Dallas-Fort Worth’s Religious Landscape Shifts Dramatically in 2023

UPDATE: New data reveals significant shifts in the religious landscape of Dallas-Fort Worth, with a notable rise in Hindu representation and declining affiliation with traditional Protestant denominations. According to the latest Pew Research survey conducted in 2023-2024, the percentage of Hindus in the area has surged from less than 1% to 3%, marking a transformative change in local religious demographics.

This urgent update comes at a time when the Dallas-Fort Worth region boasts over 6,500 places of worship, the highest concentration among the ten largest U.S. metropolitan areas, as reported by The New York Times. The survey highlights that, for the first time in a decade, the share of individuals identifying with religions other than Christianity has doubled, rising from 4% in 2014 to 8% in 2023-2024.

Among the most striking findings, affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention has plummeted from 10% in 2014 to just 6% today. Meanwhile, the United Methodist Church has seen its representation drop from 5% to 3% since 2019, amidst controversies over LGBTQ pastors. Even the Catholic community has witnessed a slight decline, with membership decreasing from 15% to 14%.

The survey also reveals that a staggering 85% of adults in D-FW profess belief in God or a “universal spirit.” However, only 62% of these believers claim to be “absolutely certain” of their faith, indicating a growing uncertainty among the population.

Prayer practices are also shifting. The data shows that 48% of surveyed adults pray daily, while 27% pray weekly or monthly. In contrast, 25% admitted to praying seldom or never. Beliefs in heaven and hell are changing too; 69% of respondents believe in heaven, while 62% affirm their belief in hell. Notably, disbelief in heaven has risen to 28% from 17% in 2014.