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
- 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.
- Barna 2022: 51% believe Jesus divine and sinless.
- Lifeway 2023: 65% heaven believers.
- ARDA: 55% believe in hell.
- Pew abortion: 61% say should be legal some cases.
- Gallup 2023: 69% pro-life on abortion.
- PRRI LGBTQ: 62% support same-sex marriage.
- Barna evolution: 40% accept human evolution.
- Pew climate: 59% see human cause of climate change.
- Lifeway guns: 52% Christians support gun rights.
- Gallup socialism: 49% young view favorably.
- PRRI white supremacy: 29% Republicans see threat low.
- Pew vaccines: 89% religious say important.
- Barna Satan: 58% believe real.
- Lifeway angels: 67% believe exist.
- ARDA miracles: 79% believe occur today.
- Pew reincarnation: 33% believe in it.
- Gallup morality: 50% say moral values poor.
- PRRI Christian nationalism: 10% adherents.
- Barna absolutes: 37% absolute moral truth.
- Pew end times: 39% believe Biblical prophecy.
- Lifeway forgiveness: 75% say forgive others.
- Gallup happiness: 85% religious happier.
- PRRI afterlife: 73% believe in heaven.
- Barna doubt: 42% question faith at times.
- Pew religious tolerance: 84% favor freedom.
- Lifeway prosperity gospel: 20% adherents.
- ARDA predestination: 31% Calvinist views.
- Gallup suicide: 20% see always wrong.
Beliefs 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
- 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).
- Catholics 20%, 45% Mass-attending weekly (Pew).
- Latter-day Saints 2%, 70% temple recommend holders (Pew).
- Orthodox Christians 0.5%, mostly Eastern (ARDA).
- Southern Baptist Convention 5.3% of U.S. pop (Lifeway 2022).
- United Methodist 3.6% but declining (UMNS).
- Assemblies of God 1.2%, fastest growing Pentecostal (AG).
- ELCA Lutherans 2.5% (Pew).
- Presbyterian Church USA 1.1% (PCUSA).
- Episcopal Church 1.2% (Pew).
- Churches of Christ 1.5% non-instrumental (ARDA).
- Jehovah's Witnesses 0.8% (Pew).
- Seventh-day Adventist 0.7% (ARDA).
- Baptist Bible Fellowship 0.3% (ARDA).
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 0.2% (WELS).
- Conservative Congregational Christian Conf. 0.1% (ARDA).
- Evangelical Free Church of America 0.1% (Pew).
- Mennonite Church USA 0.1% (ARDA).
- Christian Churches and Churches of Christ 1.2% (ARDA).
- Cumberland Presbyterian 0.05% (ARDA).
- American Baptist Churches USA 1.3% (Pew).
- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1.8% (Pew).
- Presbyterian Church in America 0.4% (PCA).
- Orthodox Presbyterian 0.03% (ARDA).
- Wesleyan Church 0.2% (ARDA).
- Church of the Nazarene 0.3% (Pew).
Denominational 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
- 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.
- Pew 2022 data shows 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, including 6% atheists and 5% agnostics.
- ARDA 2020 estimates 63% Protestant affiliation in the U.S.
- 2023 Barna Group survey indicates 35% of U.S. adults are churchless (no regular attendance).
- U.S. Census-related data via ARDA shows 20% Catholic in 2019.
- Lifeway Research 2022: 45% of Southern U.S. adults are evangelical Protestants.
- Pew 2014 Landscape Study: 1.9% Jewish Americans.
- 2021 PRRI: 1% Muslim population in U.S.
- Gallup 2022: 4% of U.S. adults identify as Mormon.
- Pew 2021: 0.9% Buddhist in U.S.
- ARDA 2023: 6% non-Christian religions total.
- Barna 2020: 21% White evangelical Protestants.
- PRRI 2023: 14% White mainline Protestant.
- Pew 2019: 3% Hispanic Catholics.
- Gallup 2021: 47% of Black Americans Protestant.
- Lifeway 2023: 23% non-White Christians.
- ARDA state data: 31% unaffiliated in Vermont 2020.
- Pew regional: 35% unaffiliated in New England.
