While America remains a nation where Christianity claims a majority, a profound and complex spiritual transformation is reshaping the landscape, as evidenced by dramatic shifts in affiliation, belief, and practice across every demographic.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 70% of U.S. adults identified as Christian according to Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study update.
- Gallup poll in 2023 found 68% of Americans identify as Christian, down from 90% in 1990.
- PRRI's 2021 Census of American Religion reports 25% of U.S. population as religiously unaffiliated.
- In 2021, Christian affiliation dropped to 63% from 75% in 2011 per Pew.
- Unaffiliated rose from 16% in 2007 to 29% in 2021 (Pew).
- Gallup: Church membership fell from 70% in 2000 to 47% in 2021.
- Pew Evangelical Protestants: Largest group at 25% but declining 2014-2021.
- Mainline Protestants 14% per Pew 2021, including 5% Episcopal.
- Historically Black Protestants 7% (Pew 2021).
- 35% of U.S. adults attend religious services monthly (Gallup 2023).
- Pew 2021: 45% pray daily.
- Barna 2022: 25% read Bible weekly.
- Gallup 2022: 58% say religion important in life.
- Pew 2021: 80% believe in God, 33% absolutely certain.
- PRRI 2023: 45% believe Bible literal word of God.
The United States is becoming less religious, with Christian affiliation declining sharply as "nones" rise.
Beliefs and Attitudes
1Gallup 2022: 58% say religion important in life.
Verified2Pew 2021: 80% believe in God, 33% absolutely certain.
Verified3PRRI 2023: 45% believe Bible literal word of God.
Verified4Barna 2022: 51% believe Jesus divine and sinless.
Directional5Lifeway 2023: 65% heaven believers.
Single source6ARDA: 55% believe in hell.
Verified7Pew abortion: 61% say should be legal some cases.
Verified8Gallup 2023: 69% pro-life on abortion.
Verified9PRRI LGBTQ: 62% support same-sex marriage.
Directional10Barna evolution: 40% accept human evolution.
Single source11Pew climate: 59% see human cause of climate change.
Verified12Lifeway guns: 52% Christians support gun rights.
Verified13Gallup socialism: 49% young view favorably.
Verified14PRRI white supremacy: 29% Republicans see threat low.
Directional15Pew vaccines: 89% religious say important.
Single source16Barna Satan: 58% believe real.
Verified17Lifeway angels: 67% believe exist.
Verified18ARDA miracles: 79% believe occur today.
Verified19Pew reincarnation: 33% believe in it.
Directional20Gallup morality: 50% say moral values poor.
Single source21PRRI Christian nationalism: 10% adherents.
Verified22Barna absolutes: 37% absolute moral truth.
Verified23Pew end times: 39% believe Biblical prophecy.
Verified24Lifeway forgiveness: 75% say forgive others.
Directional25Gallup happiness: 85% religious happier.
Single source26PRRI afterlife: 73% believe in heaven.
Verified27Barna doubt: 42% question faith at times.
Verified28Pew religious tolerance: 84% favor freedom.
Verified29Lifeway prosperity gospel: 20% adherents.
Directional30ARDA predestination: 31% Calvinist views.
Single source31Gallup suicide: 20% see always wrong.
VerifiedBeliefs and Attitudes Interpretation
The American religious landscape is a study in earnest contradictions: a majority call religion important while simultaneously holding a vast and often conflicting bricolage of beliefs, from the literal to the metaphorical, the merciful to the militant, revealing a nation that is devoutly spiritual yet pragmatically syncretic in its daily convictions.
Denominational Details
1Pew Evangelical Protestants: Largest group at 25% but declining 2014-2021.
Verified2Mainline Protestants 14% per Pew 2021, including 5% Episcopal.
Verified3Historically Black Protestants 7% (Pew 2021).
Verified4Catholics 20%, 45% Mass-attending weekly (Pew).
Directional5Latter-day Saints 2%, 70% temple recommend holders (Pew).
Single source6Orthodox Christians 0.5%, mostly Eastern (ARDA).
Verified7Southern Baptist Convention 5.3% of U.S. pop (Lifeway 2022).
Verified8United Methodist 3.6% but declining (UMNS).
Verified9Assemblies of God 1.2%, fastest growing Pentecostal (AG).
Directional10ELCA Lutherans 2.5% (Pew).
Single source11Presbyterian Church USA 1.1% (PCUSA).
Verified12Episcopal Church 1.2% (Pew).
Verified13Churches of Christ 1.5% non-instrumental (ARDA).
