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(2002: Now on another topic. . .) Do you consider religion to be an important part of your life, or not?
Importance of religion in respondent's life · Asked in 17 waves, 1980–2024 · 46,079 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): 0 in 1984, 1986, 1992. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 8 (dk). Codebook notes: 1988 NOTE: Placement varied by form. In 2020, the question text and response options changed slightly: “Now on another topic: How important is religion in your life? Extremely important, very important, moderately important, a little important, or not important at all?”. For the purpose of the Cumulative Data File, this variable was recoded in the following manner: 1 (extremely important) = 1; 2 (very important) = 1; 3 (moderately important) = 1; 4 (a little important) = 2; 5 (not important at all) = 2.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Yes, important | Little to no importance | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 66% | 34% | 5513 |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V241420. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,513 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201433. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,280 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161241. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,263 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: relig_import. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,914 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083181. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,321 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043219. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,211 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V023082. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,511 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| ±2 |
| Liberals | 41% | 59% | 1611 | ±4 |
| Moderates | 68% | 32% | 1187 | ±4 |
| Conservatives | 82% | 18% | 1929 | ±3 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,804 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980492. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960571. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,713 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V941043. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923820. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,306 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900511. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880932. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 1,775 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860546. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 1,081 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V841078. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 1,923 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V801173. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,408 |