Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $155.8bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Economic stabilization supports charitable giving, but donations lag behind inflation
- Improvements in the broader economy during 2024-2025 have led many individuals to feel more financially secure, resulting in a steady flow of contributions to faith-based groups. However, rising costs of living mean that the total value of donations fails to keep pace with inflation, reducing the real financial resources available for religious operations and outreach.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Shifting demographics and tax policy changes complex religious group funds
- Rising personal disposable income is expected to encourage individuals to allocate more funds toward charitable giving, opening new avenues for organizations to expand outreach and service offerings. Charitable groups may often refine their marketing strategies to connect with potential donors seeking to make a greater impact as their financial capacity grows.
Biggest companies in the Religious Organizations in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue
2026 | Profit
2026 | Profit Margin (%)
2026 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Religious Organizations in the US industry.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Mainline Protestant, Evangelical Protestant and Historically black Protestant. Mainline Protestant is the largest segment of the Religious Organizations in the US.
Trends and Insights
Protestant church attendance patterns differ among groups
- Protestant churches offer spiritual services, community worship and faith-based programs that aim to foster religious growth and communal support. Each congregation within this tradition operates independently, resulting in a spectrum of doctrines and worship formats; this organizational diversity leads to varying patterns of attendance and church involvement.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry consists of religious organizations that provide religious worship or promote religious activities for organized religions and smaller faiths not recognized in mainstream religious teaching. Operators include churches, temples, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship, convents, monasteries and religiously affiliated community centers.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States include Bible society operation , Church operation , Missionary society operation, Monastery operation (except schools), Mosque operation , Synagogue operation, Temple operation, Religious shrines operation and Convents (except schools) operation.Companies
Companies covered in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States include .Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States include congregation, agnostic, atheist, unaffiliated religious, secular unaffiliated, mosque, pledge, tithing, faith-based organization (fbo) and megachurch.Industry Code
NAICS 81311 - Religious Organizations in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Charitable donations to religious organizations aren't keeping up with inflation, despite a stabilizing economy. While economic improvements have boosted people's sense of se...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Religious participation in the US reveals a diverse and shifting landscape, with engagement patterns and growth differing widely across denominations and faith groups. Smalle...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The distribution of religious organizations aligns with regional population trends. The Southeast and Great Lakes regions hold notably more establishments relative to populat...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Religious organizations compete for members across different faith systems. Similarly, competition occurs among churches within the same faith who vie for the same followers.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Religious Organizations in the US industry.
Analyst insights
The industry is highly fragmented, with no single entity leading. Due to the diversity of religions and groups, no specific company dominates the market.
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Most industry establishments are self-regulated according to guidelines set by their respective religious denominations. Generally, each establishment controls its budget and...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The profitability of religious groups is being squeezed by changing donor habits and rising costs. With fewer donations and lower attendance, these organizations are finding ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2019-2024)
- Industry Tax Structure (2019-2024)
- Income Statement (2019-2024)
- Balance Sheet (2019-2024)
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Religious Organizations industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Religious Organizations industry in the United States is $155.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 186k businesses in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Religious Organizations industry in the United States?
The Religious Organizations industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Religious Organizations industry in the United States?
The Religious Organizations industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Religious Organizations industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Religious Organizations industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Religious Organizations industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Religious Organizations industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What does the Religious Organizations industry in the United States include?
Bible society operation and Church operation are part of the Religious Organizations industry in the United States.
How competitive is the Religious Organizations industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Religious Organizations industry in the United States.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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