News Release

May 17, 2024 (Salt Lake City) —A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that Utah has the largest share of religious adherents of any state, with an estimated 76% of the population. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of adherents of the largest religions of the state increased, while the number of congregations in the state also increased by 8.3%, from 5,557 in 2010 to 6,018 in 2020.

“Utah’s religious adherents as a share of the population, 76.1%, ranks 12 percentage points higher than the next highest state of Alabama,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. “From 2010 to 2020, Hindu (traditional temples), Muslims, and the National Baptist Convention experienced the highest growth rates of adherents, while the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest religious body in Utah, grew 11.3% during that same period.”

The latest Utah demographic characteristics on disability are available online. The Gardner Institute will release additional demographic characteristics over several days to aid state decision-making.