Largest denominations/denominational families in U.S.The ARIS and NSRI identified broad denominational loyalty as well, as shown in the tables below. Except for Judaism, which is aggregated here as a single denominational family, all of the largest denominational families in the United States are Christian. In the United States, all of the largest religious bodies (distinct "denominations") are Christian. According to the NSRI, America's third largest major religion -- Islam -- is smaller than about fifteen of the country's largest Christian denominations. Please note that in this list, the estimated number is only of the adult population. The figures for total "adherents" given in the "Largest Religious Bodies" list which follows is not limited to adults. Also note that the ARIS and NSRI data are based on a self-identification surveys, while the "Largest Religious Bodies" list presents the most recent available data and is based on organizational reporting. The sample size for NSRI was over 130,000 American adults. The sample size for ARIS was 50,000. This table includes denominational families regardless of what religion they belong to. Judaism and Islam, for example, are typically thought of as religions, but may also be described as "denominational families" in this context. Largest denominational families in U.S., 2001
(self-identification, ARIS) Denomination 1990 Est.
Adult Pop. 2001 Est.
Adult Pop. 2004 Est.
Total Pop. Est. % of U.S. Pop.,
2001 % Change
1990 - 2001 | Catholic | 46,004,000 | 50,873,000 | 71,796,719 | 24.5% | +11% | | Baptist | 33,964,000 | 33,830,000 | 47,744,049 | 16.3% | 0% | | Methodist/Wesleyan | 14,174,000 | 14,150,000 | 19,969,799 | 6.8% | 0% | | Lutheran | 9,110,000 | 9,580,000 | 13,520,189 | 4.6% | +5% | | Presbyterian | 4,985,000 | 5,596,000 | 7,897,597 | 2.7% | +12% | | Pentecostal/Charismatic | 3,191,000 | 4,407,000 | 6,219,569 | 2.1% | +38% | | Episcopalian/Anglican | 3,042,000 | 3,451,000 | 4,870,373 | 1.7% | +13% | | Judaism | 3,137,000 | 2,831,000 | 3,995,371 | 1.3% | -10% | | Latter-day Saints/Mormon | 2,487,000 | 2,697,000 | 3,806,258 | 1.3% | +8% | | Churches of Christ | 1,769,000 | 2,593,000 | 3,659,483 | 1.2% | +47% | Congregational/
United Church of Christ | 599,000 | 1,378,000 | 1,944,762 | 0.7% | | | Jehovah's Witnesses | 1,381,000 | 1,331,000 | 1,878,431 | 0.6% | -4% | | Assemblies of God | 660,000 | 1,106,000 | 1,560,890 | 0.5% | +68% | |
