Largest Christian Denominations in America: The Top 100

Christianity is an important part of the American story in its various denominational expressions. Some denominations came to America from Europe, while others started on American soil. The size of a denomination doesn’t tell its whole story, but it does tell part of it.

Southern Baptist is the largest Protestant denomination in America, with 16 million members. The United Methodist Church is second with 7.6 million members. The National Baptist Convention is third with 5 million members. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is fourth with 4.1 million members.

The charts below list the 100 largest Christian denominations in America, from largest to smallest. The figures mostly come from denominational records and census surveys. Keep reading to learn more.

Also, see How to Choose A Denomination: The Ultimate Guide to learn more.

Historic Christian Branches by Size

Some consider Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy different religions, while others consider them different Christian denominations. (Also see Do All Denominations Go to Heaven?)

Membership numbers for these three traditional branches of the Christian faith are given first. The Top 100 Protestant denominations come next.

Traditional Branch	Population in America
Roman Catholicism	51 million
Protestantism	141 million
Eastern Orthodox	6 million

Fifty-one million is the number of baptized members in America that the Roman Catholic Church reports. (Also see What Are the Different Catholic Denominations?)

Protestantism has no central ecclesiastical authority like Catholicism, so the number 141 million comes from the membership totals of all Protestant denominations put together. The Eastern Orthodox Church self-reports 6 million members in America. [1]

Largest Protestant denominations

Men like Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in France, and Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland led the Protestant Reformation. As noted below, other Protestant denominations started in the 17, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries in Europe and America. (Also see What Denominations are Calvinist?)

Four of the top 10 denominations are Baptist. The Baptist denomination has flourished in American history. Baptist traditions have grown in America due in part to overlapping values.

Baptists, like Americans, prize independence and individualism. Having a congregational church polity also mirrors American democracy for many people.

Three of the top 10 churches have roots in England. The United Methodist Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Episcopal Church have roots in England, which partly explains why these denominations failed to grow as others did during the American Revolution. Nevertheless, the movement John Wesley began remains strong in the 21st century. (Also see What Denominations Are Arminian?)

Two of the top 10 denominations are Lutheran. Germany, the home of Martin Luther, was the epicenter of the Protestant Reformation. Germany’s influence in Europe and America in the last 500 years has contributed to the success of Lutheran branches of Protestant Christianity. German and European migration to America bolstered the Lutheran church.

Please note: In some cases, the founding date listed reflects the theological beliefs of each particular denomination, which some historians may question. A founding date may also reflect when a particular denomination split from its original tradition and became its own organization.

Also, see the Christian Denominations Comparison Chart to learn more.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
1	Southern Baptist Convention	16 million 1845 45,800
2	United Methodist Church	7.6 million 1968 33,600
3	National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.	5 million 1895 10,000
4	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	4.1 million 1988 9,800
5	Assemblies of God	3.1 million 1914 12,900

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
6	National Missionary Baptist Convention of America	2.5 million 1988 1,300
7	African Methodist Episcopal Church	2.5 million 1814 7,000
8	Baptist General Conference of Texas	2.4 million 1848 5,300
9	Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod	2.2 million 1847 6,100
10	Episcopal Church	2 million 1789 6,800

The Assemblies of God denomination is perhaps the most surprising name in the Top 10 simply because of its age. At just over 100 years old, the Pentecostal, evangelical denomination is one of the fastest-growing Christian movements the world has ever seen.

While some Protestant denominations are experiencing record decreases in church membership and affiliation, Assemblies of God continues to grow at a steady rate. [2]

Also, see What Denominations Speak in Tongues? to learn more.

Largest Protestant denominations: 11-20

Baptist and Pentecostal traditions account for seven of the next ten denominations on this list.

Presbyterianism: Some Presbyterian denominations have experienced declines in recent decades, which some attribute to their embrace of progressive political and social ideologies.

Though lower in membership numbers, other Presbyterian denominations continue to hold firm to the teachings of founder John Calvin, the French Reformer. (Also see What Denominations Believe in Predestination?)

Seventh-Day Adventists: Many Protestant denominations began in Europe, such as Lutheran, Methodism, and Presbyterianism. The largest American-born denomination is the Assemblies of God, which traces its roots to Arkansas in the early 20th century. Seventh-Day Adventist Church started on American soil in upstate New York in the mid-19th century.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
11	Pentecostal Assemblies of the World	1.8 million 1907 2,500
12	Presbyterian Church (USA)	1.7 million 1983 10,500
13	Christian Churches and Churches of Christ	1.4 million 1830s 5,500
14	American Baptist Churches in the USA	1.2 million 1814 5,400
15	Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)	1.1 million 1886 6,100
16	Church of God in Christ	1.1 million 1897 6,100
17	Seventh-Day Adventists	1.1 million 1863 5,800
18	Armenian Apostolic Church, Diocese of America	1,010,000 1887 108 parishes
19	Cooperative Baptist Fellowship	1 million 1991 1,800
20	Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.	1 million 1961 1,500

Also, see What is the Largest Denomination in Each State? to learn more.

