Similar to the general U.S. population, an increasing proportion of Asian Americans do not align with any particular religious affiliation, and there has been a decline in the percentage identifying as Christian, as revealed by a Pew Research Center survey on the religious beliefs of Asian American adults.
However, the survey also indicates that 40% of Asian Americans express a sense of closeness to a religious tradition for reasons unrelated to actual religious beliefs. For instance, while only 11% of Asian American adults claim Buddhism as their religion, 21% feel an affinity to Buddhism for other reasons, such as familial background or cultural ties.
The religious profile of Asian Americans.
Currently, 32% of Asian Americans have no religious affiliation, up from 26% in 2012. Christianity remains the largest faith group among Asian Americans, comprising 34%. However, Christianity has experienced the most significant decline, decreasing by 8 percentage points since 2012. Among Asian American Christians, there is an even split between Catholics and Protestants, accounting for 17% and 16% of all U.S. Asian adults, respectively. Born-again or evangelical Protestants make up 10% of the Asian American population. Buddhists and Hindus each represent approximately one in ten Asian Americans, while Muslims constitute 6%. Other religious groups, including Daoists, Jains, Jews, Sikhs, and others, collectively make up about 4% of all Asian American adults.
The survey also inquired about the significance of religion in the lives of Asian Americans, with 31% indicating that it is very important to them. Additionally, 29% reported attending religious services at least monthly. Another aspect explored was the presence of altars, shrines, or religious symbols for home worship, with 36% acknowledging that they have such items. Among the major religious groups within the Asian American community, Protestants and Muslims emerged as the most likely to attend religious services at least once a month. In contrast, Buddhists and Hindus were notably more inclined to express that they engage in worship at shrines or altars within their homes.
Indian Americans exhibit a distinctive religious profile compared to other major Asian-origin groups, with a significant majority identifying as Hindu (48%). However, a notable portion of the Indian American population also follows other faiths, including Christianity (15%), Islam (8%), and Sikhism (8%).
Approximately one in ten Asian Americans currently identify Hinduism as their religion (11%), a figure consistent with the 2012 data (10%). An additional 6% of the Asian American population express a sense of closeness to Hinduism for reasons unrelated to religious beliefs, such as ancestry or culture.
When examining Asian American adults who identify as Indian, approximately half state that their current religion is Hinduism (48%), a proportion similar to the 2012 findings (51%). In total, two-thirds of Indian Americans either identify as Hindu or express a close affinity to Hinduism. One-third of Hindus among Asian Americans express that religion holds significant importance in their lives, while an additional 38% consider it somewhat important. A notable 31% mention attending religious services on a monthly or more frequent basis.
When comparing Asian American religious groups analyzed in the survey, Hindus stand out as the most inclined to use an altar, shrine, or religious symbol for home worship, with 79% engaging in this practice. Among Hindus who emphasize the significance of religion in their lives, this figure rises to 89%.
In terms of social circles, 40% of Asian American Hindus state that all or most of their friends share the same religious beliefs, surpassing the overall Asian American population reporting such uniformity (40% vs. 30%).
Demographically, Asian American Hindus exhibit distinct characteristics. Approximately 77% are under the age of 50, making them one of the youngest Asian American religious groups, with a median age of 40. Moreover, 92% of Asian American Hindu adults were born in a country other than the United States, marking the highest foreign-born share among Asian American religious groups. Conversely, religiously unaffiliated Asian Americans with a close affinity to Hinduism are more likely to be U.S.-born than those who formally identify as Hindu (35% vs. 8%). Socioeconomically, Asian American Hindus excel, with 61% holding postgraduate degrees, compared to 22% of all Asian American adults. Additionally, 44% of Asian American Hindus boast a family income exceeding $150,000, surpassing the 32% figure for Asian Americans overall. On average, Hindu Americans exhibit higher educational attainment than any other separately analyzed Asian American religious group.
Politically, three-quarters of Asian American Hindus align themselves with Democratic or Democratic leanings, in contrast to 62% of Asian Americans overall.
In conclusion, as these dynamics continue to shape and redefine the religious landscape, understanding the nuanced interplay of cultural, religious, and social factors becomes essential in capturing the rich tapestry of Asian American diversity.
The increasing number of individuals disaffiliating from organized religions aligns with a similar pattern observed in the general population. Christianity, while remaining the largest faith group, has experienced a decline, particularly among Asian Americans. Notably, a significant proportion of the population expresses a connection to religious traditions for reasons beyond doctrinal beliefs, emphasizing the importance of cultural and familial ties.
Examining specific religious groups, the Hindu community stands out with a distinctive profile. Indian Americans, in particular, exhibit a strong association with Hinduism, while also maintaining a diverse range of religious affiliations.
As these dynamics continue to shape and redefine the religious landscape, understanding the nuanced interplay of cultural, religious, and social factors becomes essential in capturing the rich tapestry of Asian American diversity.