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California

Religious Traditions, 2010

3,502,250 249,191 880,981 10,234,036 154,331 1,744,962 20,488,205
Evangelical Protestant Black Protestant Mainline Protestant Catholic Orthodox Other Unclaimed

Congregational adherents include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services. The 2010 reports contain incomplete counts of congregations and adherents belonging to the eight largest historically African-American denominations. These denominations are not included in the 2000 reports and are largely missing from the 1990 and 1980 reports.
[More information on the data sources]

Reports


Religious Bodies Tradition Family Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate†
Non-denominational Evangelical Protestant
----
 2,964 1,420,908 38.14
Southern Baptist Convention Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2,147 489,953 13.15
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Other Latter-day Saints 1,362 763,818 20.50
Catholic Church Catholic Catholicism 1,315 10,233,334 274.69
Assemblies of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1,260 348,747 9.36
United Methodist Church, The Mainline Protestant Methodist/Pietist 667 232,399 6.24
Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Baptist 632 73,405 1.97
Seventh-day Adventist Church Evangelical Protestant Adventist 613 214,635 5.76
Jehovah's Witnesses Other Adventist 611 --- ---
Foursquare Gospel, International Church of the Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 586 105,086 2.82
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 553 170,641 4.58
Buddhism, Mahayana Other Other Groups 498 250,945 6.74
American Baptist Churches in the USA Mainline Protestant Baptist 458 114,797 3.08
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mainline Protestant Lutheran 446 123,908 3.33
Church of the Nazarene Evangelical Protestant Holiness 435 86,715 2.33
Episcopal Church Mainline Protestant Episcopalianism/Anglicanism 409 130,709 3.51
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 392 105,084 2.82
Calvary Chapel Fellowship Churches Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 331 --- ---
Church of God in Christ Black Protestant Pentecostal 301 72,496 1.95
United Pentecostal Church International Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 261 --- ---
Muslim Estimate Other Other Groups 246 272,814 7.32
United Church of Christ Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 234 42,397 1.14
Christian and Missionary Alliance, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 230 61,456 1.65
Orthodox Judaism Other Judaism 229 54,625 1.47
Conservative Baptist Association of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 226 --- ---
Pentecostal Church of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 226 28,084 0.75
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 222 25,547 0.69
Bahá'í Other Other Groups 217 29,638 0.80
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Baptist 212 82,719 2.22
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Mainline Protestant Baptist 202 22,978 0.62
Church of Christ, Scientist Other Christian Science 181 --- ---
Evangelical Free Church of America, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 180 59,607 1.60
Hindu, Post Renaissance Other Other Groups 156 6,130 0.16
Converge Worldwide/Baptist General Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 151 36,720 0.99
Evangelical Covenant Church, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 148 53,984 1.45
Christian Reformed Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 141 26,922 0.72
Korean Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 131 --- ---
Buddhism, Vajrayana Other Other Groups 126 10,532 0.28
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) Evangelical Protestant Holiness 122 20,634 0.55
Church of God of Prophecy Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 116 6,503 0.17
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 113 57,968 1.56
Buddhism, Theravada Other Other Groups 109 65,463 1.76
International Pentecostal Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 106 13,572 0.36
Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 106 11,352 0.30
Salvation Army Evangelical Protestant Holiness 104 39,338 1.06
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 100 --- ---
African Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist/Pietist 98 61,557 1.65
Reform Judaism Other Judaism 95 102,270 2.75
Free Methodist Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Holiness 91 12,575 0.34
Korean-American Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 88 --- ---
American Baptist Association, The Evangelical Protestant Baptist 85 8,658 0.23
Anglican Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Episcopalianism/Anglicanism 83 --- ---
Wesleyan Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 83 13,529 0.36
Vineyard USA Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 81 30,428 0.82
National Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 79 13,746 0.37
Unity Churches, Association of Other Other Groups 75 --- ---
Independent Fundamental Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 71 --- ---
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Other Liberal 71 15,760 0.42
U.S. Mennonite Brethren Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 70 14,167 0.38
Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 69 --- ---
Hindu, Indian-American Hindu Temple Assoc. Other Other Groups 63 45,234 1.21
Conservative Judaism Other Judaism 62 51,738 1.39
Sikh Other Other Groups 60 --- ---
North American Baptist Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 55 17,780 0.48
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Black Protestant Baptist 54 --- ---
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist/Pietist 53 12,952 0.35
National Association of Free Will Baptists Evangelical Protestant Baptist 52 3,035 0.08
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 48 7,996 0.21
Reformed Church in America Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 47 31,940 0.86
Hindu, Renaissance Other Other Groups 45 5,142 0.14
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 45 19,490 0.52
Orthodox Church in America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 43 5,819 0.16
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 42 38,463 1.03
Community of Christ Other Latter-day Saints 41 6,619 0.18
Evangelical Friends Church International* Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 41 5,686 0.15
Independent Yearly Meetings of Friends* Mainline Protestant European Free-Church 41 1,603 0.04
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 41 24,525 0.66
Missionary Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 41 9,662 0.26
Church of Christ (Holiness), U.S.A. Evangelical Protestant Holiness 38 --- ---
Coptic Orthodox Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 38 24,208 0.65
Mennonite Church USA Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 36 3,130 0.08
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Black Protestant Methodist/Pietist 35 5,225 0.14
Hindu, Traditional Temples Other Other Groups 34 55,626 1.49
Orthodox Presbyterian Church, The Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 34 3,108 0.08
Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 33 3,059 0.08
Church of God (Seventh Day) Evangelical Protestant Adventist 31 --- ---
Grace Brethren Churches, Fellowship of Mainline Protestant European Free-Church 31 --- ---
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, The Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 29 10,066 0.27
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 29 6,799 0.18
New Apostolic Church of North America, National Organization of the Other Other Groups 25 --- ---
Church of the Brethren Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 24 2,534 0.07
Armenian Church of North America (Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 23 32,900 0.88
Reformed Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 23 --- ---
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 23 7,354 0.20
Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 19 5,757 0.15
Brethren In Christ Church Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 18 --- ---
Evangelical Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 18 9,108 0.24
Serbian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 18 8,646 0.23
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 17 525 0.01
Metropolitan Community Churches, Universal Fellowship of Mainline Protestant Other Groups 16 1,892 0.05
Tao Other Other Groups 16 --- ---
United Reformed Churches in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 15 --- ---
Christian Brethren Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 14 --- ---
Reformed Church in the United States Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 14 1,001 0.03
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 13 --- ---
International Council of Community Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 12 --- ---
Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Catholicosate of Cilicia) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 11 5,460 0.15
National Spiritualist Association of Churches Other Spiritualist 11 --- ---
Armenian Evangelical Churches (Additional) Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 10 --- ---
Ethiopian Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 10 --- ---
Reconstructionist Judaism Other Judaism 10 6,771 0.18
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 9 5,755 0.15
Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 8 --- ---
Churches of God, General Conference Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 8 525 0.01
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Other Judaism 8 --- ---
Vicariate for the Palestinian/Jordanian Orthodox Christian Communities Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 6,650 0.18
Zoroastrian Other Other Groups 8 1,837 0.05
American Association of Lutheran Churches Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 7 --- ---
Association of Free Lutheran Congregations Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 7 --- ---
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 7 1,078 0.03
International Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Baptist 7 8,960 0.24
North American Lutheran Church Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 7 --- ---
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, USA and Canada Evangelical Protestant Baptist 7 456 0.01
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 7 7,240 0.19
Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, OR Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 6 264 0.01
Eritrean Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 6 2,550 0.07
Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 6 253 0.01
Evangelical Methodist Church Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 6 --- ---
Grace Gospel Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 6 --- ---
Alliance of Baptists Mainline Protestant Baptist 5 --- ---
Brethren Church, The (Ashland, Ohio) Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 5 505 0.01
Cumberland Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 5 952 0.03
Jain Other Other Groups 5 --- ---
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 5 765 0.02
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in Americas Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 5 1,550 0.04
United Holy Church of America, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 5 --- ---
Church of the Lutheran Confession Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 4 --- ---
Hungarian Reformed Churches (Additional) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 4 --- ---
Swedenborgian Church Other Spiritualist 4 --- ---
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 4 560 0.02
Assemblies of God International Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 3 --- ---
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 3 670 0.02
Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 3 --- ---
Conservative Lutheran Association Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 3 --- ---
Friends United Meeting* Mainline Protestant European Free-Church 3 464 0.01
Holy Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 190 0.01
Independent Baptist Fellowship International Evangelical Protestant Baptist 3 --- ---
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 3 200 0.01
Apostolic Christian Church of America, Inc. Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 2 138 0.00
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 2 --- ---
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 110 0.00
Church of God General Conference Evangelical Protestant Adventist 2 47 0.00
Friends General Conference* Mainline Protestant European Free-Church 2 113 0.00
Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2 --- ---
Georgian Orthodox Parishes in the United States Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 250 0.01
Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 360 0.01
Mennonite Christian Fellowship* Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 2 92 0.00
Moravian Church in America--Northern Province Mainline Protestant Methodist/Pietist 2 341 0.01
Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 890 0.02
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 2 --- ---
Pillar of Fire Evangelical Protestant Holiness 2 275 0.01
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 1 151 0.00
Association of Messianic Congregations Other Judaism 1 --- ---
Church of God of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 --- ---
Church of the United Brethren in Christ Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 1 19 0.00
Conservative Mennonite Conference Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 1 80 0.00
Evangelical Association of Reformed, and Congregational Christian Churches Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 1 --- ---
Macedonian Orthodox Church: American Diocese Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 300 0.01
New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 1 --- ---
Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 --- ---
Polish National Catholic Church Catholic Catholicism 1 --- ---
Protestant Reformed Churches in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 1 239 0.01
Unaffiliated Conservative Amish Mennonite Church* Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 1 114 0.00
United Catholic Church, Inc. Catholic Catholicism 1 702 0.02
Totals: 23,558 16,765,751  