Verified14Jehovah's Witnesses 0.8% (Pew).
Directional15Seventh-day Adventist 0.7% (ARDA).
Single source16Baptist Bible Fellowship 0.3% (ARDA).
Verified17Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 0.2% (WELS).
Verified18Conservative Congregational Christian Conf. 0.1% (ARDA).
Verified19Evangelical Free Church of America 0.1% (Pew).
Directional20Mennonite Church USA 0.1% (ARDA).
Single source21Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 1.2% (ARDA).
Verified22Cumberland Presbyterian 0.05% (ARDA).
Verified23American Baptist Churches USA 1.3% (Pew).
Verified24Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1.8% (Pew).
Directional25Presbyterian Church in America 0.4% (PCA).
Single source26Orthodox Presbyterian 0.03% (ARDA).
Verified27Wesleyan Church 0.2% (ARDA).
Verified28Church of the Nazarene 0.3% (Pew).
VerifiedDenominational Details Interpretation
America's religious landscape is a vibrant and often paradoxical mosaic where the largest group is shrinking, the most devout are in smaller denominations, and mainline traditions are learning the hard way that solemnity doesn't always fill the pews.
Religious Affiliation Percentages
1In 2023, 70% of U.S. adults identified as Christian according to Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study update.
Verified2Gallup poll in 2023 found 68% of Americans identify as Christian, down from 90% in 1990.
Verified3PRRI's 2021 Census of American Religion reports 25% of U.S. population as religiously unaffiliated.
Verified4Pew 2022 data shows 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, including 6% atheists and 5% agnostics.
Directional5ARDA 2020 estimates 63% Protestant affiliation in the U.S.
Single source62023 Barna Group survey indicates 35% of U.S. adults are churchless (no regular attendance).
Verified7U.S. Census-related data via ARDA shows 20% Catholic in 2019.
Verified8Lifeway Research 2022: 45% of Southern U.S. adults are evangelical Protestants.
Verified9Pew 2014 Landscape Study: 1.9% Jewish Americans.
Directional102021 PRRI: 1% Muslim population in U.S.
Single source11Gallup 2022: 4% of U.S. adults identify as Mormon.
Verified12Pew 2021: 0.9% Buddhist in U.S.
Verified13ARDA 2023: 6% non-Christian religions total.
Verified14Barna 2020: 21% White evangelical Protestants.
Directional15PRRI 2023: 14% White mainline Protestant.
Single source16Pew 2019: 3% Hispanic Catholics.
Verified17Gallup 2021: 47% of Black Americans Protestant.
Verified18Lifeway 2023: 23% non-White Christians.
Verified19ARDA state data: 31% unaffiliated in Vermont 2020.
Directional20Pew regional: 35% unaffiliated in New England.
Single source21Barna 2022: 28% Gen Z unaffiliated.
Verified22PRRI age: 40% under 30 unaffiliated in 2021.
Verified23Gallup gender: Women 72% Christian vs men 64% in 2023.
Verified24Pew education: 36% college grads unaffiliated 2019.
Directional25ARDA urban: 27% unaffiliated in cities 2020.
Single source26Lifeway income: 30% high income unaffiliated 2022.
Verified27Barna politics: 80% Republicans Christian 2023.
Verified28PRRI 2020: 5% Hindu Americans.
Verified29Pew 2022 Sikh: 0.2% U.S. population.
Directional30Gallup 2019 Unitarian: 0.3%.
Single source31Pew 2014 Landscape: 0.7% Orthodox Christian.
VerifiedReligious Affiliation Percentages Interpretation
America's religious identity is evolving from a near-monolithic Christian nation into a complex mosaic where a still-dominant but declining Christian majority coexists with a rapidly growing, diverse, and politically varied unaffiliated population.
Religious Practices
135% of U.S. adults attend religious services monthly (Gallup 2023).
Verified2Pew 2021: 45% pray daily.
Verified3Barna 2022: 25% read Bible weekly.
Verified4PRRI 2021: 69% believe in God with certainty.
Directional5Lifeway 2023: 37% weekly worship attendance.
Single source6Gallup 2023: 21% attend weekly, down from 42% in 2000.
Verified7Pew: 16% meditate daily.
Verified8ARDA: 40% donate to religion annually.
Verified9Barna: 48% volunteer at church yearly.
Directional10PRRI: 55% say religion very important.
Single source11Lifeway: Evangelicals 55% daily prayer.
Verified12Pew Catholics: 39% weekly Mass.
Verified13Gallup Protestants: 41% weekly service.
Verified14Barna youth: 31% Gen Z pray daily.
