As pew after pew grows emptier, the once-unquestionable Christian identity of the United States is undergoing a seismic retreat, with identification plummeting from 91% in 1976 to just 68% today—a staggering unraveling of faith at a national scale.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, the share of adults identifying as Christian fell from 78.4% in 2007 to 62.9% in 2021, marking a 15.5 percentage point decline
- Gallup polls show U.S. Christian identification dropped from 91% in 1976 to 68% in 2022, a 23-point decline over 46 years
- PRRI data indicates white Christians comprised 54% of the U.S. population in 2006 but only 44% in 2020, a 10-point drop
- Gallup U.S. weekly church attendance dropped from 42% in 2000 to 29% in 2021
- Pew Research shows U.S. Christians attending monthly or more fell from 54% in 2007 to 44% in 2019
- Barna Group reports practicing Christian attendance (church + Bible + prayer) down from 37% in 1993 to 25% in 2019
- Pew Research Center reports the religiously unaffiliated ("nones") in the U.S. rose from 16% in 2007 to 29% in 2021
- Gallup shows U.S. "nones" increased from 10% in 1990 to 21% in 2021
- PRRI data: U.S. nones grew from 16% in 2006 to 27% in 2021
- Pew Research shows U.S. Christian share among 18-29 year olds fell from 54% in 2007 to 34% in 2021
- Barna Group: Only 15% of U.S. millennials are church-active Christians vs 26% of elders
- LifeWay Research: 66% of U.S. 18-22 year olds who attended church regularly as teens dropped out
- European Social Survey shows Christianity identification in Western Europe fell from 80% in 1981 to 60% in 2018
- WIN/Gallup International: UK Christians down from 66% in 2005 to 46% in 2015
- Pew: Germany Christians 71% in 2010 to 55% in 2020
Christianity is experiencing steady and widespread decline across all major American denominations.
Church Attendance and Participation Drop
1Gallup U.S. weekly church attendance dropped from 42% in 2000 to 29% in 2021
Verified2Pew Research shows U.S. Christians attending monthly or more fell from 54% in 2007 to 44% in 2019
Verified3Barna Group reports practicing Christian attendance (church + Bible + prayer) down from 37% in 1993 to 25% in 2019
Verified4LifeWay Research finds 65% of U.S. churchgoers attended fewer than 4 Sundays per month pre-COVID, down from 50% in 2010
Directional5Grey Matter Research shows U.S. Protestant weekly attendance from 50% in 1996 to 35% in 2020
Single source6U.S. Catholic weekly Mass attendance declined from 45% in 2000 to 33% in 2018
Verified7Southern Baptist Convention average weekly worship attendance fell 52% from 1999 peak to 2022
Verified8Episcopal Church Sunday attendance dropped 27% from 2000 to 2019
Verified9PCUSA worship attendance declined 40% from 2000 to 2020
Directional10United Methodist Church weekly attendance fell from 3.6 million in 2007 to 2.2 million in 2019
Single source11ELCA average weekly worship attendance down 30% since 2006
Verified12Gallup teen church attendance (13-17) dropped from 55% in 2000 to 35% in 2020
Verified13Barna finds U.S. millennial church attendance half that of boomers at same age
Verified14PRRI reports 40% decline in U.S. Protestant small group participation 2006-2019
Directional15Faith Communities Today survey: U.S. congregations average attendance down 15% 2000-2015
Single source16Hartford Institute: 20% of U.S. churches had average attendance under 50 in 2020, up from 10% in 2000
Verified17Pushpay data shows U.S. church digital engagement up but in-person down 25% post-2019
Verified18Church Answers reports 6,000 U.S. churches closed since 2000 due to low attendance
Verified19Barna: U.S. Gen Z church attendance 10% lower than millennials at same age
Directional20LifeWay: Southern Baptist Sunday School attendance down 60% since 1990
Single source21Catholic Archdioceses report Confirmation reception down 20% 2000-2020
Verified22Assemblies of God U.S. weekly attendance flat but per capita down 10% 2010-2020
Verified23Presbyterian attendance per member fell 25% since 1990
Verified24United Church of Christ worship attendance down 50% 2000-2020
Directional25Disciples of Christ average attendance declined 35% 2005-2020
Single source26Gallup: U.S. Black Protestant attendance from 65% weekly in 2000 to 50% in 2021
Verified27Barna Group U.S. Bible engagement (daily reading) dropped from 28% in 2011 to 14% in 2021 among Christians
VerifiedChurch Attendance and Participation Drop Interpretation
While congregations are busy streaming their services, the data shows that the American pew is becoming an increasingly lonely place, as if the collective flock has quietly decided to take its own, very long intermission.
