(AP File Photo)

(AP File Photo)

Utah is the most religious state in the union and Vermont just might be the least pious.

While 51 percent of Utah residents say they attend church each week, only 17 percent of Vermonters visit their house of worship every week.

Four southern states are also among America’s most frequent church attendees. Residents of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas report 45 percent to 47 percent weekly attendance.

The findings are from a Gallup Poll conducted throughout 2014 when 177,030 U.S. adults were asked: “How often do you attend church, synagogue or mosque — at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month, seldom or never?”

Ten of the 12 states self-reported most religious state are located in the South.

“The strong religious culture in the South reflects a variety of factors, including history, cultural norms and the fact that these states have high Protestant and black populations,” according to Gallup, “both of which are above average in their self-reported religious service attendance.”

Utah’s top spot on the list reflects its 59 percent Mormon population; Mormons have the highest religious service attendance of any major religious group in the U.S.

Five of the six New England states are in the bottom 10 when it comes to church attendance.

“Those who are the most religious are also most likely to be Republican, which helps explain the significant relationship between states with the highest church attendance and those that are traditionally red states,” according to Gallup.

The map below shows the geographic differences in religiosity in the United States.

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