,351.
also read about Population in Michigan
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.
English
Español
Português
Deutsch