The Radiant Foundation released the results of a survey based on the responses of more than 1,700 Americans, coinciding with the annual National Day of Prayer last Thursday. The poll, named the “2023 American Prayer Wrap“, showed that 87% of respondents who pray saw at least one of their prayers answered in the past 12 months.
Additional findings from the survey include data measuring the share of Americans who connect with a higher power at 85%. The most frequently cited methods for connecting with a higher power include prayer, meditation, mindfulness, the recitation of affirmation and spiritually-based yoga.
According to the survey, the average American prays twice a day and for 18 minutes every day. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed believe God hears their prayers regardless of how they believe.
The survey identified the most popular time to pray as bedtime, followed by sunrise, night, dinner, the afternoon and breakfast.
The overwhelming majority of Americans engage in prayer by themselves although majorities also say they pray with their families and members of their religious or spiritual groups as well.
Most common prayer requests involve the well-being of a loved one during a time of crisis, the health of someone who is ill, other people suffering during a time of crisis and an individual’s own health when they fall ill.