Survey Reveals Halt in the Decline of Christianity in the U.S.

A prolonged decrease in the U.S. Christian population seems to have leveled off, at least for now, according to a recent survey.

The latest Religious Landscape Study conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that the percentage of U.S. adults identifying as Christian has remained fairly stable since 2019, fluctuating between 60 percent and 64 percent.

Although this number represents a 16-point decline from 2007, it shows a slight increase compared to 2022.

The percentage of individuals identifying with other religions has also risen slightly since 2007, from 4.7 percent to 7.1 percent.

In contrast, the share of the religiously unaffiliated (29 percent) appears to have stabilized recently after a prolonged increase.

Related Stories

This survey is the third installment in the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape study series.

Since its inception in 2007, the nonpartisan think tank has surveyed over 35,000 individuals across all 50 states regarding their religious affiliations, beliefs, and practices, as well as their social and political views.

The second study took place in 2014.

To bridge the gaps between studies, the center also utilized annual data from random-digit-dial phone surveys conducted until 2019 and the National Public Opinion Reference Survey that has been administered since then.

A closer look at the survey’s Christian respondents reveals that 40 percent identified as Protestants, making it the largest group. Catholics follow as the second largest group at 19 percent, with 3 percent identifying with other denominations.

Among those identifying with other religions, 2 percent were Jewish, whereas Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus each comprised 1 percent.

Regarding the unaffiliated population, 5 percent were atheists, 6 percent agnostics, and 19 percent considered themselves as having “nothing in particular.”

Another significant finding indicated that a substantial majority of Americans hold some form of spiritual beliefs.

For example, 86 percent expressed belief in the existence of a soul or spirit; 83 percent believed in God or a universal spirit; 79 percent felt that there is something spiritual beyond the physical world; and 70 percent believed in the existence of heaven, hell, or both.

Nevertheless, spiritual differences were prominent among demographic groups.

Women appeared to be more religious than men based on factors like prayer frequency and belief in a higher power, a trend also seen among Republicans compared to Democrats.

Young adults have emerged as significantly less religious than older generations, a concern noted by researchers, which could indicate a potential decline.

“An inevitable decline in the size of older generations as they pass away means that the younger cohorts following them are considerably less religious,” the researchers remarked in their report.

“For true stability to be reached in the U.S. religious landscape, a change will need to occur.”

That change may be forthcoming.

He has also committed to forming a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty.

“We must reinstate religion. We need to strengthen it significantly,” he told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “This has been one of the most pressing issues we’ve faced over a considerable stretch of time.”

While the president’s Christian faith is not a new revelation, he has asserted that surviving an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally last July deepened his belief in God.

Recalling that experience during the prayer breakfast, he mentioned that if he hadn’t turned his head just in time, the bullet that grazed the upper part of his right ear could have killed him.

“God was responsible for that,” Trump remarked about his miraculous survival, adding that the incident “transformed” something within him.

“I believed in God, but my conviction has intensified considerably.”