Directional15PRRI Black: 79% religion important.
Single source16Pew women: 52% daily prayer vs 36% men.
Verified17Lifeway rural: 45% weekly attendance.
Verified18ARDA South: 50% monthly attendance.
Verified19Barna online: 22% watch services weekly 2023.
Directional20Gallup seniors: 50% weekly attendance 65+.
Single source21Pew unaffiliated: 6% attend services.
Verified22PRRI conservatives: 75% religion important.
Verified23Lifeway small groups: 20% participate weekly.
Verified24Barna fasting: 15% religious fast yearly.
Directional25Pew Scripture: 35% read outside church.
Single source26ARDA tithing: 10% give 10% income.
Verified27Gallup holidays: 93% celebrate Christmas.
Verified28PRRI meditation: 25% weekly non-religious.
Verified29Lifeway missions: 12% short-term missions.
Directional30Barna sacraments: 28% participate regularly.
Single source31Pew pilgrimage: 9% religious travel yearly.
VerifiedReligious Practices Interpretation
Though Americans' certainty in God (69%) and Christmas cheer (93%) remain robust, the practice of faith appears increasingly à la carte, with far fewer consistently attending weekly services (21%) than believing (55% say religion is very important), suggesting many prefer a personal, flexible spirituality over institutional commitment.
Trends and Changes
1In 2021, Christian affiliation dropped to 63% from 75% in 2011 per Pew.
Verified2Unaffiliated rose from 16% in 2007 to 29% in 2021 (Pew).
Verified3Gallup: Church membership fell from 70% in 2000 to 47% in 2021.
Verified4PRRI: Nones increased 6 points 2013-2021 to 28%.
Directional5Barna: Evangelicals declined 4% from 2015-2020.
Single source6Lifeway: Mainline Protestants down 9% since 2007.
Verified7ARDA: Catholic share from 24% in 1990 to 20% in 2020.
Verified8Pew: Atheist identification tripled since 2007 to 4%.
Verified9Gallup: Weekly attendance dropped from 42% in 2000 to 34% 2023.
Directional10PRRI: White evangelicals from 23% to 14% 2013-2023.
Single source11Barna Gen Z: 34% no faith tradition vs 22% Boomers in 2022.
Verified12Pew youth: 40% teens unaffiliated up from 32% in 2014.
Verified13Lifeway South: Evangelical growth slowed 1% 2010-2020.
Verified14ARDA Northeast: Unaffiliated up 10% since 2000.
Directional15Gallup women: Religious decline faster among women 2008-2023.
Single source16Pew education: Postgrad unaffiliated up 12% since 2007.
Verified17PRRI politics: Democrats nones up 15% 2006-2021.
Verified18Barna urban: City unaffiliated rose 8% 2015-2022.
Verified19Lifeway Hispanic: Catholic retention down 20% since 1990.
Directional20Pew Black: Protestant steady at 70% 2007-2021.
Single source21ARDA Pacific: Non-Christian up 3% 2000-2020.
Verified22Gallup income: High earners less religious down 10% since 2000.
Verified23PRRI 2022: Jewish stable at 2% since 2010.
Verified24Barna 2023: Pentecostal growth 2% among youth.
Directional25Pew Muslim: Doubled from 0.4% to 1% 2007-2021.
Single source26Lifeway 2021: Megachurch attendance up 5% post-COVID.
Verified27ARDA 2019: Orthodox up 1% immigrant driven.
Verified28Gallup 2020: Synagogue membership down 15% decade.
Verified29PRRI 2023: Hindu up 1% since 2014.
DirectionalTrends and Changes Interpretation
While clinging to a still-dominant 63% Christian majority, America is undergoing a profound secular shift, as the unaffiliated surge and church memberships hemorrhage across nearly every demographic, suggesting less a spiritual apocalypse than a dramatic, generational renegotiation of faith's public role.
Sources & References
- Reference 1PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 2NEWSnews.gallup.comVisit source
- Reference 3PRRIprri.orgVisit source
- Reference 4THEARDAthearda.comVisit source
- Reference 5BARNAbarna.comVisit source
- Reference 6LIFEWAYRESEARCHlifewayresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 7PEWFORUMpewforum.orgVisit source
- Reference 8RESEARCHresearch.lifeway.comVisit source
- Reference 9UMNEWSumnews.orgVisit source
- Reference 10AGag.orgVisit source
- Reference 11PCUSApcusa.orgVisit source
- Reference 12WELSwels.netVisit source
- Reference 13PCANETpcanet.orgVisit source