Houston

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Houston|Religion in Houston}}
{{US Census population
|1850= 2396
|1860= 4845
|1870= 9382
|1880= 16513
|1890= 27557
|1900= 44633
|1910= 78800
|1920= 138276
|1930= 292352
|1940= 384514
|1950= 596163
|1960= 938219
|1970= 1232802
|1980= 1595138
|1990= 1630553
|2000= 1953631
|2010= 2099451
|2020= 2301572
|estyear= 2022
|estimate= 2302878
|estref= 
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]<br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts"/>
}}
[[File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Houston.png|thumb|Map of ethnic distribution in Houston, 2010 U.S. census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}}]]
The [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]] determined Houston had a population of 2,304,580.<ref name="QuickFacts" /> In 2017, the census-estimated population was 2,312,717, and in 2018 it was 2,325,502.<ref name="QuickFacts" /> An estimated 600,000 [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]] resided in the Houston area in 2017,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Fearing-deportation-undocumented-immigrants-are-12450772.php |title=Fearing deportation, undocumented immigrants in Houston are avoiding hospitals and clinics |last1=Najarro |first1=Ilena |date=December 27, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 28, 2018 |last2=Deam |first2=Jenny |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529054311/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Fearing-deportation-undocumented-immigrants-are-12450772.php |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> comprising nearly 9% of the city's metropolitan population.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/for-houstons-many-undocumented-immigrants-storm-is-just-the-latest-challenge/2017/08/28/210f5466-8c1d-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html |title=For Houston's many undocumented immigrants, storm is just the latest challenge |last=Sacchetti |first=Maria |date=August 28, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053842/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/for-houstons-many-undocumented-immigrants-storm-is-just-the-latest-challenge/2017/08/28/210f5466-8c1d-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[2010 United States census]], Houston had a population of 2,100,263 residents,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4835000 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213094355/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4835000 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> up from the city's 2,396 at the [[1850 United States census|1850 census]].

Per the 2019 [[American Community Survey]], Houston's age distribution was 482,402 under 15; 144,196 aged 15 to 19; 594,477 aged 20 to 34; 591,561 aged 35 to 54; 402,804 aged 55 to 74; and 101,357 aged 75 and older. The median age of the city was 33.4.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=2019 ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4835000&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> At the 2014-2018 census estimates, Houston's age distribution was 486,083 under 15; 147,710 aged 15 to 19; 603,586 aged 20 to 34; 726,877 aged 35 to 59; and 357,834 aged 60 and older.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=2018 ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4835000&table=DP05&tid=ACSDP1Y2018.DP05&layer=place&cid=DP05_0001E&vintage=2018&lastDisplayedRow=26 |access-date=January 26, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The median age was 33.1, up from 32.9 in 2017 and down from 33.5 in 2014; the city's youthfulness has been attributed to an influx of an African American [[New Great Migration]], Hispanic and Latino American, and Asian immigrants into Texas.<ref>William&nbsp;H. Frey (May 2004). "[https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-new-great-migration-black-americans-return-to-the-south-1965-2000/ The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965-to the present] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428042235/http://www.brookings.edu/urban/pubs/20040524_Frey.pdf |date=April 28, 2008 }}". [[Brookings Institution]]. brookings.edu. Retrieved July 10, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texans-are-3-years-younger-than-average-1692753.php|title=Texans are 3 1/2 years younger than average Americans|last=Kever|first=Jeannie|date=May 26, 2011|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130104/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texans-are-3-years-younger-than-average-1692753.php|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/discoverhouston/about-houston/article/Demographics-show-the-changing-face-of-Houston-5754937.php |title=Demographics show the changing face of Houston |last=Yard |first=Michelle |date=September 23, 2014 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130247/https://www.chron.com/discoverhouston/about-houston/article/Demographics-show-the-changing-face-of-Houston-5754937.php |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males.<ref name=":13" />

There were 987,158 housing units in 2019 and 876,504 households.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=ACS 2019 Selected Social Characteristics |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas%20households&g=1600000US4835000&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP02 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> An estimated 42.3% of Houstonians owned housing units, with an average of 2.65 people per household.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Houston city, Texas 2018-2019 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/PST040219 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> The median monthly owner costs with a mortgage were $1,646, and $536 without a mortgage. Houston's median gross rent from 2015 to 2019 was $1,041. The median household income in 2019 was $52,338 and 20.1% of Houstonians lived at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]].

