{"id":274489,"date":"2025-09-16T14:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T18:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=274489"},"modified":"2025-09-22T15:06:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T19:06:53","slug":"how-spiritual-is-your-state","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/09\/16\/how-spiritual-is-your-state\/","title":{"rendered":"How spiritual is your state?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Woodland
(Chris McLoughlin\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spirituality can mean many different things to Americans<\/a>. For instance, about a quarter of Americans say that, to them, being spiritual is about connections, including being connected to God, nature or other people. One-in-ten say being spiritual means understanding themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also know that for many people there is no difference been spirituality and religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the wide variety of definitions people attach to spirituality \u2013 and since there is no single way<\/a> to measure it \u2013 Pew Research Center\u2019s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study<\/a> (RLS) asked Americans multiple questions about their spiritual beliefs, practices, experiences and identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study shows that many of the country\u2019s most spiritual states, as well as many of its most religious ones, are in the South. For instance, about half of adults who live in Mississippi (54%), Louisiana (51%), Kentucky (51%), Arkansas (50%), South Carolina (50%) and Oklahoma (50%) say they feel \u201ca deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being\u201d at least once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But spirituality also is widespread outside the South. For example, roughly eight-in-ten or more adults in every state believe that people have souls or spirits in addition to their physical bodies. And roughly seven-in-ten or more in every state think there is \u201csomething spiritual beyond the natural world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis examines U.S. adults\u2019 spiritual beliefs, practices, experiences and identities by state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Center conducts high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and leaders. Studying the public\u2019s spirituality is a key part of the Center\u2019s long-standing research agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This report includes findings from a survey of 36,908 U.S. adults who participated in the Center\u2019s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study<\/a>. The survey was conducted from July 17, 2023 to March 4, 2024. The survey\u2019s overall margin of error is plus or minus 0.8 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the questions<\/a> used for this analysis, the topline<\/a> and details about the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

When comparing states on any survey question, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that some differences may not be statistically significant, due to the survey\u2019s margins of error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The charts below include shaded bars showing margins of sampling error at a 95% confidence level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: <\/em><\/strong>Understanding error bars in charts<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Select a spirituality measure from the dropdown list below to find out how your state stacks up with other places.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t