Religious tradition among blacks
% of blacks who are…
Survey year | Buddhist | Catholic | Evangelical Protestant | Hindu | Historically Black Protestant | Jehovah's Witness | Jewish | Mainline Protestant | Mormon | Muslim | Orthodox Christian | Other Christian | Other Faiths | Other World Religions | Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | < 1% | 5% | 14% | < 1% | 53% | 2% | < 1% | 4% | < 1% | 2% | < 1% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 18% | < 1% | 3,394 |
2007 | < 1% | 5% | 15% | < 1% | 59% | 1% | < 1% | 4% | < 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 12% | 1% | 3,101 |
Learn More: Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Historically Black Protestant, Mainline Protestant, Unaffiliated (religious "nones")
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are ages…
Religious tradition | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 29% | 32% | 28% | 11% | 186 |
Evangelical Protestant | 23% | 36% | 26% | 15% | 482 |
Historically Black Protestant | 20% | 36% | 29% | 15% | 1,755 |
Mainline Protestant | 26% | 31% | 27% | 15% | 153 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 43% | 37% | 16% | 5% | 527 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by age group
Generational cohort among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 20% | 15% | 26% | 31% | 8% | < 1% | 186 |
Evangelical Protestant | 14% | 17% | 29% | 30% | 10% | 1% | 482 |
Historically Black Protestant | 12% | 13% | 30% | 34% | 9% | 1% | 1,755 |
Mainline Protestant | 20% | 13% | 25% | 30% | 10% | 3% | 153 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 26% | 27% | 27% | 17% | 3% | < 1% | 527 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by generational group
Gender composition among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 41% | 59% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 43% | 57% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 41% | 59% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 36% | 64% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 56% | 44% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by gender
Immigrant status among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 24% | 13% | 63% | 189 |
Evangelical Protestant | 14% | 8% | 79% | 488 |
Historically Black Protestant | 6% | 3% | 91% | 1,760 |
Mainline Protestant | 23% | 7% | 70% | 158 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 9% | 7% | 84% | 512 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by immigrant status
Income distribution among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who have a household income of…
Religious tradition | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 44% | 22% | 20% | 14% | 167 |
Evangelical Protestant | 41% | 22% | 23% | 13% | 446 |
Historically Black Protestant | 53% | 22% | 18% | 8% | 1,601 |
Mainline Protestant | 44% | 20% | 19% | 17% | 148 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 53% | 19% | 18% | 9% | 466 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by household income
Educational distribution among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who have completed…
Religious tradition | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 40% | 36% | 13% | 11% | 191 |
Evangelical Protestant | 37% | 38% | 15% | 11% | 493 |
Historically Black Protestant | 52% | 33% | 9% | 6% | 1,787 |
Mainline Protestant | 33% | 31% | 21% | 15% | 158 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 53% | 32% | 11% | 4% | 532 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by educational group
Marital status among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 35% | 10% | 13% | 6% | 37% | 190 |
Evangelical Protestant | 38% | 4% | 20% | 9% | 29% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 30% | 6% | 19% | 9% | 37% | 1,789 |
Mainline Protestant | 42% | 5% | 14% | 6% | 33% | 158 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 17% | 12% | 10% | 3% | 58% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 33% | 67% | 190 |
Evangelical Protestant | 32% | 68% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 30% | 70% | 1,790 |
Mainline Protestant | 38% | 62% | 158 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 33% | 67% | 533 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say they…
Religious tradition | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 88% | 9% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 89% | 8% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 89% | 9% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 84% | 14% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 57% | 21% | 9% | 1% | 10% | 3% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by belief in God
Importance of religion in one's life among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say religion is…
Religious tradition | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 75% | 21% | 2% | 2% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 84% | 13% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 86% | 12% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 81% | 16% | 3% | < 1% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 34% | 28% | 18% | 19% | < 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by importance of religion
Attendance at religious services among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who attend religious services…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 44% | 39% | 16% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 64% | 32% | 4% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 53% | 37% | 10% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 50% | 38% | 12% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 12% | 37% | 51% | < 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who pray…
Religious tradition | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 77% | 13% | 3% | 7% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 80% | 15% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 80% | 11% | 4% | 4% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 72% | 20% | 3% | 4% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 41% | 18% | 10% | 31% | 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who attend prayer group…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 25% | 12% | 12% | 50% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 49% | 17% | 9% | 24% | 2% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 44% | 14% | 9% | 32% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 35% | 18% | 7% | 39% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 16% | 10% | 6% | 68% | < 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by attendance at prayer groups
Frequency of meditation among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who meditate…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 44% | 8% | 6% | 42% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 60% | 11% | 2% | 26% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 55% | 8% | 4% | 31% | 2% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 52% | 10% | 4% | 34% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 38% | 7% | 4% | 50% | 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 58% | 19% | 11% | 12% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 78% | 10% | 5% | 6% | < 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 73% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 67% | 19% | 5% | 8% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 51% | 18% | 8% | 20% | 3% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by frequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 40% | 12% | 13% | 34% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 48% | 14% | 11% | 26% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 42% | 15% | 11% | 30% | 2% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 51% | 14% | 9% | 25% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 49% | 14% | 7% | 29% | 1% | 534 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Religious tradition | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 34% | 8% | 49% | 9% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 62% | 6% | 29% | 3% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 47% | 6% | 41% | 4% | 2% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 43% | 7% | 46% | 3% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 17% | 13% | 56% | 11% | 3% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by sources of guidance on right and wrong