=== Race and ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible mw-collapsed collapsible' style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Racial and ethnic composition 
!2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Race and Population Totals|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4835000&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>!! 2010<ref name="2010populationbyrace">{{cite web |publisher=Census Reporter |access-date=May 29, 2018 |title=Houston, Texas Population: Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts |url=http://censusviewer.com/city/TX/Houston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530040111/http://censusviewer.com/city/TX/Houston |archive-date=May 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>!! 2000<ref name="census2000">{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html |title=Houston (city), Texas |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220105716/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html |archive-date=February 20, 2010 }}</ref>!! 1990<ref name="census1" />!! 1970<ref name="census1" />
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race) 
|47.0%|| 43.8% || 37.4%|| 27.6% || 11.3%<ref name="fifteen">From 15% sample</ref>
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|Whites (Non-Hispanic)]]
|21.8% || 25.6%<ref>{{Cite web|title=Houston City Census 2010, Summary File 1|url=https://demographics.texas.gov//Resources/Decennial/2010/SF1/profiles/place//Houston_city_2010_SF1_Profile.pdf|page=21}}</ref>|| 30.8%<ref>{{cite web|title=Houston city, Texas – DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212043652/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on|archive-date=February 12, 2020|access-date=July 10, 2009|work=census.gov}}</ref>|| 40.6% || 62.4%<ref name="fifteen" />
|-
|[[African American|Black or African American]]
|24.9%|| 25.1% || 25.3%|| 28.1% || 25.7%
|-
|[[Asian American|Asian]]
|7.1%|| 6.0% || 5.3% || 4.1% || 0.4%
|}
Houston is a [[Majority minority in the United States|majority-minority]] city. The Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, a [[think tank]], has described Greater Houston as "one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the country".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%202018.pdf |title=The 2018 Kinder Houston Area Survey |last=Klineberg |first=Stephen |date=April 2018 |website=Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428045303/https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%202018.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houston's diversity, historically fueled by large waves of Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Asian immigrants, has been attributed to its relatively lower [[cost of living]] compared to most major cities, strong job market, and role as a hub for [[Third country resettlement|refugee resettlement]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-houston-diversity-2017-htmlstory.html |title=How Houston has become the most diverse place in America |last=Mejia |first=Brittny |date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527192306/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-houston-diversity-2017-htmlstory.html |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/07/01/195909643/tx2020-houston-racial-ethnic-diversity-americas-future |title=In Houston, America's Diverse Future Has Already Arrived |last=Hu |first=Elise |date=July 1, 2013 |work=NPR |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130009/https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/07/01/195909643/tx2020-houston-racial-ethnic-diversity-americas-future |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Houston has long been known as a popular destination for African Americans due to the city's well-established and influential African American community. Houston has become known as a [[Black mecca]] akin to [[Atlanta]] because it is a major living destination for Black professionals and entrepreneurs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 8, 2016|title=Join Us in Houston, America's Next Great Black Business Mecca|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/join-houston-americas-next-great-black-business-mecca/|access-date=July 8, 2021|website=Black Enterprise|language=en-US}}</ref> The Houston area is home to the [[List of U.S. cities with large African-American populations|largest African American community]] in Texas and [[List of largest cities west of the Mississippi River|west]] of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/685815783/meet-black-girl-magic-the-19-african-american-women-elected-as-judges-in-texas|title=Meet 'Black Girl Magic,' The 19 African-American Women Elected As Judges In Texas|newspaper=NPR.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/join-houston-americas-next-great-black-business-mecca/ |title=Join us in Houston, America's Next Great Black Business Mecca |last=Graves | first=Earl G. Sr. |date=December 8, 2016 |website=Black Enterprise |access-date=September 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820172802/https://www.blackenterprise.com/join-houston-americas-next-great-black-business-mecca/ |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Haleyp412">{{cite journal|last=Haley|first= John H. |title = Reviewed Work: ''Black Dixie: Afro-Texan History and Culture in Houston'' by Howard Beeth, Cary D. Wintz |journal =[[The Georgia Historical Quarterly]]|date =Summer 1993|volume= 77|issue =2|pages= 412–413|jstor=40582726}} CITED: p. 412.</ref> A 2012 Kinder Institute report found that, based on the evenness of population distribution between the four major racial groups in the United States (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian), Greater Houston was the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States, ahead of [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/sep/23/sylvester-turner/sylvester-turner-calls-houston-nations-most-divers/ |title=Sylvester Turner mostly right; Houston is 'most diverse' |last=Rahman |first=Fauzeya |date=September 23, 2016 |work=Politifact |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053906/http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/sep/23/sylvester-turner/sylvester-turner-calls-houston-nations-most-divers/ |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, according to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], [[non-Hispanic whites]] made up 23.3% of the population of Houston proper, Hispanics and Latino Americans 45.8%, Blacks or African Americans 22.4%, and Asian Americans 6.5%.<ref name=":14" /> In 2018, non-Hispanic whites made up 20.7% of the population, Hispanics or Latino Americans 44.9%, Blacks or African Americans 30.3%, and Asian Americans 8.2%.<ref name=":13" /> The largest Hispanic or Latino American ethnic groups in the city were [[Mexican Americans]] (31.6%), [[Puerto Ricans]] (0.8%), and [[Cuban Americans]] (0.8%) in 2018.<ref name=":13" />

