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Religion in Mississippi

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. Mississippi is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, with Christianity being the majority religion and Protestantism as its largest branch.

Being part of the Bible Belt, Mississippi is socially conservative and Protestant Christianity plays a strong role in society and politics, and church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation’s average. 

Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, and the Unaffiliated or Nonreligious population share has increased. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have also spread, mainly from immigration.

also read about Race and Ethnicity in Mississippi

Mississippi Religion Percentage

Christianity is the largest religion followed by 83% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Mississippi is Protestants (77%) followed by Roman Catholics (4%), Mormonism (1%), and Other Christians.

Non-Christian faiths account for 2%, and the remaining 14% 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/AffiliationsPercentage
Christianity 83%
 – Protestantism – 77%
 – Roman Catholicism – 4%
 – Mormonism -1%
 – Eastern Orthodoxy – <1%
 – Jehovah’s Witnesses – <1%
 – Other Christian – 1%
Other Religion2%
  Judaism – <1%
  Islam – <1%
  Buddhism – <1%
  Hinduism – <1%
Smaller Faiths1%
  No religion 14%
  Don’t know 1%

Source: Pew Research Center

read about Religion in United States

Christianity in Mississippi

Christianity with 83% followers is the largest in Mississippi . All Protestant denominations accounted for 77% of the population, Catholics are just 4% of the population.

Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations. 

Christianity AffiliationsPercentage
Protestantism 77%
– Evangelical Protestant– 41%
– Mainline Protestant– 12%
– Black church– 24%
Roman Catholicism 4%
Mormonism 1%
Eastern Orthodoxy <1%
Jehovah’s Witnesses <1%
Other Christians 1%
Protestantism in Mississippi

Among Christians in Mississippi, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 77% 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 41% of the population, Next are Historically Black Protestants (24%) and Mainline Protestants (12%.)

Protestants Affiliation% of  population
Evangelical Protestant41%
Mainline Protestant12%
Black church24%

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 Southern Baptist Convention had 830,229 adherents and was the largest religious and also Protestant denomination in the state, followed by the United Methodist Church with 164,073, and the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America with 116,520. 

read about  Protestants in the United States

Catholics in Mississippi

Catholic Church at 4 % of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. Like other South States Mississippi has a very low percentage of Catholics. Nine of the 10 least Catholic states are in the South, with the bottom four — Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas – all having under 8% Catholic populations. 

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), In 2020 the Catholic Church has 99,663 adherents.

 

Other religions have a small presence in Mississippi; as of 2010, there were 5,012 Muslims; 4,389 Hindus; and 816 of the Baháʼí Faith. Others smaller faiths are  Buddhism, Jews, Sikhism, New Age, and native American religions.

also read about Population of Mississippi

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.

Religion in Mississippi 2024 | Christianity in Mississippi