- Barna 2022: 28% Gen Z unaffiliated.
- PRRI age: 40% under 30 unaffiliated in 2021.
- Gallup gender: Women 72% Christian vs men 64% in 2023.
- Pew education: 36% college grads unaffiliated 2019.
- ARDA urban: 27% unaffiliated in cities 2020.
- Lifeway income: 30% high income unaffiliated 2022.
- Barna politics: 80% Republicans Christian 2023.
- PRRI 2020: 5% Hindu Americans.
- Pew 2022 Sikh: 0.2% U.S. population.
- Gallup 2019 Unitarian: 0.3%.
- Pew 2014 Landscape: 0.7% Orthodox Christian.
Religious 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
- 35% of U.S. adults attend religious services monthly (Gallup 2023).
- Pew 2021: 45% pray daily.
- Barna 2022: 25% read Bible weekly.
- PRRI 2021: 69% believe in God with certainty.
- Lifeway 2023: 37% weekly worship attendance.
- Gallup 2023: 21% attend weekly, down from 42% in 2000.
- Pew: 16% meditate daily.
- ARDA: 40% donate to religion annually.
- Barna: 48% volunteer at church yearly.
- PRRI: 55% say religion very important.
- Lifeway: Evangelicals 55% daily prayer.
- Pew Catholics: 39% weekly Mass.
- Gallup Protestants: 41% weekly service.
- Barna youth: 31% Gen Z pray daily.
- PRRI Black: 79% religion important.
- Pew women: 52% daily prayer vs 36% men.
- Lifeway rural: 45% weekly attendance.
- ARDA South: 50% monthly attendance.
- Barna online: 22% watch services weekly 2023.
- Gallup seniors: 50% weekly attendance 65+.
- Pew unaffiliated: 6% attend services.
- PRRI conservatives: 75% religion important.
- Lifeway small groups: 20% participate weekly.
- Barna fasting: 15% religious fast yearly.
- Pew Scripture: 35% read outside church.
- ARDA tithing: 10% give 10% income.
- Gallup holidays: 93% celebrate Christmas.
- PRRI meditation: 25% weekly non-religious.
- Lifeway missions: 12% short-term missions.
- Barna sacraments: 28% participate regularly.
- Pew pilgrimage: 9% religious travel yearly.
Religious 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
- 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.
- PRRI: Nones increased 6 points 2013-2021 to 28%.
- Barna: Evangelicals declined 4% from 2015-2020.
- Lifeway: Mainline Protestants down 9% since 2007.
- ARDA: Catholic share from 24% in 1990 to 20% in 2020.
- Pew: Atheist identification tripled since 2007 to 4%.
- Gallup: Weekly attendance dropped from 42% in 2000 to 34% 2023.
- PRRI: White evangelicals from 23% to 14% 2013-2023.
- Barna Gen Z: 34% no faith tradition vs 22% Boomers in 2022.
- Pew youth: 40% teens unaffiliated up from 32% in 2014.
- Lifeway South: Evangelical growth slowed 1% 2010-2020.
- ARDA Northeast: Unaffiliated up 10% since 2000.
- Gallup women: Religious decline faster among women 2008-2023.
- Pew education: Postgrad unaffiliated up 12% since 2007.
- PRRI politics: Democrats nones up 15% 2006-2021.
- Barna urban: City unaffiliated rose 8% 2015-2022.
- Lifeway Hispanic: Catholic retention down 20% since 1990.
- Pew Black: Protestant steady at 70% 2007-2021.
- ARDA Pacific: Non-Christian up 3% 2000-2020.
- Gallup income: High earners less religious down 10% since 2000.
- PRRI 2022: Jewish stable at 2% since 2010.
- Barna 2023: Pentecostal growth 2% among youth.
- Pew Muslim: Doubled from 0.4% to 1% 2007-2021.
- Lifeway 2021: Megachurch attendance up 5% post-COVID.
- ARDA 2019: Orthodox up 1% immigrant driven.
- Gallup 2020: Synagogue membership down 15% decade.
- PRRI 2023: Hindu up 1% since 2014.
Trends 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