As documented, Houston has a higher proportion of minorities than non-Hispanic whites; in 2010, [[White Americans|whites]] (including Hispanic whites) made up 57.6% of the city of Houston's population; 24.6% of the total population was non-Hispanic white.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Houston city, Texas 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/POP010210 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> Blacks or African Americans made up 22.5% of Houston's population, [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] made up 0.3% of the population, Asians made up 6.9% (1.7% [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]], 1.3% [[Chinese Americans|Chinese]], 1.3% [[Indian Americans|Indian]], 0.9% [[Pakistani Americans|Pakistani]], 0.4% [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]], 0.3% [[Korean Americans|Korean]], 0.1% [[Japanese Americans|Japanese]]) and [[Pacific Islander]]s made up 0.1%. Individuals from some other race made up 15.69% of the city's population.<ref name="2010populationbyrace" /> Individuals from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]] made up 2.1% of the city.<ref name=":15" />

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 U.S. census]], the racial makeup of the city was 49.3% White, 25.3% Black or African American, 5.3% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.5% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 37.4% of Houston's population in 2000, while non-Hispanic whites made up 30.8%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston city, Texas – DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212043652/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2009 |work=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The proportion of non-Hispanic whites in Houston has decreased significantly since 1970, when it was 62.4%.<ref name="census1">{{cite web |title=Texas – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=April 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref>

=== Sexual orientation and gender identity ===
{{Main|LGBT culture in Houston|LGBT rights in Texas|Houston Gay Pride Parade}}
[[File:LGBTbannersinMontrose.jpg|thumb|249x249px|LGBT banners in [[Montrose, Houston|Montrose]]]]
Houston is home to one of the largest [[LGBT community|LGBT communities]] and [[pride parade]]s in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Same Sex Couples Statistics by The Williams Institute|url=https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=SS&area=48201#economic|access-date=July 30, 2020|website=williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The World's Biggest Pride Parades|url=https://www.theactivetimes.com/travel/worlds-biggest-pride-parades/slide-13|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=The Active Times|date=January 10, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Houston LGBTQ Community & Culture|url=https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/|access-date=July 30, 2020|website=My Gay Houston|language=en-us}}</ref> In 2018, the city scored a 70 out of 100 for LGBT friendliness.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Florian|date=October 12, 2018|title=Houston Lags Behind Other Major Texas Cities in LGBT-Friendliness|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/10/12/307944/houston-lags-behind-other-major-texas-cities-in-lgbt-friendliness/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Public Media|language=en-US}}</ref> Jordan Blum of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated levels of LGBT acceptance and discrimination varied in 2016 due to some of the region's traditionally conservative culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blum|first=Jordan|date=January 18, 2016|title=In energy sector, coming out 'can put you at risk'|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-energy-sector-coming-out-can-put-you-at-risk-6764343.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>