Largest Protestant denominations: 21-30

Reflecting America’s history of immigration, Christian denominations that include cultural traditions from a particular country appear below. Specifically, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church are listed, like the Armenian Apostolic Church is on the table above.

Calvary Chapel: It’s important to note that although Calvary Chapel is Protestant in theology, its founders didn’t consider it a denomination.

Instead, Calvary Chapel churches prefer to be called an “association” of like-minded churches. Since this association meets the definition of a Christian denomination, generally speaking, they are on the list.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
21	United Church of Christ	915,000 1957 5,000
22	Church of the Nazarene	906,000 1908 5,000
23	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)	690,000 1849 3,700
24	United Pentecostal Church International	646,000 1945 4,300
25	Eastern Rite Catholic, Uniate Churches	500,000 no consensus unknown
26	Calvary Chapels	500,000 1968 700
27	Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia	480,000 unknown 198 parishes
28	Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America	476,878 1922 545 parishes
29	Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers	432,000 1962 684
30	The Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA)	429,000 1887 2,000

Largest Protestant denominations: 31-40

One reason there are a lot of Christian denominations in America is that its laws espouse the freedom of religion for its citizens.

The Church and State are not intertwined in America as in many other countries, and the government largely stays out of ecclesiastical affairs. (Also see What Bible Translation Do Different Denominations Use?)

As a result of America’s religious freedom, people can start churches, and even denominations, without the threat of persecution or government interference.

Other countries have since established such freedoms, but in America, they have been cultural values since before the American Revolution in the 18th century.

Also, see What’s the Difference Between Methodist and Catholic? to learn more.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
31	The Salvation Army	414,000 1880 1,200
32	Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod	385,000 1850 1,300
33	Wesleyan Church	385,000 1968 1,700
34	Presbyterian Church in America	370,000 1973 1,800
35	Evangelical Free Church of America	357,000 1950 1,400
36	International Pentecostal Holiness Church	330,000 1911 2,000
37	African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church	301,000 1821 1,600
38	Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ	300,000 2001 734
39	Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ	300,000 1957 350 global
40	Coptic Orthodox Churches	300,000 1st century 100 parishes

Largest Protestant denominations: 41-50

The history of Christian denominations in America partly reflects the history of America itself. Some argue that the issue of slavery has shaped American history unlike any other national matter. Racial issues affect Christian churches before, during, and after the Civil War.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church listed below started in 1870 in Jackson, Tennessee. African-American Methodist ministers wanted to organize a church, including ordaining and electing their own leaders, without seeking white Methodist leaders’ approval.

In 2012, the C.M.E. denomination entered into “full union” with other historic African-American denominations as well as the United Methodist Church.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
41	Christian Methodist Episcopal Church	291,000 1870 1,500
42	Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference)	260,000 1852 1,300
43	International Church of the Foursquare Gospel	255,000 1927 1,600
44	National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.	246,000 1895 575
45	Reformed Church in America	246,000 1792 886
46	Christian Reformed Church in North America	238,000 1857 1,100
47	Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)	233,000 1881 2,100
48	Evangelical Covenant Church	231,000 1885 839
49	American Baptist Association	203,000 1905 1,400
50	Amish Churches	200,000 1720s

Largest Protestant denominations: 51-60

Amish churches trace their roots to 16th-century Europe and the Anabaptist movement, which didn’t consider itself Catholic or Protestant.

Persecuted in Europe, the descendants of the Amish community in America migrated to Pennsylvania in the 18th century. (Also see Evangelical vs. Non-Denominational: What’s the Difference?)

Largely separate from other Christian churches and society in general, Amish communities are found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere today.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
51	Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBA)	200,000 1947 1,100
52	Vineyard Churches International	186,000 1983 545
53	National Association of Free Will Baptists	185,800 1935 2,400
54	Evangelical Presbyterian Church	150,000 1981 575
55	North American Lutheran Church	140,000 2010 400
56	Baptist Missionary Association of America	138,000 1950 1,200
57	General Association of Regular Baptist Churches	133,000 1932 1,300
58	International Churches of Christ	128,000 1979 667
59	Christian Congregation, Inc.	122,000 1887 1,500
60	Church of the Brethren	114,000 1708 967

Vineyard Churches International (see above) was originally part of the Calvary Chapel network of churches in southern California. In the early to mid-1970s, a group within Calvary Chapel churches desired to emphasize certain supernatural gifts of the Spirit, like speaking in tongues and exorcising demons.

The leaders of Calvary Chapel churches preferred the private exercise of such gifts, so the Vineyard group started their own church.