Declines Among Youth and Millennials
1Pew Research shows U.S. Christian share among 18-29 year olds fell from 54% in 2007 to 34% in 2021
Verified2Barna Group: Only 15% of U.S. millennials are church-active Christians vs 26% of elders
Verified3LifeWay Research: 66% of U.S. 18-22 year olds who attended church regularly as teens dropped out
Verified4Gallup: U.S. Gen Z (born 1997+) church membership 20% vs 50% for boomers at same age
Directional5PRRI: 40% of U.S. white millennials are nones vs 20% boomers
Single source6Barna: U.S. Gen Z Christians 4% highly faith active vs 15% boomers
Verified7Pew: U.S. teens (13-17) Christian ID 72% in 2019 down from 83% in 2010
Verified8Springtide Research: 40% of U.S. Gen Z feel church irrelevant
Verified9Barna: Millennial church dropout rate 59% by age 30
Directional10LifeWay: U.S. young adult Bible engagement half of previous generations
Single source11PRRI: U.S. Gen Z nones 34% vs 22% millennials
Verified12Gallup: U.S. 18-29 religious service attendance 25% weekly vs 40% in 2000
Verified13Barna: Only 1 in 10 U.S. Gen Z have biblical worldview
Verified14Pew: U.S. millennial atheists/agnostics 13% vs 5% silent generation
Directional15Fuller Youth Institute: 70% U.S. youth group alumni disengage from church post-high school
Single source16Grey Matter: U.S. Protestant youth retention fell from 60% to 40% 1990-2020
Verified17Barna: U.S. millennial practicing faith 15% vs 35% Gen X at same age
Verified18LifeWay: Southern Baptist youth retention down 20% since 2000
Verified19PRRI: U.S. young men Christian ID drop 20 points faster than women
Directional20Pew: U.S. college students nones 36% in 2021
Single source21Barna: Gen Z doubt God existence 40% vs 20% boomers
Verified22Springtide: U.S. youth spiritual but not religious 52%
Verified23Gallup: U.S. teen belief in God down to 74% in 2022 from 92% in 1950s
Verified24LifeWay: U.S. 18-24 Bible reading weekly 20% vs 40% elders
Directional25Barna: U.S. youth church trust 30% vs 60% 20 years ago
Single source26PRRI: U.S. Gen Z Democrats 50% nones
VerifiedDeclines Among Youth and Millennials Interpretation
The statistics paint a sobering portrait: the American church is facing a generational ebb tide, where the pews are graying as young people, unconvinced by the faith of their fathers, increasingly vote with their feet.
Geographic Declines (US/Europe)
1European Social Survey shows Christianity identification in Western Europe fell from 80% in 1981 to 60% in 2018
Verified2WIN/Gallup International: UK Christians down from 66% in 2005 to 46% in 2015
Verified3Pew: Germany Christians 71% in 2010 to 55% in 2020
Verified4Eurobarometer: France "Catholic" ID 81% in 2005 to 47% in 2019
Directional5British Social Attitudes: England/Wales Christians 59% in 2001 census to 46% in 2021
Single source6Pew: Sweden Christians 78% affiliated but only 18% believers in 2018
Verified7Kantar: Netherlands church members 24% in 2019 down from 50% in 1980
Verified8Spanish CIS: Catholics practicing dropped from 40% in 1995 to 20% in 2020
Verified9Pew: Italy weekly Mass 30% in 1990 to 23% in 2018
Directional10Church of England attendance fell 40% from 1.7M in 2000 to 1M in 2019
Single source11French INSEE: Baptisms down 50% 1990-2020
Verified12German Church Tax data: Protestants 24M in 2000 to 20M in 2021
Verified13Belgian churchgoers 15% weekly in 2018 vs 30% in 1980
Verified14Austrian EVZ: Catholics 70% but practicing 15% in 2020
Directional15Pew: Czech Republic Christians 34% in 2020 down from 60% post-communism
Single source16Polish CBOS: Regular churchgoers 36% in 2019 vs 50% in 1990
Verified17Norwegian SSB: Church of Norway members 71% but attendance 2% weekly
Verified18Danish Gallup: Christians believing 45% in 2020 vs 70% 1990
Verified19Finnish Church: Membership 65% in 2021 down 10% since 2000
Directional20Irish CSO: Catholics 78% in 2016 census but Mass weekly 30% vs 60% 1980s