Before the 1970s, the city's [[gay bar]]s were spread around Downtown Houston and what is now [[midtown Houston]]. LGBT Houstonians needed to have a place to socialize after the closing of the gay bars. They began going to Art Wren, a 24-hour restaurant in Montrose. LGBT community members were attracted to Montrose as a neighborhood after encountering it while patronizing Art Wren, and they began to [[Gentrification|gentrify]] the neighborhood and assist its native inhabitants with property maintenance. Within Montrose, new gay bars began to open.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oaklander|first=Mandy|date=May 18, 2011|title=The Mayor of Montrose|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-mayor-of-montrose-6589627|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Press}}</ref> By 1985, the flavor and politics of the neighborhood were heavily influenced by the LGBT community, and in 1990, according to Hill, 19% of Montrose residents identified as LGBT. [[Murder of Paul Broussard|Paul Broussard]] was murdered in Montrose in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2, 2006|title=Anatomy Of A Gay Murder|url=http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF2001/Bull/Bull.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002211623/http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF2001/Bull/Bull.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2006|access-date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>

Before the legalization of [[same-sex marriage in the United States]] the [[marriage of Billie Ert and Antonio Molina]], considered the first same-sex marriage in Texas history, took place on October 5, 1972.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|title=Houston's LGBT History|url=https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/houstons-lgbt-history/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=My Gay Houston|language=en-us}}</ref> Houston elected the [[Annise Parker|first openly lesbian mayor]] of a major city in 2009, and she served until 2016.<ref name=":18" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bustillo|first=Miguel|date=December 13, 2009|title=Houston Election May Prove Historic|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126057851102188215|access-date=July 29, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> During her tenure she authorized the [[2015 Houston, Texas Proposition 1|Houston Equal Rights Ordinance]] which was intended to improve anti-discrimination coverage based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the city, specifically in areas such as housing and occupation where no anti-discrimination policy existed.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 4, 2014|title=Equal rights law opponents deliver signatures seeking repeal|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Equal-rights-law-opponents-deliver-signatures-5599272.php|access-date=July 30, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US |last1=Morris |first1=By Mike }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box|title=Religious affiliation (2020)|titlebar=#ccf|background-color=#f8f9fa|float=right|bars={{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|darkblue|72}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]]|mediumblue|40}}
{{bar percent|[[Catholic Church|Catholic]]|mediumblue|29}}
{{bar percent|Other Christian|mediumblue|3}}
{{bar percent|Unaffiliated|purple|21}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]|lightgreen|2}}
{{bar percent|[[Jewish]]|lightgreen|1}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhist]]|lightgreen|1}}
{{bar percent|[[Hindu]]|lightgreen|0.5}}
{{bar percent|Other faiths|lightgreen|1.5}}}}Houston and its metropolitan area are the third-most religious and Christian area by percentage of population in the United States, and second in Texas behind the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 29, 2015|title=Dallas Has the Most Christians|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2015/07/dallas-has-the-most-christians/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=[[D Magazine]]|language=en}}</ref> Historically, Houston has been a center of [[Protestantism|Protestant Christianity]], being part of the [[Bible Belt]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmlFCQAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |title=A Call for Character Education and Prayer in the Schools |last=Jeynes |first=William H. |date=November 24, 2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0313351044 |language=en |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527154605/https://books.google.com/books?id=VmlFCQAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1 |archive-date=May 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other Christian groups including [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] Christianity, and non-Christian religions did not grow for much of the city's history because immigration was predominantly from [[Western Europe]] (which at the time was dominated by [[Western Christianity]] and favored by the quotas in federal immigration law). The [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965]] removed the quotas, allowing for the growth of other religions.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Temples-of-the-gods-Houston-s-religious-10098734.php |title=Temples of the gods: Houston's religious diversity reflects community |last=Barned-Smith |first=St John |date=October 22, 2016 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909024409/https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Temples-of-the-gods-Houston-s-religious-10098734.php |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a 2014 study by the [[Pew Research Center]], 73% of the population of the Houston area identified themselves as [[Christianity|Christians]], about 50% of whom claimed Protestant affiliations and about 19% claimed [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] affiliations. Nationwide, about 71% of respondents identified as Christians. About 20% of Houston-area residents claimed [[Irreligion|no religious affiliation]], compared to about 23% nationwide.<ref name="pew">{{cite web |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles |title=Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles |author=Lipka, Michael |date=July 29, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408022548/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles/ |archive-date=April 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same study says area residents who identify with other religions (including [[Judaism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Islam]], and [[Hinduism]]) collectively made up about 7% of the area population.<ref name="pew" />

