9 facts about U.S. Catholics
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination.
Some 17% of U.S. adults regularly attend religious services in person and watch them online or on TV.
28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.
U.S. adults disagree over whether legal restrictions on abortion are an effective way to reduce the number of abortions in the U.S.
Overall, 70% of U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious. An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. And 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.
About a quarter of U.S. adults regularly watch religious services online or on TV, and most of them are highly satisfied with the experience. About two-in-ten Americans (21%) use apps or websites to help with reading scripture.
Evangelical Protestant adults under 40 are more likely than older evangelicals to say climate change is an extremely or very serious problem.
Most say Francis represents change in the church. And many say the church should allow priests to marry and let Catholics use birth control.
Most U.S. adults do not believe that requests for religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine are sincere.
While Biden’s rating is still low among White Christians, positive ratings also fell among Black Protestants and the religiously unaffiliated.
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries
ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
© 2024 Pew Research Center