Single source21Scottish Census: Christians 54% in 2011 to projected 40% 2021
Verified22Swiss FSO: Protestants/Catholics practicing 10% weekly 2020
Verified23Portuguese PORDATA: Church attendance 20% in 2019 vs 40% 1990
Verified24Hungarian KSH: Protestants down 20% since 2001 census
Directional25WIN/Gallup: Spain God believers 59% in 2015 vs 80% 2000
Single source26Eurostat: EU average church attendance 10% weekly among youth
Verified27Pew Global: Western Europe nones average 25% in 2018 up 10 points decade prior
Verified28Barna Europe: UK churchgoers under 30 halved since 1990
VerifiedGeographic Declines (US/Europe) Interpretation
Europe appears to be running a forty-year experiment to see if a continent can retain its historic culture while steadily filing "Christian" under 'Hobby, Former' in its collective identity paperwork.
Global Trends
1Latinobarometro: Latin America Catholics 70% in 2010 to 56% 2018
Verified2Pew: Brazil evangelicals up but Catholics down from 74% to 65% 2007-2014
Verified3World Values Survey: South Korea Christians 29% in 2020 down from 40% 1990
Verified4WIN/Gallup: Australia Christians 52% in 2016 census to 44% 2021
Directional5Pew Global Religious Futures: Sub-Saharan Africa Christians growing but % stable at 63%
Single source6Chinese General Social Survey: Urban Christians 5% practicing down post-2010 crackdown
Verified7Japan NHK: Christians 1% but interest down 20% since 2000
Verified8Canadian Census: Christians 67% in 2011 to 53% 2021
Verified9New Zealand Census: Christians 48% 2013 to 37% 2018
Directional10ARDA World: Global Christian % projected decline from 33% to 32% by 2050
Single sourceGlobal Trends Interpretation
While the flock may be thinning in the old pews, it appears the global congregation is merely reorganizing its seating chart, trading some traditional benches for either new charismatic bleachers, secular couches, or, in some cases, a very empty and closely monitored folding chair.
Membership and Identification Decline
1In the United States, the share of adults identifying as Christian fell from 78.4% in 2007 to 62.9% in 2021, marking a 15.5 percentage point decline
Verified2Gallup polls show U.S. Christian identification dropped from 91% in 1976 to 68% in 2022, a 23-point decline over 46 years
Verified3PRRI data indicates white Christians comprised 54% of the U.S. population in 2006 but only 44% in 2020, a 10-point drop
Verified4The General Social Survey reports Protestant identification in the U.S. declined from 62% in 1988 to 40% in 2018
Directional5Pew Research finds Catholic identification in the U.S. decreased from 23.9% in 2009 to 20% in 2021
Single source6Barna Group notes evangelicals as a share of U.S. adults fell from 28% in 2007 to 25% in 2019
Verified7LifeWay Research shows Southern Baptist Convention membership declined from 16.2 million in 2006 to 14.1 million in 2020, a 13% drop
Verified8U.S. Episcopal Church membership fell from 2.3 million in 2000 to 1.6 million in 2021, a 30% decline
Verified9Presbyterian Church (USA) reported a loss of 103,000 members between 2018 and 2019 alone
Directional10United Methodist Church U.S. membership dropped 26% from 11 million in 2004 to 8.1 million in 2021
Single source11Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod membership declined from 2.6 million in 2000 to 1.8 million in 2021, 31% drop
Verified12Assemblies of God U.S. adherents grew slightly but weekly attendance fell 5% from 2010 to 2020
Verified13Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches reported a 10% membership decline from 2015 to 2020
Verified14Christian Churches and Churches of Christ lost 4% of members from 2010 to 2020
Directional15Gallup indicates mainline Protestant identification in U.S. halved from 30% in 1976 to 15% in 2020
Single source16Pew data shows U.S. evangelical Protestants stable at 25% but absolute numbers declined due to population growth
