Hinduism in the United States

American Hindus
Holi celebration at Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah
Total population
3,369,976 (2021) Increase[1][2]
1% of U.S. Population[3](2016 Public Religion Research Institute data)
0.7% of the U.S. Population (2015 Pew Research Center data)[4]
Regions with significant populations
California California778,804
New Jersey New Jersey278,600
New York (state) New York202,157
Massachusetts Massachusetts140,027
Illinois Illinois128,125
Ohio Ohio117,800
Texas Texas112,153
Religions
Hinduism
Majority:
Vaishnavism
Minority:
Shaivism
Languages
Majority spoken languages
Related ethnic groups
Hinduism by country
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Caribbean
Oceania
South America
Full list

Hinduism is the fourth-largest religion in the United States, comprising 1% of the population, nearly the same as Buddhism and Islam.[1] The majority of American Hindus are immigrants, mainly from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean, with a minority from Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and other countries.

The number of Hindus living in the United States did not grow substantially until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.[5] Prior to 1965, fewer than 50,000 Hindus from India had immigrated to the United States. As a result of U.S. immigration policies in favor of educated and highly skilled migrants,[6] Hindu-Americans are the most likely to hold college degrees and earn high incomes of all religious communities in the United States.

Many concepts of Hinduism, such as meditation, karma, ayurveda, reincarnation, and yoga, have been adopted into mainstream American beliefs and lifestyles.[7] Om is a widely chanted mantra, particularly among millennials and those who practice yoga and subscribe to the New Age philosophy. According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey of 2009, 24% of Americans believe in reincarnation, a core concept of Hinduism.[8][9] The Hindu practices of vegetarianism and ahimsa are also becoming more widespread.

  1. ^ a b "About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated". Measuring Religion in Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel. Pew Research Center. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "hindus in the United States of America". worldatlas.com. August 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Cox, Daniel; Jones, Ribert P. (June 9, 2017). America's Changing Religious Identity. Public Religion Research Institute. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "America's Changing Religious Landscape". Pew Research Center. May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Batalova, Jeanne Batalova Mary Hanna and Jeanne (October 15, 2020). "Indian Immigrants in the United States". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Hilburn, Matthew (July 30, 2012). "Hindu-Americans Rank Top in Education, Income". Voice of America. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  7. ^ Rajghatta, Chidanand (August 18, 2009). "Americans turn to Hindu beliefs". The Times of India. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  8. ^ Ryan, Thomas (October 21, 2015). "25 percent of US Christians believe in reincarnation. What's wrong with this picture?". America. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  9. ^ Miller, Lisa (August 15, 2009). "We Are All Hindus Now". Newsweek. Retrieved July 11, 2018 – via AdiShakti.org.