In 2020, the [[Public Religion Research Institute]] estimated 40% were Protestant and 29% Catholic; overall, Christianity represented 72% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRRI – American Values Atlas|url=http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/MetroAreas/religion/m/11|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=Public Religion Research Institute|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221714/http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/MetroAreas/religion/m/11|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2020, the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] determined the Catholic Church numbered 1,299,901 for the metropolitan area; the second-largest single Christian denomination ([[Southern Baptists]]) numbered 800,688; following, [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational Protestant churches]] represented the third-largest Christian cohort at 666,548.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=U.S. Religion Census}}</ref> Altogether, however, Baptists of the Southern Baptist Convention, the [[American Baptist Association]], [[American Baptist Churches USA]], [[Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship]], [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention USA]] and [[National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.|National Baptist Convention of America]], and the [[National Missionary Baptist Convention of America|National Missionary Baptist Convention]] numbered 926,554. Non-denominational Protestants, the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]], [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian Churches and Churches of Christ]], and the [[Churches of Christ]] numbered 723,603 altogether according to this study.

[[Lakewood Church]] in Houston, led by Pastor [[Joel Osteen]], is the largest church in the United States. A [[megachurch]], it had 44,800 weekly attendees in 2010, up from 11,000 weekly in 2000.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ |title=Megachurches getting bigger; Lakewood quadruples in size since 2000 |first=Kate |last=Shellnutt |date=March 21, 2011 |department=Believe It or Not |language=en-US |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165558/https://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2005, it has occupied the former Compaq Center sports stadium. In September 2010, ''[[Outreach (magazine)|Outreach]]'' magazine published a list of the 100 largest Christian churches in the United States, and on the list were the following Houston-area churches: Lakewood, [[Second Baptist Church Houston]], Woodlands Church, Church Without Walls, and First Baptist Church.<ref name=":10" /> According to the list, Houston and Dallas were tied as the second-most popular city for megachurches.<ref name=":10" />
[[File:Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Houston 2018b.jpg|thumb|[[Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Houston)|Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart]]]]
The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]], the largest Catholic jurisdiction in Texas and fifth-largest in the United States, was established in 1847.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |url=https://www.archgh.org/about/about-us/ |title=Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston statistics |website=Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501182608/https://www.archgh.org/about/about-us/ |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston claimed approximately 1.7 million Catholics within its boundaries as of 2019.<ref name=":11" /> Its [[co-cathedral]] is located within the Houston city limits, while the diocesan see is in Galveston. Other prominent Catholic jurisdictions include the [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] [[Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church]] and [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] as well as the [[Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter]], [[Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (Houston)|whose cathedral]] is also in Houston.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2011|title=Parish Directory Map|url=https://www.archpitt.org/parish-directory-map/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Archeparchy of Pittsburgh|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:EthiopianchurchHoustoncanemont.JPG|thumb|Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church]]
A variety of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches can be found in Houston. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Ethiopia, India, and other areas have added to Houston's Eastern and Oriental Orthodox population. As of 2011 in the entire state, 32,000 people actively attended Orthodox churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php |title=New converts flocking to ancient church in Houston |last=Kever |first=Jeannie |date=January 9, 2011 |website=Houston Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165600/https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013 Father John Whiteford, the pastor of St. Jonah Orthodox Church near [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], stated there were about 6,000-9,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/ |title=Orthodox Christians part of diverse fabric of Houston faith |first=Ken |last=Chitwood |date=July 23, 2013 |department=Sacred Duty |work=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165539/https://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/ |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Association of Religion Data Archives numbered 16,526 Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Houstonians in 2020.<ref name=":19" /> The most prominent Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions are the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parishes - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|url=https://www.goarch.org/parishes|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Goarch.org|language=en-US}}</ref> the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese|url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/parishes/statedirectory/Texas|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=1.antiochian.org}}</ref> the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Turner|first=Allan|date=October 12, 2015|title=Coptic pope in Houston on first U.S. visit|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Coptic-pope-in-Houston-on-first-U-S-visit-6565312.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 15, 2003|title=Ethiopian believers find strength in Orthodox church|url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ethiopian-believers-find-strength-in-Orthodox-2101478.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>

