Grace Thompson
The United States is predominantly Protestant, with about half of Americans identifying as such. However, there is a wide variation in Catholic representation across states. While some states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island have high percentages of Catholic residents, others have significantly lower Catholic populations. So, which states are the least Catholic? Let's explore the geographic distribution of Catholicism within the US and identify the states with the lowest percentage of Catholic adherents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Least Catholic State | Tennessee |
| States with low Catholic representation | Alabama (6%), Mississippi |
| States with above-average Catholic representation | New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Illinois, California, Wisconsin |
| Most Catholic State | Rhode Island (44%), Massachusetts |
| Region with the most Catholics | Northeast and mid-Atlantic |
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What You'll Learn
Tennessee has the lowest percentage of Catholics
The United States is home to people of various faiths, with adherents of different religions spread across its states. While Protestants dominate the South, Catholics are most commonly found in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, with some representation in the Midwest.
In 2017, researchers set out to identify the states with the highest and lowest percentages of Catholics in the country. They found that Massachusetts was the state with the highest percentage of Catholics, with around 44.9% of the population identifying as Catholic adherents.
On the other end of the spectrum, Tennessee had the lowest percentage of Catholics of any state. Only 3.5% of respondents in Tennessee identified as Catholic adherents. This is a significant contrast to Massachusetts and reflects the religious diversity and variation across the nation.
The geographic spread of religious groups in the United States has been a consistent pattern over the years. The Southern states are predominantly Protestant, while the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions have higher concentrations of Catholics. The growth of Catholic churches in the West and South over the last few decades has also been notable, with a more than 100% increase in members in Western Catholic churches since 1990.
The religious landscape of the United States is complex and ever-evolving. While Tennessee currently has the lowest percentage of Catholics, it's important to recognize that religious affiliation can change over time and vary within a state as well.
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Protestants dominate the Southern states
The Southern United States, also known as the Bible Belt, has long been dominated by Protestants. Alabama and Mississippi are the most Protestant states, with 77% and 75% of their residents identifying as Protestants, respectively. Other Southern states with high percentages of Protestants include Arkansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina, all with 70% or more Protestant residents.
The dominance of Protestantism in the South can be attributed to several factors. Historically, the South was the home of dissenting Protestant sects, dating back to the colonial era. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), in particular, has been described as the "folk religion of the South," and it is the largest Protestant church in the United States. The SBC's influence extends beyond the South's borders, as it established new congregations in the West during the nineteenth century.
Additionally, the lack of large-scale migration of Catholics to the Southern states has contributed to the region's Protestant majority. In contrast, states with higher Catholic representation, such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York, often have larger immigrant populations, including Hispanics, who predominantly identify as Catholic.
The South also has higher levels of overall religiosity compared to other regions. This keeps the percentage of residents with no formal religious identity, often referred to as "nones," relatively low. The South's religious landscape is further shaped by its historically dominant denominations, such as the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, who did not reunite with their northern counterparts after the Civil War.
While Protestants dominate the South, Catholics are most commonly found in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, with some representation in the Midwest. The geographic distribution of religions in the United States reflects complex historical patterns, including migration trends and demographic changes over time.
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Catholics are most common in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic
The United States is geographically segregated by religion. While Protestants dominate the Southern Bible Belt, Catholics are most prevalent in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, with some representation in the Midwest.
Rhode Island is the most Catholic state in the nation, with 44% of its population identifying as Catholic. Other states with above-average Catholic representation include New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Illinois, California, and Wisconsin. Massachusetts is also considered one of the most Catholic states, with around 44.9% of its population identifying as Catholic.
The Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions have historically been associated with a significant Catholic presence. This concentration of Catholics in certain regions has remained fairly constant over the years, according to Gallup's tracking.
While the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions are known for their Catholic populations, the largest Catholic churches in terms of membership are now found in the Western states. In 2010, Catholic churches in the West reported an average of approximately 4,200 members, reflecting significant growth over the past three decades.
It is worth noting that the percentage of Americans with no religious identity has been increasing, and this trend is particularly noticeable in the West and New England. As a result, the percentage of Catholics and Protestants in most states has decreased.
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The West and New England have the fewest formal religious identities
The United States has a religiously segregated population, with Protestants dominating the Southern Bible Belt states, and Catholics more common in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. However, the West and New England have the fewest formal religious identities.
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the percentage of Americans who have no formal religious identity, rising from 15% in 2008 to 21% in 2017. The two US states with the highest percentage of residents with no religious identity are Hawaii and Alaska, both in the West. Other Western and New England states with high proportions of people with no religious identity include Washington, Vermont, Oregon, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, and California.
The West Coast has 20% of residents identifying as having no religion, while New England has 22%. This makes New England the least religious region in the nation, based on measures of church attendance and self-reported importance of religion. This is a notable shift, as historically, the Pacific states have been called the "unchurched belt".
The increase in the number of people with no religious identity in New England has been attributed to the Catholic Church's pedophilia scandals. For instance, Massachusetts saw its Catholic population drop by 15 percentage points and its unaffiliated group jump by 14 percentage points between 1990 and 2008.
While the West and New England have the fewest formal religious identities, it is worth noting that the largest Catholic churches are now in the West. In 2010, Catholic churches in the West reported an average of approximately 4,200 members, which is more than a 100% increase over the last 30 years.
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The South has the highest number of Protestant states
The United States is home to a diverse range of religious beliefs and denominations, with Christianity being the most prevalent. Within this, Protestantism is the most common, with around half of Americans identifying as Protestants or other non-Catholic, non-Mormon Christians.
The South, particularly the Bible Belt, has long been associated with Protestantism, and this remains true today. Alabama and Mississippi are the most Protestant states, with 77% and 75% of their populations identifying as Protestant, respectively. Other Southern states with high proportions of Protestants include Arkansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina, all with over 70%. The Bible Belt, a region in the Southeast and South-Central US, is known for its conservative Christian values, with Evangelical Protestantism being the most popular religion practised there. Tennessee, in particular, has the largest amount of Evangelical Protestant Christians, with 52% of its population identifying as such.
The Southern Baptist Convention, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is the largest Protestant denomination in the US, with 13.2 million members as of 2023. Alabama stands out for having the highest percentage of regular church attendees in the country, with 58% of its population being regular churchgoers.
In contrast, the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York, tend to have higher representations of Catholics. The West and New England, on the other hand, have the highest percentage of residents with no formal religious identity, notably in states like Hawaii, Alaska, and Vermont.
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Frequently asked questions
Tennessee is the least Catholic state, with only 3.5% of its population identifying as Catholic.
Alabama has the second-lowest percentage of Catholics at 6%. Mississippi, Arkansas, and South Carolina also have low percentages of Catholics, though specific figures for these states are not readily available.
Tennessee is part of the Southern Bible Belt, a region known for its high concentration of Protestants.
Rhode Island is the state with the highest percentage of Catholics, at 44%. Massachusetts is another state with a high percentage of Catholics, with around 44.9% of its population identifying as Catholic.
Catholics are most common in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, with some representation in the Midwest. The largest Catholic churches are now in the West, which has seen significant growth in recent decades.
