Utah has most religious adherents in the country

SALT LAKE CITY — New data indicates that Utah contains the most religious adherents, or people who affiliate with religion, in the country. 

According to an analysis released Friday by the Kem C Gardner Policy Institute, Utah has the largest amount of what they call “religious adherents” of any state in the country.

Seventy-six percent of Utah’s population claims to be religious, the highest national number. That number is up 12% from the second most religious state according to the data, Alabama. 

The most religious counties in the state: Garfield, Rich and Box Elder Counties, with over 90% adherence. Utah County follows close behind with an 89% religious adherent rate. Salt Lake County clocks in at 67.4%.

Religious growth between 2010 and 2020

According to the data, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the most members in the state but didn’t experience the most growth between 2010 and 2020. 

The highest growing amount of adherents during this time were to Hindu, Muslim, and National Baptist Convention religious affiliations. Hinduism grew 4900%. To put that in context, membership grew from 50 to 2,500. Muslim membership rose 408%, from 4,998 adherents to 26,403. The National Baptist Convention grew 106%, from 1,017 members to 2,095. 

Utah has the eighth most congregations per 100,000 population of any state, according to the analysis. The states with the highest amount of congregations are Arkansas, Mississippi and West Virginia, according to the U.S Religion Census. 

From 2010 to 2020, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims and non-denominational Christian churches had highest amount of congregation growth. 

Latter-day Saint congregations grew 8.4% during this time, and all religious congregations in Utah grew 8.3%. 

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