Verified17Barna reports U.S. practicing Christians dropped from 40% in 2000 to 25% in 2020
Verified18PRRI finds 66% of white mainline Protestants in 2013 down to 54% of that group in 2020 still identifying strongly
Verified19General Social Survey: U.S. Catholics from 28% in 1988 to 20% in 2018
Directional20U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reports sacramental participation down 30% since 2000
Single source21ELCA membership fell from 5.1 million in 1988 to 3.3 million in 2021, 35% decline
Verified22PCUSA lost 1.3 million members since 1999 peak
Verified23Anglican Church in North America growth stalled, net loss post-2010 split
Verified24Seventh-day Adventist U.S. membership flat but retention down 20% for youth
Directional25Churches of Christ U.S. congregations down 5% from 2003 to 2018
Single source26Orthodox Church in America membership declined 10% from 2010 to 2020
Verified27Vineyard USA churches reported 8% membership drop 2015-2020
Verified28Foursquare Church U.S. membership fell 15% since 2000
Verified29Christian Methodist Episcopal Church lost 20% members 2000-2020
Directional30Reformed Church in America membership down 25% from 2000 to 2020
Single sourceMembership and Identification Decline Interpretation
It seems the American church, much like a disgruntled congregation during a long sermon, is seeing a steady and coordinated exodus out the back doors.
Rise of Religiously Unaffiliated (Nones)
1Pew Research Center reports the religiously unaffiliated ("nones") in the U.S. rose from 16% in 2007 to 29% in 2021
Verified2Gallup shows U.S. "nones" increased from 10% in 1990 to 21% in 2021
Verified3PRRI data: U.S. nones grew from 16% in 2006 to 27% in 2021
Verified4General Social Survey: U.S. no religious preference from 8% in 1990 to 23% in 2018
Directional5Barna Group: U.S. nones doubled from 11% in 2004 to 23% in 2020
Single source6Pew: Among U.S. millennials, nones rose from 25% in 2007 to 40% in 2021
Verified7Cooperative Election Study: U.S. nones from 15% in 2008 to 30% in 2020
Verified8PRRI: White nones increased from 19% in 2013 to 28% in 2020
Verified9Pew: U.S. atheist/agnostic share tripled from 4% in 2007 to 12% in 2021
Directional10Gallup: No religion in U.S. from 2% in 1948 to 14% in 2022 among young adults
Single source11Barna: Post-Christian U.S. adults rose from 17% in 2012 to 32% in 2021
Verified12LifeWay: Nones now largest group among U.S. Gen Z at 34%
Verified13Public Religion Research Institute: Nones grew 6 points in U.S. 2014-2019 alone
Verified14General Social Survey: U.S. "nothing in particular" nones from 12% to 20% 2000-2020
Directional15Pew: U.S. nothing in particular rose from 12% to 17% 2007-2021
Single source16Barna: U.S. skeptic/atheist share up 10 points since 1990s
Verified17PRRI: Nones now 28% of U.S. population, surpassing Catholics at 24%
Verified18Cooperative Election Study: Nones 13% in 2006 to 26% in 2018
Verified19Gallup Youth Poll: U.S. high school seniors no religion up from 8% in 1990 to 25% in 2021
Directional20Pew: Among U.S. under-30s, nones 41% in 2021 vs 25% Christians
Single source21Barna Gen Z: 44% of U.S. 18-24 nones or spiritual but not religious
Verified22LifeWay Research: U.S. young adults nones up 15 points 2006-2020
Verified23PRRI: Hispanic nones in U.S. doubled from 12% to 24% 2006-2020
Verified24General Social Survey: Black nones tripled from 3% to 10% 1990-2018
Directional25Pew: U.S. regional nones highest in West at 33% in 2021
Single source26Barna: U.S. urban nones 35% vs 20% rural 2020
Verified27Gallup: College-educated U.S. adults nones 25% vs 15% non-college 2022
Verified28PRRI: U.S. Democrats nones 38% vs 12% Republicans 2021
VerifiedRise of Religiously Unaffiliated (Nones) Interpretation
The pews are emptying with such velocity that one might wonder if the final "Amen" will simply be a collective, polite yawn.
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