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Religious Affiliation Los Angeles County

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.


Religious Affiliation
Adults in the Los Angeles Metro Area

Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, 2014

Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Christian Faiths 65% 5,113,400
Evangelical Protestant 18% 1,416,000
Mainline Protestant 9% 708,000
Historically Black Protestant 3% 236,000
Catholic 32% 2,517,300
Mormon <1% Less than 78,600
Orthodox Christian 1% 78,600
Jehovah's Witness 1% 78,600
Other Christian (Metaphysical, Etc.) 1% 78,600
Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Non-Christian Faiths 9% 708,000
Jewish 3% 236,000
Muslim 2% 157,300
Buddhist 2% 157,300
Hindu 1% 78,600
Other World Religions <1% Less than 78,600
Other Faiths (Unitarians, New Age, Native American, Etc.) 1% 78,600
Religious Beliefs Percentage Approximate Number of Persons (Estimate)*
Unaffiliated 25% 1,966,700
Atheist 4% 314,600
Agnostic 4% 314,600
Nothing in particular 16% 1,258,600
Don't know 1% 78,600

* Percentage of U.S. Census 2019 population estimate of persons age 18 and older. These numbers, not from the Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, were calculated by the Los Angeles Almanac.

Source: Pew Research Center - Religious Landscape Study, 2014


Religious Bodies
Congregations & Adherents
Los Angeles County, 2010

The results of the 2020 U.S. Religion Census study, conducted by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies and The Association of Religion Data Archives, is expected to be released by early summer of 2022.


Also see:
-- Largest Religious Bodies in Los Angeles County
-- Largest Protestant Christian Churches in Los Angeles County.


Adherents are members and their children and others who regularly attend services.

Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
African Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 34 41,521
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Black Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 11 1,626
American Association of Lutheran Churches Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 ---
American Baptist Association, The Evangelical Protestant Baptist 11 1,307
American Baptist Churches in the USA Mainline Protestant Baptist 180 49,515
Anglican Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Episcopalianism/ Anglicanism 8 ---
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, The Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 6 3,565
Apostolic Christian Church of America, Inc. Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 1 78
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, OR Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 43
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 ---
Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Catholicosate of Cilicia) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 7 4,100
Armenian Church of North America (Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin) Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 10 17,050
Armenian Evangelical Churches (Additional) Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 6 ---
Assemblies of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 269 69,317
Assemblies of God International Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 ---
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 14 422
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 4 ---
Bahá'í Other Other Groups 39 8,061
Brethren Church, The (Ashland, Ohio) Evangelical Protestant European Free- Church 2 196
Brethren In Christ Church Evangelical Protestant European Free- Church 3 ---
Buddhism, Mahayana Other Other Groups 126 70,397
Buddhism, Theravada Other Other Groups 29 19,132
Buddhism, Vajrayana Other Other Groups 27 2,168
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 0
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Calvary Chapel Fellowship Churches Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 49 ---
Catholic Church Catholic Catholicism 274 3,542,994
Christian and Missionary Alliance, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 48 6,729
Christian Brethren Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 2 ---
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Mainline Protestant Restoration Movement 79 8,290
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Restoration Movement 56 27,565
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Black Protestant Methodist/Pietist 14 3,722
Christian Reformed Church in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 52 9,892
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Church of Christ (Holiness), U.S.A. Evangelical Protestant Holiness 20 ---
Church of Christ, Scientist Other Christian Science 41 ---
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) Evangelical Protestant Holiness 30 4,941
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 44 4,768
Church of God (Seventh Day) Evangelical Protestant Adventist 10 ---
Church of God General Conference Evangelical Protestant Adventist 1 37
Church of God in Christ Black Protestant Pentecostal 97 25,920
Church of God of Prophecy Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 23 1,174
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Other Latter-day Saints 226 150,569
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 3 ---
Church of the Brethren Evangelical Protestant European Free- Church 11 1,216
Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 70
Church of the Lutheran Confession Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 ---
Church of the Nazarene Evangelical Protestant Holiness 105 21,870
Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Restoration Movement 99 16,763
Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Community of Christ Other Latter-day Saints 5 820
Conservative Baptist Association of America Evangelical Protestant Baptist 52 ---
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 6 4,888
Conservative Judaism Other Judaism 23 26,676
Conservative Lutheran Association Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 ---
Conservative Mennonite Conference Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 1 80
Converge Worldwide/Baptist General Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 27 6,390
Coptic Orthodox Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 12 11,650
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Episcopal Church Mainline Protestant Episcopalianism/ Anglicanism 83 38,108
Eritrean Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 650
Ethiopian Orthodox Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 ---
Evangelical Covenant Church, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 30 7,999
Evangelical Free Church of America, The Evangelical Protestant Methodist/Pietist 33 7,305
Evangelical Friends Church International Evangelical Protestant European Free- Church 16 1,644
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mainline Protestant Lutheran 109 23,713
Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 1 49
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Evangelical Methodist Church Evangelical Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 2 ---
Evangelical Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 34
Foursquare Gospel, International Church of the Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 234 54,646
Free Methodist Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Holiness 31 3,972
Friends United Meeting Mainline Protestant European Free-Church 1 417
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Black Protestant Baptist 23 ---
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 18 ---
Georgian Orthodox Parishes in the United States Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 150
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Grace Brethren Churches, Fellowship of Mainline Protestant European Free- Church 13 ---
Grace Gospel Fellowship Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 1 ---
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 9,155
Hindu, Indian American Hindu Temple Assoc. Other Other Groups 16 9,759
Hindu, Post Renaissance Other Other Groups 34 946
Hindu, Renaissance Other Other Groups 15 572
Hindu, Traditional Temples Other Other Groups 13 8,336
Holy Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 120
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Hungarian Reformed Churches (Additional) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 ---
Independent Fundamental Churches of America Evangelical Protestant Ind. Fundamentalist 13 ---
Independent Yearly Meetings of Friends Mainline Protestant European Free- Church 5 242
International Churches of Christ Evangelical Protestant Baptist 2 6,169
International Council of Community Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 5 ---
International Pentecostal Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 20 4,684
Jehovah's Witnesses Other Adventist 133 9,600**
Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 39 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Korean Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 70 ---
Korean American Presbyterian Church Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 48 ---
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 90 18,317
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 10 4,322
Macedonian Orthodox Church: American Diocese Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 300
Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 216
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 420
Mennonite Church USA Evangelical Protestant European Free-Church 24 2,116
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Metropolitan Community Churches, Universal Fellowship of Mainline Protestant Other Groups 4 564
Missionary Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 18 4,611
Moravian Church in America--Northern Province Mainline Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 1 216
Muslim Estimate Other Other Groups 59 69,080
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 8 2,434
National Association of Free Will Baptists Evangelical Protestant Baptist 5 282
National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 16 10,106
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 52 23,659
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
National Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 25 3,322
National Spiritualist Association of Churches Other Spiritualist 1 ---
New Apostolic Church of North America, National Organization of the Other Other Groups 5 ---
Non-denominational Evangelical Protestant ---- 720 345,848
North American Baptist Conference Evangelical Protestant Baptist 3 104
Open Bible Standard Churches, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 510
Orthodox Church in America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 8 1,101
Orthodox Judaism Other Judaism 150 44,400
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Orthodox Presbyterian Church, The Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 4 632
Pentecostal Church of God Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 14 3,278
Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Church Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 1 ---
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc. Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 2 ---
Pillar of Fire Evangelical Protestant Holiness 1 50
Polish National Catholic Church Catholic Catholicism 1 ---
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 150 38,476
Presbyterian Church in America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 35 1,027
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. Black Protestant Baptist 12 2,462
Reconstructionist Judaism Other Judaism 3 3,761
Reform Judaism Other Judaism 26 33,631
Reformed Baptist Churches Evangelical Protestant Baptist 5 ---
Reformed Church in America Mainline Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 13 6,293
Reformed Church in the United States Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 44
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian- Reformed 1 63
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in Americas Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 250
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 4,100
Salvation Army Evangelical Protestant Holiness 23 7,529
Serbian Orthodox Church in North America Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 3 5,240
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, USA and Canada Evangelical Protestant Baptist 3 67
Seventh-day Adventist Church Evangelical Protestant Adventist 140 44,377
Sikh Other Other Groups 14 ---
Southern Baptist Convention Evangelical Protestant Baptist 517 100,329
Swedenborgian Church Other Spiritualist 1 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 4,800
Tao Other Other Groups 5 ---
U.S. Mennonite Brethren Evangelical Protestant European Free- Church 11 1,088
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 2 400
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Other Judaism 2 ---
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Other Liberal 14 2,869
United Church of Christ Mainline Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 54 10,861
United Holy Church of America, Inc. Black Protestant Pentecostal 3 ---
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
United Methodist Church, The Mainline Protestant Methodist/ Pietist 154 49,927
United Pentecostal Church International Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 33 ---
United Reformed Churches in North America Evangelical Protestant Presbyterian-Reformed 2 ---
Unity Churches, Association of Other Other Groups 14 ---
Vicariate for the Palestinian/Jordanian Orthodox Christian Communities Orthodox Eastern Liturgical (Orthodox) 1 250
Vineyard USA Evangelical Protestant Pentecostal 17 10,406
Wesleyan Church, The Evangelical Protestant Holiness 29 4,190
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Evangelical Protestant Lutheran 8 1,173
Religious Body Tradition Family Congregations Adherents
Zoroastrian Other Other Groups 2 417
TOTALS 5,773 5,214,110

** Estimated by the Los Angeles Almanac.

Source: Assn. of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies and Los Angeles Almanac research.


With 14 congregations in 2010, Los Angeles County is home to the largest number of Sikh congregations in the United States.


The First Congregational Church, founded in 1867 and currently located at 540 South Commonwealth Avenue in Los Angeles, is the oldest continually operating Protestant church in Los Angeles County. Since its founding in the home of Amanda Scott in 1867, the church has regularly met in five different buildings. The current Gothic edifice was completed in 1932. Among its past ministers was Lloyd C. Douglas, author of The Robe.


The First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, located on South Harvard Boulevard, is the oldest African American church in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1872 in the home of Biddy Mason, a former slave who had become a successful Downtown Los Angeles landowner.


The first Protestant church established in Los Angeles was founded by William Money in 1841. He was run out of town by the Catholic Church. The first Methodist sermon in Los Angeles was preached by Reverend James Brier in 1850. His congregation consisted of his family and L.A.'s mayor at that time.