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Religion in Virginia
Virginia had rich and diverse religious cultures, and the freedom to practice beliefs has helped give rise to a highly unique religious pluralism and freedom. Virginia is the US state with the 12th largest population, 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 Virginia
Table of Content
Virginia Religion Percentage
Christianity is the main religion followed by 73% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Virginia is Protestants (58%) followed by Roman Catholics (12%), Mormonism (2%), Eastern Orthodoxy (1%), and Jehovah’s Witnesses (<1%), and Other Christian.
About 20% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 6% 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 | 73% |
| – Protestantism | – 57% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 12% |
| – Mormonism | -2% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – 1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – <1% |
| – Other Christian | – <1% |
| Other Religion | |
| Judaism | 1% |
| Islam | 1% |
| Buddhism | 1% |
| Hinduism | 1% |
| Other religion | 1% |
| No religion | 20% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in United States
Christianity in Virginia
Christianity with 73% followers is the largest in Virginia. All Protestant denominations accounted for 58% of the population and Catholics are 12%. Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations.
Of the Protestants in the state, Evangelical Protestants compose 30% of the population, Mainline Protestants 16%, and Historically Black Protestants 12%.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 58% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 30% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 16% |
| – Historically Black Protestants | – 12% |
| Roman Catholicism | 12% |
| Mormonism | 1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | 1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | <1% |
| Other Christians | 1% |
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Virginia
Among Christians in Virginia, Protestantism is the largest group comprising about 58% 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 30% of the population, Next are Mainline Protestants (16%) and historically black Protestant (12%)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 30% |
| Mainline Protestant | 16% |
| Black church | 12% |
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 in 2020, The Protestant church with the most adherents in Virginia is as follows
| # | Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Non-denominational Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 723,632 |
| 2 | Southern Baptist Convention | Evangelical | Baptist | 663,951 |
| 3 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 409,558 |
| 4 | Episcopal Church | Mainline | Anglican/Episcopal | 99,669 |
| 5 | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) | Mainline | Presbyterian/Reformed | 77,505 |
| 6 | Assemblies of God | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 69,335 |
| 7 | National Baptist Convention | Black | Baptist | 62,153 |
| 8 | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Mainline | Lutheran | 44,193 |
| 9 | Christian Churches and Churches of Christ | Evangelical | Restorationists | 42,812 |
| 10 | American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. | Mainline | Baptist | 38,985 |
read about Protestants in the United States
Catholics in Virginia
Catholic Church at 12 % of the state population is the second largest religious grouping, after Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington includes most of Northern Virginia’s Catholic churches, while the Diocese of Richmond covers the rest.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the number of members affiliated with Catholic religious bodies in Virginia is 888,163 which is highest among all religion affiliations.
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.
Fairfax Station, Virginia is the site of the Ekoji Buddhist Temple, the Jodo Shinshu school, and the Hindu Durga Temple. Sterling is the home of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, which, with its eleven satellite branches, considers itself the second-largest Muslim mosque community in the country. While the state’s Jewish population is small, organized Jewish sites date to 1789 with Congregation Beth Ahabah.
also read about the population of Virginia
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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