South Carolina's Religious Landscape (2014 Pew Data)

South Carolina remains one of America's most religiously homogeneous states, though diversity is slowly increasing.

Protestant Dominance (67%)

The Palmetto State's religious identity is overwhelmingly Protestant, with Southern Baptist Convention alone claiming ~35% of adults.

Other Affiliations

• Catholic: ~10% — Growing with Hispanic immigration; Charleston diocese (1820) is 7th oldest in U.S.
• Unaffiliated: ~16% — "Nones" (atheist, agnostic, nothing in particular); rising fastest among under-30
• Other religions: ~7% — Judaism (Charleston's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 1749), Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Bahá'í, etc.

Regional Patterns

• Lowcountry/Charleston: Episcopal, Catholic, Jewish, historic Black churches (Mother Emanuel AME)
• Midlands/Columbia: Methodist, Baptist, growing non-denominational
• Upstate/Greenville-Spartanburg: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, PCA
• Pee Dee/Grand Strand: Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal

Caveats

Data from Pew 2014 Religious Landscape Study (n=35,000+ nationally). Self-identified affiliation ≠ attendance. Next major Pew study expected 2024+. ARDA and PRRI offer more recent estimates.