After decades of decline, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has remained relatively stable in recent years, according to a new Pew Research Center study. The 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, released today, finds that 62% of U.S. adults describe themselves as Christians—marking a slowdown in the long-term decline of Christianity in the country.
The study, which surveyed nearly 37,000 adults nationwide, also shows that the growth of religiously unaffiliated individuals—those identifying as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”—has plateaued at 29% of the population. In contrast, the percentage of Americans identifying with non-Christian religions has inched upward to 7%.
Among Christian groups, Protestantism remains the largest, with 40% of U.S. adults identifying as Protestant, followed by Catholics at 19%. The Protestant share has dropped from 51% in 2007, but has held steady in recent years. Similarly, the Catholic population has remained stable since 2014.
Despite the recent stability, the study suggests that American religiosity may continue to decline in the future. Younger generations are far less religious than their elders: only 46% of adults under 25 identify as Christian, compared to 80% of those over 74. Additionally, fewer young adults raised in religious households remain religious as they age, while those raised without religion are more likely to remain unaffiliated.
Religious practices such as prayer and worship attendance have also stabilized. While the percentage of Americans who pray daily has dropped since 2007, it has remained between 44% and 46% since 2021. Similarly, 33% of Americans report attending religious services at least once a month, a number that has hovered in the low 30s since 2020.
The report highlights broader demographic shifts. The percentage of Christians who are white has declined from 70% in 2007 to 61% today, while Hispanic Christians now make up 18% of the group. The religiously unaffiliated have also become more racially diverse.
While Christianity remains the dominant religious identity in the U.S., the findings suggest a continued generational shift away from organized religion. Whether this recent plateau signals a lasting stabilization or a temporary pause in religious decline remains to be seen.
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