An overwhelming majority of Alabamians still consider their faith in God to be at the center of their daily lives, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 Religious Landscape Study.
The nationwide survey, released in September 2025, offers one of the most comprehensive portraits of religious identity and practice across the United States.
Conducted between July 17, 2023, and March 4, 2024, the study gathered responses from 36,908 adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Interviews were completed in both English and Spanish to ensure broad representation.
Researchers used four key indicators to measure faith and practice:
- How important religion is in a person’s life,
- How frequently they attend worship services,
- How often they pray, and
- Whether they believe in God or a universal spirit with absolute certainty.
Based on these questions, Pew assigned a score to each participant and categorized those with the strongest levels of faith expression as “highly religious.”
According to the report, 40% of Alabama adults fall into the “highly religious” category, placing the state tied for eighth nationally in overall religiosity.
In terms of faith identity, 73% of Alabamians identify as Christian, while 3% identify with other religions. The remaining quarter of adults are unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”
Alabama also ranks among the top ten states in several individual measures of religious commitment:
- 4th in the share of adults who say religion is very important in their lives (51%)
- 6th in monthly worship attendance (44%)
- 11th in daily prayer (50%)
- 6th in belief in God or a universal spirit with absolute certainty (66%)
These results affirm Alabama’s longstanding reputation as a state where faith is both deeply personal and widely practiced.
Across the country, Mississippi ranks as the most religious state, followed by South Carolina, South Dakota, and Louisiana and at the other end of the spectrum, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine recorded the lowest levels of religious commitment.
Pew researchers note that while Alabama remains among the most faithful states, overall religious observance has gradually declined nationwide in recent decades. Methodological changes in the latest study, however, mean direct comparisons with earlier surveys should be made cautiously.
The findings reflect what many church leaders and community observers have long recognized — that for much of Alabama’s population, faith in God remains a guiding force in both private devotion and public life.
Whether through regular worship attendance, prayer, or deeply held belief, Alabamians continue to demonstrate a commitment to spiritual life that stands out across the nation.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
