Faith on the Decline: The Changing Religious Landscape of the U. S.

The U.S. is experiencing a notable decline in the importance of religion in people's daily lives.

Key Findings

• 17% Drop in a Decade: The percentage of adults who consider religion important has fallen from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025.
• Global Context: This change is one of the largest Gallup has observed in any country over a decade.

Shifting Trends

• Younger Generations: The decline is driven by younger generations who are less religious and a broader societal shift towards secularism.
• Global Comparison: The U.S. is now more aligned with other advanced nations that are less religious.

Survey Insights

• Global Importance: Around 81% of people worldwide say religion is important in their daily lives.
• U.S. Standing: Only 49% of U.S. adults feel this way, with only 14 out of 160 countries surveyed showing a bigger drop in religiosity.

Unique Position

• Christian Identity: The U.S. has a medium-high Christian identity but lower religiosity compared to global norms.
• Pew Research: Only 83% of adults raised Christian still identify as Christian, lower than retention rates for Muslims or Hindus.

Generational Shift

• Young Americans: Only 46% of Americans born after 1990 identify as Christian.
• Unaffiliated Growth: Young adults are more likely to be religiously unaffiliated, with states like New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Utah seeing significant growth in this category.

Future Uncertainty

• Research and Observation: The future of religiosity in the U.S. is uncertain, with researchers and religious leaders monitoring the trend as younger, less religious generations become more prominent.