updated Sept. 2008
Profile of Total U.S. Megachurches
Total number of megachurches in the US & Canada – 1250 at 2000 average in attendance
Total number of churches on online database – 1361 at 1800 average or more in attendance
*We have included churches with 1800 or more since attendance fluctuates and these congregations may reach the 2000 mark throughout the year. Additionally, these churches exhibit many of the other characteristics of those 2000+.
Regional Distribution:
REGION |
PERCENT |
NorthEast |
6 |
South |
48 |
NorthCentral |
20 |
West |
25 |
9 Regional Divisions:
DIVISION |
PERCENT |
|
New England |
1 |
Mid Atlantic |
6 |
South Atlantic |
23 |
East South Central |
7 |
West South Central |
18 |
East North Central |
14 |
West North Central |
6 |
Mountain |
5 |
Pacific |
19 |
Canada |
1 |
Attendance:
Average attendance of all megachurches 4142 persons
Median attendance of all megachurches 3000 persons
SIZE GROUPING |
PERCENT |
|
2000 to 2999 |
53.8 |
|
3000 to 3999 |
19.1 |
|
4000 to 4999 |
11.1 |
|
5000 to 9999 |
12.0 |
|
10,000 or more |
4.0 |
1250 churches - total average weekly attendance = 5,200,000 people
Denominational Distribution:
AFFILIATION |
PERCENT |
Nondenominational |
34 |
Southern Baptist |
16 |
Baptist, unspecified |
10 |
Assemblies of God |
6 |
United Methodist |
5 |
Calvary Chapel |
4.4 |
Christian |
4.2 |
Four Square |
1.2 |
COC – ELCA – VINE |
1% each |
These top 11 affiliations account for nearly 84% of all megachurches.
Total number of states and numbers
**This profile is based on the database of megachurches.
California (190)
Texas (190)
Florida (94)
Georgia (76)
Ohio (52)
Tennessee (48)
Illinois (47)
North Carolina (47)
Michigan (45)
Indiana (37)
Washington (37)
Maryland (33)
Virginia (31)
New York (30)
Oklahoma (30)
Colorado (28)
Pennsylvania (27)
Missouri (25)
South Carolina (24)
Alabama (24)
Minnesota (24)
Arizona (24)
Oregon (22)
New Jersey (18)
Louisiana (17)
Kentucky (16)
Arkansas (13)
Kansas (12)
Mississippi (12)
Nebraska (10)
Nevada (9)
Washington, DC (8)
Wisconsin (8)
Massachusetts (6)
Idaho (6)
New Mexico (5)
Hawaii (4)
Iowa (4)
Connecticut (4)
North Dakota (3)
Montana (3)
Alaska (2)
Delaware (1)
Utah (1)
West Virginia (1) |
The following states do not have any megachurches on record:
Maine
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Vermont
Wyoming |
If you are interested in megachurches, you might find this 2007 book co-authored by Hartford Institute professor, Scott Thumma, interesting.
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