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say…
Religious tradition | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 22% | 78% | < 1% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 41% | 58% | 1% | < 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 29% | 69% | 1% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 22% | 76% | 1% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 21% | 76% | 1% | 2% | 534 |
Frequency of reading scripture among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who read scripture…
Religious tradition | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 42% | 15% | 7% | 36% | < 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 68% | 15% | 7% | 10% | 1% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 61% | 13% | 8% | 17% | 1% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 45% | 19% | 8% | 26% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 28% | 11% | 6% | 55% | < 1% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by frequency of reading scripture
Interpreting scripture among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say the holy scripture is…
Religious tradition | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 44% | 33% | 1% | 16% | 5% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 57% | 29% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 59% | 23% | 3% | 9% | 6% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 39% | 31% | 2% | 18% | 10% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 30% | 15% | 1% | 48% | 6% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by interpretation of scripture
Belief in Heaven among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who …in heaven
Religious tradition | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 91% | 6% | 4% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 91% | 4% | 5% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 93% | 4% | 3% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 90% | 6% | 4% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 65% | 27% | 7% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who …in hell
Religious tradition | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 74% | 20% | 6% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 83% | 11% | 6% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 82% | 12% | 6% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 73% | 17% | 10% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 51% | 42% | 7% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who identify as…
Religious tradition | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 9% | 14% | 78% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 12% | 15% | 73% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 9% | 10% | 82% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 7% | 4% | 89% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 11% | 18% | 71% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by political party
Political ideology among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who are…
Religious tradition | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 29% | 35% | 23% | 13% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 36% | 33% | 24% | 7% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 35% | 34% | 25% | 7% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 22% | 38% | 32% | 7% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 22% | 36% | 32% | 10% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by political ideology
Views about size of government among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who would rather have…
Religious tradition | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 23% | 73% | 2% | 2% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 30% | 63% | 4% | 4% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 22% | 71% | 3% | 4% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 17% | 80% | 2% | 2% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 28% | 67% | 2% | 3% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about size of government
Views about government aid to the poor among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say government aid to the poor…
Religious tradition | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 28% | 66% | 4% | 2% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 31% | 63% | 3% | 3% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 26% | 67% | 4% | 2% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 26% | 65% | 8% | 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 30% | 65% | 4% | 2% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about government aid to the poor
Views about abortion among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say abortion should be…
Religious tradition | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 60% | 35% | 5% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 45% | 51% | 4% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 53% | 41% | 6% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 63% | 30% | 7% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 56% | 39% | 4% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say homosexuality…
Religious tradition | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 61% | 29% | 5% | 4% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 39% | 54% | 4% | 3% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 52% | 39% | 6% | 4% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 70% | 26% | 2% | 2% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 66% | 27% | 4% | 2% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who …same-sex marriage
Religious tradition | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 48% | 39% | 13% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 32% | 59% | 9% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 40% | 52% | 9% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 63% | 32% | 5% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 58% | 35% | 6% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say…
Religious tradition | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 35% | 61% | 2% | 1% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 31% | 64% | 2% | 3% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 36% | 58% | 2% | 4% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 29% | 69% | 2% | < 1% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 29% | 66% | 3% | 2% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about environmental protection
Views about human evolution among blacks by religious group
% of blacks who say humans…
Religious tradition | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 19% | 34% | 5% | 38% | 3% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 12% | 29% | 1% | 54% | 3% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 16% | 31% | 3% | 44% | 5% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 23% | 32% | 3% | 37% | 5% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 38% | 23% | 3% | 31% | 4% | 534 |
Switch Display To: religious group among blacks by views about human evolution