• Mississippi ranks as the most religious U.S. state, achieving the top score by leading six metrics, including frequency of prayer and monthly church attendance.
• The entire top five states are firmly located within the Bible Belt, though metrics like belief in God remain high nationwide
• Arkansas leads the country in congregations per capita, and Oklahoma leads in the religion-related workforce per capita.
• South Dakota is the only non–Bible Belt state to rank in the top 10, driven by its high religious adherence and attendance rates.

A new study from MyCounselor.Online has ranked all 50 U.S. states based on 10 major indicators of religiosity, including frequency of prayer and church attendance. The analysis highlights the continued influence of faith in American life, with nationwide metrics confirming that 70% of adults believe in God or a higher power.

Mississippi secured the top spot as the most religious state, ranking first in six key metrics, including the personal importance of religion in daily life and monthly church attendance. The entire top five states—Mississippi, Arkansas, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee—are firmly situated within the Bible Belt region, reinforcing the cultural significance of faith in the South.

While the region dominates the top rankings, exceptions were noted. South Dakota was the only non–Bible Belt state to break into the top 10, achieving a ninth-place ranking driven by its high monthly church attendance and large share of religious adherents. Other states stood out for specific metrics: Arkansas leads the nation in congregations per capita, and Oklahoma holds the top rank for its religion-related workforce per capita. Conversely, states in the Northeast, such as New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine, were identified as the least religious overall.

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The top ten most religious states in the United States often come from studies that use a composite score based on several metrics, such as the importance of religion in daily life, weekly church attendance, and frequency of prayer.

While rankings can vary slightly depending on the specific study methodology (e.g., Pew Research Center vs. specialized indices), here is a compiled list based on recurring data that places states high in overall religiosity:

• Mississippi: Consistently ranked No. 1, often leading in metrics like the importance of religion in daily life and frequency of prayer.
• South Carolina: Highly ranked for its large share of “highly religious” adults and strong monthly church attendance.
• Louisiana: Known for a diverse religious population, ranking high in belief in God and religious adherence.
• South Dakota: The highest-ranked state outside of the traditional Bible Belt, performing strongly in church attendance and overall religious adherence.
• Tennessee: A stronghold of evangelical culture, with high numbers for frequency of prayer and religious workforce per capita.
• Arkansas: Ranks high for belief in God and frequency of prayer, supported by a dense network of congregations.
• Utah: Often included in top rankings due to its exceptionally high rates of religious affiliation and adherence, primarily due to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Alabama: Maintains high scores for monthly church attendance and a substantial religious workforce.
• North Carolina: Exhibits a strong blend of traditional southern faith and high rates of religious adherence.
• Georgia: Ranks high in categories such as frequency of prayer and the percentage of residents who believe in God.