Purpose Religion plays a crucial role as a sociocultural factor to assess consumer behavior. Stemming from the above, this study aims to analyze the impact of religion and ethnic concern on the purchase intention (PI) of consumers based on the theory of planned behavior. Design/methodology/approach The research method adopted for this study includes a meta-analysis of the extant literature for the past 20 years focusing on the relationship between religiosity and PI. Data of 24 values from 23 studies were used to assess the impact of religiosity on the PI of consumers. Findings The findings of this study indicate that religiosity has a strong impact on the PI of consumers. Further, this study identifies that location, sample size and product category play a vital role as moderators toward the relationship between religiosity and PI. This study identifies critical and pertinent implications for brands as they reach out to religious and cultural groups across various geographies, in the context of identifying target markets and adapting marketing strategies. Originality/value This study acts in response to the consistent call for research to focus on religion-related variables and fills the gap calling for empirical research into religiosity and its impact on PIs. This study makes notable theoretical, managerial and methodological contributions to the field.