Houston's Jewish community, estimated at 47,000 in 2001, has been present in the city since the 1800s. Houstonian Jews have origins from throughout the United States, Israel, Mexico, Russia, and other places. As of 2016, over 40 synagogues were in Greater Houston.<ref name=":9" /> The largest synagogues are [[Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Texas)|Congregation Beth Yeshurun]], a [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative Jewish]] temple, and the [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] congregations [[Congregation Beth Israel (Houston)|Beth Israel]] and Emanu-El. According to a study in 2016 by [[Berman Jewish DataBank]], 51,000 Jews lived in the area, an increase of 4,000 since 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jewish Data Bank 2016 Houston Study|url=https://www.jewishdatabank.org/databank/search-results/study/820|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=Jewishdatabank.org}}</ref>

Houston has a large and diverse Muslim community; it is the largest in Texas and the Southern United States, as of 2012.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/U-S-sees-rise-of-Islamic-centers-3392670.php |title=U.S. sees rise of Islamic centers |last=Shellnutt |first=Kate |date=March 8, 2012 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112212/https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/U-S-sees-rise-of-Islamic-centers-3392670.php |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is estimated that Muslims made up 1.2% of Houston's population.<ref name=":12" /> As of 2016, Muslims in the Houston area included [[South Asian ethnic groups|South Asians]], [[Ethnic groups in the Middle East|Middle Easterners]], [[List of ethnic groups of Africa|Africans]], [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], and [[Indonesians]], as well as a growing population of Latino Muslim converts. In 2000 there were over 41 mosques and storefront religious centers, with the largest being the ''Al-Noor'' Mosque (Mosque of Light) of the [[Islamic Society of Greater Houston]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780742503908 |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780742503908/page/193 193] |title=Religion and the New Immigrants: Continuities and Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations |last1=Chafetz |first1=Janet Saltzman |last2=Ebaugh |first2=Helen Rose |date=October 18, 2000 |publisher=AltaMira Press |isbn=978-0759117129 |language=en}}</ref>

The Hindu, [[Sikhism|Sikh]], and Buddhist communities form a growing sector of the religious demographic after Judaism and Islam. Large [[Hindu temple]]s in the metropolitan area include the [[BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston]], affiliated with the [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]] denomination in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]], near the suburb of [[Stafford, Texas|Stafford]] as well as the [[South India]]n-[[Dravidian architecture|style]] [[Sri Meenakshi Temple (Pearland, Texas)|Sri Meenakshi Temple]] in suburban [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]], in [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]], which is the oldest Hindu temple in Texas and [[List of Hindu temples in the United States|third-oldest Hindu temple]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/sri-meenakshi-temple-society/20860/|website = Visit Houston|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple Society|access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = December 11, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211211033519/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/sri-meenakshi-temple-society/20860/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url = https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=31124&i=514388&p=2&ver=html5|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple Self-Guided Tour|access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = July 1, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220701200930/https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=31124&i=514388&p=2&ver=html5|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url = https://menonlifetimethoughts.com/2020/12/19/sri-meenakshi-temple-pearland-the-40-year-history/|website = Menon Lifetime Thoughts|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pearland – The 40-year History.| date=December 19, 2020 |access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = March 2, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210302075439/https://menonlifetimethoughts.com/2020/12/19/sri-meenakshi-temple-pearland-the-40-year-history/|url-status = live}}</ref>

Of the irreligious community 16% practiced nothing in particular, 3% were [[Agnosticism|agnostic]], and 2% were [[Atheism|atheist]] in 2014.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US}}</ref>