2021 Easter Facts & Stats – Church, Candy & Cash

Easter is much more than an occasion to break out your Sunday best or hop into a bunny costume. It is a day of great religious significance for the roughly 65% of Americans who classify themselves as Christians, marking the resurrection of Jesus. And it actually takes place twice most years because of differences in the Western and Orthodox calendars.

Easter also is a big donation day for U.S. churches, as it typically has the year’s highest attendance rates – though many people may attend virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also a significant revenue-driver for companies in the candy business. And it’s a source of divisiveness for those who feel strongly about the best way to eat a chocolate bunny or the proper filling for a chocolate egg – treats that people will undoubtedly still buy whether they eat them at a family dinner or alone while social distancing.

To help you better understand all aspects of Easter, WalletHub analyzed everything from how flush the Easter Bunny is feeling this year to how much candy we eat. You can check out all the Easter facts that we found in the infographic below. That’s followed by a Q&A with a panel of experts on the holiday’s religious significance and commercialization. Happy Easter!

Easter Facts for 2021

• $21.6 Billion: Total Easter-related spending expected in 2021 ($180 per person celebrating).
• $3 Billion: Projected Easter spending on candy.
• $49,000: Price of the world’s most expensive chocolate Easter bunny.
• 78%: Share of people who eat chocolate bunnies ears first.
• 60%: Share of parents who plan on sending Easter baskets to their children after they’ve moved out.

Ask the Experts: Is Easter More Resurrection Or Retail?

To learn more about the business of Easter and how to celebrate without spending too much, we posed the following questions to a panel of experts on religion and consumer studies. You can find their bios and responses below.

1. What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?
2. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?
3. Has Easter become too commercial?
4. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?