Also, see What’s the Difference Between Roman Catholic vs. Non-Denominational Churches?

Largest Protestant denominations: 61-70

The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (see below) is one of several Messianic Jewish traditions in the United States. Members of this church believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited Messiah spoken of in the Hebrew Scriptures, i.e., the Christian “Old Testament,” which makes them Christians. Yet they retain certain Jewish practices and traditions.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
61	Anglican Church in North America	112,504 2009 983
62	Baptist Bible Fellowship International	110,000 1950 4,000
63	Free Methodist Church of North America	110,000 1860 900
64	Mennonite Churches USA	105,000 2001 920
65	Orthodox Church in America (Russian Orthodox)	100,000 1970 800 parishes
66	ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians	100,000 2012 300
67	Continuing Anglican Churches	100,000 1977 1,000 parishes
68	Messianic Jewish Alliance of America	100,000 1915 200
69	Southwide Independent Baptist Fellowship	100,000 1956 500
70	Pentecostal Church of God	98,600 1919 1,100

The Anglican tradition has been in America for centuries, so why was the Anglican Church in North America (see above) founded in 2009? In the early 21st century, many denominations formed because two groups split, unable to reconcile their differences.

From 2003 to 2009, Anglican denominations in America disagreed about the ordination of a gay bishop in New Hampshire. The Anglican Church in North America started as a result of that controversy and is made up of various Anglican groups that opposed the ordination.

Largest Protestant denominations: 71-80

All Baptists have common beliefs about practices like believers’ baptism, which holds that only professing Christians can be baptized, so not infants. Baptists also agree on the autonomy of local churches and the separation of Church and State. Baptists have diverse views on matters like salvation.

Some Baptists are Arminian, and others are Calvinists. The General Association of General Baptists (see below) is Arminian. Historically, Calvinist Baptists are often called “Particular Baptists.”

The word “particular” refers to Christ only dying for “particular” people (i.e., the doctrine of Limited Atonement) as opposed to all people.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
71	Church of God of Prophecy	98,500 1923 1,700
72	General Association of General Baptists	95,000 1823 816
73	Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America	75,000 1975 249 parishes
74	Cumberland Presbyterian Church	71,000 1810 685
75	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Mar Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church	70,000 1978 154 parishes

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
76	Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America	67,000 1921 68 parishes
77	North American Baptist Conference	65,000 1865 410
78	National Association of Congregational Churches	63,000 1955 432
79	IFCA International	61,700 1930 659
80	Grace Gospel Fellowship	60,000 1945 113

Grace Gospel Fellowship (see above) is a cooperative fellowship of premillennial dispensational churches. Members hold to the central orthodox beliefs of the Christian faith and emphasize the doctrine of the end times. GGF doctrine states that God has different plans of salvation for Jews and Gentiles, which most premillennialists in other churches and denominations don’t believe.

Also, see What’s the Difference Presbyterian and Catholic? to learn more.

Largest Protestant denominations: 81-90

The Reformed Catholic Church (see below) has more liberal and progressive practices than the Roman Catholic Church. For example, it offers an open communion table to all people, including gay and lesbian attendees. The denomination denies the infallibility of the Pope as well.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
81	Reformed Catholic Church	57,000 1988 100 parishes
82	Korean American Presbyterian Church	55,000 1976 300
83	National Primitive Baptist Convention, USA	53,600 1907 547
84	Primitive Baptists	50,000 1827 1,600
85	Transformation Ministries	55,000 2006 170

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
86	Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA	50,000 1924 118 parishes
87	Conservative Congregational Christian Conference	43,000 1948 316
88	Church of the Living God (CWFF)	42,000 1889 170 temples
89	Plymouth Brethren (Christian Brethren)	42,500 1820s 860
90	Association of Free Lutheran Congregations	41,000 1962 273

The first bishop from the Ukraine Orthodox Church (see above) came to America in 1924. Today, the majority of this denomination’s members live in Pennsylvania and New York state.

Largest Protestant denominations: 91-100

The Friends United Meetings were organized in the early 20th century as a group of like-minded Quakers who sought fellowship and effectiveness in missions. Today, they have ministries all around the world.

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
91	Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America	40,000 1919 unknown
92	Hutterian Brethren	40,000 1530 400 colonies
93	Church of God and Saints of Christ	40,000 1896 2005
94	Missionary Church	38,200 1969 500
95	Friends United Meeting	36,000 1902 600

Rank	Protestant Denomination	Population/ Founding/ Churches
96	US Mennonite Brethren Churches	36,000 1878 200
97	Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, North American Diocese	35,000 1st century 19 parishes
98	Friends General Conference	35,000 1900 650
99	Alliance of Baptist Churches	35,000 1987 142
100	Evangelical Friends Church, International	34,500 1989 306

Also, see What’s the Difference Episcopalian and Baptist? to learn more.

Please see the related articles below.

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