The population of California was 37,253,956 in 2010; in 2000 it was 33,871,648. The total population changed 10.0%. The adherent totals of the religious groups listed above (16,765,751) included 45.0% of the total population in 2010.

* In an effort to better match the ASARB standards for adherents, a few religious bodies changed the way their adherents were reported in 2010, including the Catholic Church, Amish groups, Friends groups, Jewish groups, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Non-denominational Christian Churches, and the United Methodist Church. This change does not affect any of the data in the newly released 2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. In fact, the data for these groups are now more comparable to that of other bodies than it was in previous decadal reports.

However, the change in methodology can distort assessments on growth or decline between 2000 and 2010 for each of these groups. County-level 2000 data using the new methodology are not readily available. ASARB staff has adjusted some 2000 county-level adherent statistics to allow for a more accurate picture on growth or decline. The revised maps and charts are now available on-line at www.usreligioncensus.org for those who are interested in these trends.

Source

2010 data were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include statistics for 236 religious groups, providing information on the number of their congregations and adherents within each state and county in the United States. Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E. Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H. Taylor supervised the collection. These data originally appeared in 2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study, published by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB). [More information on the data collection]

†The adherence rate provides the number of adherents of a particular group per 1,000 population. For example, in 2010 the Episcopal Church had an adherence rate of 7.6 in Autauga County, Alabama. This means that about 8 out of every 1,000 people in Autauga County were Episcopalian.


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