A recent survey conducted by Gallup concludes that religion is still very much an important part of America’s social fabric.

Based on data from more than 320,000 interviews conducted by Gallup between 2 January and 30 November of this year, the study concludes that seven out of 10 Americans report being moderately or very religious. According to the study, this means that the participants attend religious services regularly or view religion as an important part of their daily lives, or both.

Out of all the religious denominations included, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emerged as the most religious of any specific religious group in America.

Other findings include that the percentage of Americans who do not have a specific religious identity has increased. According to Gallup analysts, the findings suggest that religion will continue to play an influential role in American life in the years ahead even if the methods of religious expression and worship change.

Other findings in the study include:

  • Women are significantly more religious than men, at all ages and within all race and ethnic groups. This is not an American anomaly; women are more religious than men in all but a small number of the more than 100 countries around the world in which Gallup has measured religion.
  • Blacks are more religious than any other race or ethnic group in America.
  • Jews are the least religious of any specific religious group in America.
  • Religiousness is highest in Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
  • Religiousness is lowest in states located in the two northern corners of the country, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
  • Upscale Americans are less religious than those with lower levels of education and income, but better-off Americans attend religious services just as often.
  • There are substantial political differences in religiousness. Republicans are significantly more likely to say that religion is important in their daily lives and more likely to attend religious services regularly than either independents or Democrats.
  • Blacks are a major exception to the significant correlation between religiousness and Republicanism. They are at the same time the most religious and the most Democratic race and ethnic group in America.