Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Newsletters Press Donate My Account Contacted By Us?
Pew Research Center Logo

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Pew Research Center Logo
Research Topics
All PublicationsMethodsShort ReadsTools & ResourcesExpertsAbout
Topics
Politics & PolicyInternational AffairsImmigration & MigrationRace & EthnicityReligionAge & GenerationsGender & LGBTQ
Family & RelationshipsEconomy & WorkScienceInternet & TechnologyNews Habits & MediaMethodological ResearchFull topic list
Regions & Countries
Asia & the PacificEurope & RussiaLatin AmericaMiddle East & North AfricaNorth AmericaSub-Saharan AfricaMultiple Regions / Worldwide
Formats
FeaturesFact SheetsVideosData Essays
Research Topics
Topics
Politics & PolicyInternational AffairsImmigration & MigrationRace & EthnicityReligionAge & GenerationsGender & LGBTQFamily & RelationshipsEconomy & WorkScienceInternet & TechnologyNews Habits & MediaMethodological ResearchFull topic list
Regions & Countries
Asia & the PacificEurope & RussiaLatin AmericaMiddle East & North AfricaNorth AmericaSub-Saharan AfricaMultiple Regions / Worldwide
Formats
FeaturesFact SheetsVideosData Essays
All PublicationsMethodsShort ReadsTools & ResourcesExpertsAboutNewslettersPressMy AccountContacted By Us?
DONATE

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Home Research Topics Religion Religious Demographics
Pew Research CenterSeptember 8, 2022
Modeling the Future of Religion in America

Surveys show similar trajectories for the religiously unaffiliated

← Prev Page
Page13Page14Page15Page16Page17Page18You are reading page19Page20Page21Page22Page23
Next Page →
Surveys show similar trajectories for the religiously unaffiliated

Post Infographics

Modeling the Future of Religion in America
U.S. Christians projected to fall below 50% of population if recent trends continue
U.S. ‘nones’ will approach majority by 2070 if recent switching trends continue
In all four main scenarios, religiously unaffiliated Americans are projected to approach or exceed Christians in number by 2070
The rise of religious ‘nones’ looks similar in data from Pew Research Center and the General Social Survey
Christian identity used to be ‘stickier,’ now unaffiliated identity is stickier
and more likely to become or remain unaffiliated
About one-in-six teenage children of Christian mothers do not share the faith
Most U.S. immigrants are Christian
About half of Americans in their 20s are Christian, compared with over 80% of the oldest Americans
Scenario 1: If switching continues at most recent rates, Christians would lose their majority by 2060 but in 2070 would still be the largest U.S. religious group
Scenario 2: If switching continues to accelerate but brakes are applied, U.S. ‘nones’ would be the largest group in 2070 but not yet a majority
Scenario 3: If switching continues to accelerate unabated, U.S. ‘nones’ would form a slim majority in 2070
Scenario 4: If all switching had ceased in 2020, Christians would retain their majority through 2070
Transmission, fertility, migration and later switching cause relatively little change in U.S. religious composition
Estimates of 2020 population structure used as projection baseline
Religious self-identity among 30- to 40-year-olds who were raised Christian or religiously unaffiliated
American Trends Panel recruitment surveys
Weighting dimensions
Surveys show similar trajectories for the religiously unaffiliated
Around the world, most people raised Christian still identify as Christian after they turn 30
Unaffiliated retention rates vary considerably around the world
Disaffiliating from Christianity after age 30 became more common in the mid-’90s
Light above the Church

Pew Research Center
1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries

Research Topics
Politics & PolicyInternational AffairsImmigration & MigrationRace & EthnicityReligionAge & GenerationsGender & LGBTQ
Family & RelationshipsEconomy & WorkScienceInternet & TechnologyNews Habits & MediaMethodological ResearchFull topic list
Follow Us
Email Newsletters Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube RSS

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center About Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Settings Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy Feedback Careers