The following charts include data for Christians, Jews, and Muslims who filled out the online prayer survey conducted by U.S. News and Beliefnet. Data for Hindus, Buddhists, and others is not included because the number of respondents in these groups was not large enough to constitute representative samples.
In addition to the multiple choice questions, readers were asked to write an optional essay in response to the question: "Describe any times when your prayers were answered." You can read some of their answers here.
(Because the survey is still open, the data below may differ slightly from the statistics cited in the U.S. News article, How We Talk to God.
How often do you pray?
Christians
Jews
Muslims
More than once each day
68.1%
36.9%
91.6%
Once a day
16.1%
22%
3%
A few times a week
12.1%
27.3%
2.4%
Once a week
0.7%
4%
0%
A few times a month
1.9%
5.4%
1.8%
Once a month
0.2%
0.2%
0%
Every few months
0.6%
3.3%
0.6%
Not at all
0.2%
1%
0.6%
In the last six months, my prayers have related to: (those answering "often" or "all the time")
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Health & safety
78%
74%
73%
Personal finances or work
55%
36%
51%
Relationships
68%
54%
63%
General strength
75%
66%
78%
Comforting the bereaved
42%
40%
42%
Pets
12%
18%
6%
God's forgiveness
76%
42%
92%
God's guidance
93%
74%
94%
Lost souls
44%
20%
46%
Victims of tragedies
50%
40%
54%
Improving the world
48%
57%
59%
The president/world leaders
37%
22%
18%
Stronger faith
74%
44%
91%
Giving thanks
91%
84%
90%
When your prayers relate to health, what kinds of things do you pray about?
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Help with specific diseases, like cancer, chronic pain
72.2%
74.2%
59.5%
Mental health or depression
64.8%
63.8%
68.6%
Addiction
28.5%
14.3%
20.9%
Accidents
28.6%
22.7%
35.9%
Birth defects
8%
8.2%
12.4%
Fertility
7.2%
8.4%
14.4%
Pet illness
11%
17%
6.5%
I most often pray for:
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Myself
30.1%
31.9%
41.6%
Friends
9.3%
9.6%
2.4%
Family
57.7%
56.2%
52.4%
Strangers
2.9%
2.3%
3.6%
The most important purpose of prayer is:
Christians
Jews
Muslims
To improve your own life
2.9%
6.7%
7.8%
To help others
4.7%
8.8%
0.6%
To express your intentions
1.5%
4%
0.6%
Intimacy with God
41.9%
26.7%
22.2%
To seek God's guidance
28.7%
25.8%
41.9%
To thank God for your blessings
20.3%
27.9%
26.9%
Are your prayers answered?
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Never
0.6%
2.9%
1.2%
Rarely
2.6%
6.7%
2.4%
Sometimes
26.3%
44.5%
22.2%
Often
43%
33.1%
44.3%
Always
27.5%
12.7%
29.9%
When your prayers don't come true, you believe the most important reason is:
Christians
Jews
Muslims
God is punishing you
1.2%
3.4%
1.8%
It's not in God's plan
79.4%
50.3%
72.6%
Your faith isn't strong enough
8%
3.8%
9.8%
God helps those who help themselves
6.6%
18.6%
13.4%
God doesn't respond to specific prayers
4.8%
24%
2.4%
Where do you pray most often?
Christians
Jews
Muslims
At a house of worship
4.4%
14%
7.2%
At home
79.5%
75.8%
89.2%
While traveling
9.8%
4.5%
1.8%
In nature
2.1%
4.5%
0.6%
At work
3.8%
1%
1.2%
On the Internet, through online prayer circles
0.3%
0.4%
0%
The words I use are:
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Based on sacred texts or written prayers
2.3%
13.8%
26.9%
My own
52%
36%
13.2%
A mix
45.7%
50.2%
59.9%
When you pray do you:
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Light candles
12.2%
31.6%
1.2%
Use beads
9.1%
0.4%
21.1%
Kneel
29.1%
2.7%
57.8%
Use incense
3.2%
2.5%
4.8%
Chant
2.8%
10%
12.7%
Say prayers out loud
47.4%
43.2%
43.4%
Say prayers silently
90.9%
90.4%
95.2%
Use the Internet
8.4%
3.9%
3%
In the past six months, have other people prayed for you?
Christians
Jews
Muslims
Yes -- Friends & family
81.7%
56.7%
84%
Yes -- My religious community
39.4%
20.4%
26.4%
Yes -- "Prayer warriors" or others I don't personally know
28%
8.1%
11.7%
No
9.2%
35.3%
14.7%
If someone prayed for you, did you feel as if it helped?
