Utah holds the largest share of religious adherents of any state in the U.S., with an estimated 76.1% of the population identifying with a religious affiliation, according to a May 2024 analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Statewide Religious Growth Trends
The high rate of religious identification in Utah stands 12 percentage points higher than the next highest state, Alabama, Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, said in a May 17, 2024 news release. This demographic trend is part of a broader increase in religious presence across the state observed between 2010 and 2020.
During that decade, the number of congregations throughout Utah grew by 8.3%, rising from 5,557 in 2010 to 6,018 in 2020. While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains the state's largest religious body and saw an 11.3% growth rate during that period, other faiths experienced significant shifts.
Diversifying Religious Landscapes
While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints maintains a dominant presence, the Gardner Institute reported that Hindu (traditional temples), Muslim, and National Baptist Convention groups experienced the highest growth rates in adherents between 2010 and 2020. This diversification aligns with journalistic efforts, such as those by Dylan Eubank for Report for America, to provide diverse religious coverage and examine how faith impacts Utah communities.
Data from the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) highlights these shifting dynamics. The ASARB collected 2020 data for 372 religious bodies or groups, successfully gathering specific data on congregations and adherents for 217 of those groups.
Utah County Membership Breakdown
A closer look at Utah County's 2020 membership reports reveals even more concentrated religious demographics. In a county with a total population of 659,399 in 2020, the adherents of listed religious groups totaled 587,133, representing an 89% adherence rate for the county's population.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains the primary religious force in the region, with 1,336 congregations and 546,424 adherents recorded in the 2020 Utah County report. This is followed by the Catholic Church, which reported 33,000 adherents across four congregations.
Local Denominational Presence
Other notable religious populations in Utah County include 2,214 Muslim adherents and 1,714 Jehovah's Witnesses. Hindu Yoga and Meditation also maintains a presence with 922 adherents across two locations. The diversity of the county is further reflected in smaller groups such as the Assemblies of God, which has 529 adherents, and the Southern Baptist Convention, which lists 472 members.
Smaller denominations contribute to the county's religious fabric through various traditions, including the Episcopal Church with 67 members, the United Methodist Church with 42, and the Baha'i Faith, which includes 68 individuals within 'Other Groups Family.'
Defining Religious Membership
The definitions of what constitutes a 'congregation' or an 'adherent' can vary significantly between religious bodies. According to the US Religion Census, congregations may include parishes, churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples where regular worship services are held. Adherents are generally defined as members, children who are not members, and others who participate in the congregation regularly.
These statistics are subject to change based on how religious bodies collect their data. The 2020 Utah County figures were part of a larger effort by the ASARB to track membership across various denominations, including Evangelical Protestant, Mainline Protestant, and various other family groups.
Future Demographic Outlook
As Utah continues to experience growth in both its general population and its religious institutions, the interplay between established traditions and emerging faiths remains a central feature of the state's identity. The increase in both congregational numbers and specific minority group growth suggests a complex, evolving religious landscape.
