The Mormon population by state is heavily concentrated in the Intermountain West, where Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona have the highest proportions of Latter-day Saints in the country. Anchored by the historic nineteenth-century Mormon Corridor, membership has also expanded significantly across populous states like California, Texas, Washington, and Florida.
Geographic Distribution of the Mormon Population by State
According to nationwide demographic surveys and official church records, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occupy a unique geographic profile in American religious life. According to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census and church-reported statistics published in 2024 (covering figures through year-end 2023), approximately 6.8 million Latter-day Saints live in the United States, representing slightly more than two percent of the national population.
Sociologists note an interesting distinction between official church rosters and self-identification surveys. While the church records every baptized individual on its membership roles until age 110 unless officially removed, independent surveys such as Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study report lower numbers of self-identified active adherents. Nevertheless, both metrics place the church among the fastest-growing and geographically distinct faith traditions in the United States.
In our directory of Latter-day Saint churches, there are 332 confirmed congregation listings nationwide, representing 0.5 percent of all church listings. While Latter-day Saint meetinghouses are located in all fifty states, the proportion of listings varies dramatically from region to region:
California leads our directory in total listings with 42 congregations, accounting for 0.8 percent of all church entries in the state. Utah ranks second with 31 listings, representing 25.6 percent of all church listings in the state. Texas ranks third with 26 listings (0.5 percent), followed by Ohio with 19 listings (0.5 percent), Oregon and Washington with 16 listings each, Missouri with 13 listings (0.8 percent), Arizona with 12 listings (1.5 percent), and Colorado and North Carolina with 11 listings each.
When evaluated by the percentage share of a state's total church directory listings, the Rocky Mountain region dominates. In Utah, Latter-day Saint congregations account for 25.6 percent of all listing—he highest proportion of any single denomination in any state directory. Idaho ranks second with 4.0 percent, followed by Nevada at 3.7 percent, Hawaii at 2.5 percent, Oregon at 2.4 percent, and Arizona at 1.5 percent. Looking at the reported LDS population by state, official church records and census studies confirm that this regional concentration reflects historical pioneer settlement patterns established during the nineteenth century.
The Mormon Corridor: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona
The cultural and geographic heartland of the faith is historically known as the "Mormon Corridor." Stretching from southeastern Idaho through the Wasatch Front and central Utah into parts of Nevada, Arizona, and Wyoming, this corridor represents the contiguous region colonized by pioneer settlers under the direction of Brigham Young following their 1847 exodus. This colonization history is detailed in our guide on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Utah remains the undisputed center of global Latter-day Saint administration and culture. In our directory, Latter-day Saint churches in Utah represent more than one in four of all church listings. Statewide, official church figures reported over 2.1 million members, meaning approximately 60 percent of Utah residents identify with the faith. This demographic strength deeply shapes religion in Utah, influencing civic observances like Pioneer Day on July 24, university life at Brigham Young University in Provo, and regional architecture characterized by prominent spires and grid-pattern city layouts.
In neighboring Idaho, the church reported over 470,000 members in 2024, representing approximately 24 percent of the state's total populatio—he second-highest concentration in the nation. Communities across the Snake River Plain, such as Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello, maintain large majorities of Latter-day Saint residents, supported by Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg. Similarly, Wyoming claims a membership representing roughly 11 percent of its population, with historic roots in the Big Horn Basin and Star Valley.
Arizona records over 440,000 members (about 6 percent of the state's population), anchored by historic pioneer farming communities founded in the late nineteenth century in Mesa, Gilbert, Snowflake, and the Gila Valley. Today, the Phoenix East Valley hosts large, active stakes, multiple operating temples, and strong youth programs that make Arizona a major cultural pillar of modern Latter-day Saint life.
California: The Largest LDS Population Outside Utah
While Utah contains the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints, California holds the distinction of having the second-largest nominal member population in the United States. Official church statistics reported over 725,000 Latter-day Saints living in California across more than 1,100 wards and branches. In our directory, Latter-day Saint churches in California account for 42 listings, the highest total of any single state.
The faith's history in California dates back to July 1846, when the ship Brooklyn brought more than two hundred Latter-day Saint pioneers to San Francisco, and 1847, when members of the Mormon Battalion helped construct Fort Moore in Los Angeles. During the post-World War II economic boom, tens of thousands of church members migrated from Utah and Idaho to find employment in aerospace, agriculture, and construction.
Today, Latter-day Saints maintain an influential presence in the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern California, contributing to the diverse mosaic of religion in California. The state is home to seven operating temple—ncluding landmark structures in Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Dieg—ith several additional temples under construction or planned to serve growing congregations.
Texas and Sun Belt Growth: Moving Beyond the West
Over the past four decades, the geographic distribution of Latter-day Saints has shifted toward the Sun Belt, mirroring broader American migration patterns toward low-tax states with expanding economies. In Texas, our directory documents 26 listings, and official church statistics report over 385,000 members statewide.
Concentrations of Latter-day Saint churches in Texas are especially prominent in expanding suburban communities surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Many families have relocated to Texas from western states for careers in technology, healthcare, and energy. This influx has spurred significant temple building, with operating or announced temples in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock, McAllen, and Fort Worth, making the church a noticeable presence in religion in Texas.
Similar growth patterns are visible across other southern and eastern states. In North Carolina, where our directory lists 11 congregations, church membership has expanded rapidly around the Research Triangle and Charlotte. Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee have also seen steady gains fueled by young families, retiree migration, and local convert baptisms. Despite regional differences, these diverse congregations share uniform worship practices and foundational doctrines, as outlined in our overview of what Latter-day Saints believe.
Visiting a Latter-day Saint Congregation
Whether attending a service in a rural Utah chapel, a busy suburban meetinghouse in suburban Dallas, or a ward in California, visitors will find identical Sunday formats focused on the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, congregational singing, and scriptural teaching.
To locate the congregation designated for your geographic area, browse our national directory of Latter-day Saint churches. If you are planning to attend your first Sunday service, our practical visitor guide to what to expect at a Latter-day Saints service provides helpful advice on meeting schedules, family-friendly seating, and Sunday dress etiquette.