Unites States >> Religion >> Minnesota
Religion in Minnesota
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. Minnesota is the state in the Upper midwest with Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as 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 Minnesota
Table of Content
Minnesota Religion Percentage
Christianity is the main religion followed by 74% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Minnesota is Protestant (50%); Roman Catholic (22%); Mormonism (1%).
Non-Christian faiths account for 5%, 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/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 74% |
| – Protestantism | – 50% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 22% |
| – 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 | 2% |
| No religion | 20% |
| Don’t know | 2% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Minnesota
Christianity with 74% followers is the largest in Minnesota. All Protestant denominations accounted for 50% of the population, Catholics are 22% 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 | 50% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 19% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 29% |
| – Black church | – 2% |
| Roman Catholicism | 22% |
| Mormonism | 1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | <1% |
| Other Christians | 1% |
read about Christianity in the United States
Protestantism in Minnesota
Among Christians in Minnesota, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 50% 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 29% of the population, Next are Evangelical Protestants (19%) and 2 % follow Black Church.
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 19% |
| Mainline Protestant | 29% |
| Black church | 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), in 2020 the largest Protestants denominations in Minnesota is as follows
| # | Protestants Churches | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Mainline | Lutheran | 607,275 |
| 2 | Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 167,891 |
| 3 | Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) | Evangelical | Lutheran | 151,221 |
| 4 | Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 119,851 |
| 5 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 73,529 |
| 6 | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | Evangelical | Lutheran | 53,294 |
| 7 | Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ | Evangelical | Lutheran | 45,154 |
| 8 | Christian and Missionary Alliance | Evangelical | Holiness | 27,362 |
| 9 | United Church of Christ | Mainline | Congregationalists | 26,824 |
| 10 | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | Mainline | Presbyterian/Reformed | 25,909 |
read about Protestantism in the United States
Catholics in Minnesota
Catholic Church at 22 % of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, the denomination with the most adherents in 2020 was the Roman Catholic Church with 1,111,644. Roman Catholics (of largely German, Irish, French, and Slavic descent) make up the largest single Christian denomination.
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 and account for 5% of the State population.
Although Christianity is dominant, Minnesota has a long history with non-Christian faiths. Ashkenazi Jewish pioneers set up Saint Paul’s first synagogue in 1856. Minnesota is home to more than 30 mosques, mostly in the Twin Cities metro area. The Temple of ECK, the spiritual home of Eckankar, is based in Minnesota.
also read about Population in Minnesota
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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