Can I give zakat to someone who doesn't pray?

Zakat follows need, not perfection

Zakat is for the eight groups named in the Quran (9:60), such as the poor, the needy and people in debt. The condition is that the person is a Muslim in real need, not that they are a model Muslim. Almost everyone has weak points, and a struggling family member or neighbour may be exactly the person zakat is meant to lift. See Who can receive zakat?

Charity that reached the "wrong" person

The Prophet ﷺ told the story of a man who gave charity secretly at night. By morning, people said it had gone to a thief, then to an adulteress, then to a rich man. He was told his charity had been accepted: perhaps the thief would stop stealing, the woman would become chaste, and the rich man would learn to give (Sahih al-Bukhari 1421). Your sincere intention counts, and your gift may even become a reason for someone to come back to Allah.

Where scholars differ

• Majority view: zakat to a poor Muslim who is lazy in prayer is valid, though giving to the practising is preferred.
• Stricter view: some scholars, especially among Hanbalis, say a person who has completely abandoned prayer should not be given zakat, unless it is used to soften their heart and bring them back.
• Avoid funding sin: if you know someone will spend the money on alcohol, drugs or gambling, give it to someone else or pay their bills directly.

Zakat for non-Muslims is a separate question. See Can I give zakat to non-Muslims?

Don't judge, but do choose wisely

You usually don't know someone's prayer life, and you don't need to investigate it. If you are choosing between two poor people and one is clearly practising, give to that one first. If the only person in need near you prays rarely, giving to them is still a good deed, and a kind word with your gift may do more than a lecture. You also don't have to say it is zakat. See Do I have to tell the person it's zakat?