A recent Pew Research study on religious views in the United States suggests that after more than two decades of decline, the number of Christians in America may finally be stabilizing.

The study, which surveyed 37,000 Americans, found that 62 percent of the population identifies as Christian. In contrast, a similar study conducted in 2007 reported that 78 percent of Americans were Christian.

The majority of this decline occurred up until about five years ago, after which the Pew study notes the numbers have begun to level off.

Currently, the Christian population in the U.S. is composed of 40 percent Protestant, 19 percent Catholic, and 3 percent who identify as Christian without specifying a denomination.

The Religious Landscape Study (RLS) reports that, over the past five years (2019 to 2024), the proportion of adults identifying as Christian has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 60 and 64 percent.

The Erosion of Religion in America

The decline in religious affiliation in the United States may be attributed to “generational replacement,” as suggested by research centers. Older, more devout Christian generations are passing away, while younger generations, who show little to no interest in religion, take their place.

Today, young adults demonstrate significantly lower levels of religiosity compared to older adults. According to a recent survey, only 27 percent of adults aged 18-24 report praying daily, and 31 percent of those between the ages of 25-34 do the same. In contrast, half or more of adults aged 54 and older report praying daily.

The rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles is thought to have contributed to the erosion of religious faith in the United States.

Several churches have aligned themselves with political ideologies, often focusing on controversial issues such as abortion, crime, LGBTQ rights, and immigration. 

Despite the prevalence of these topics, they seem to overshadow the core teachings of Christianity, which emphasize love, compassion, and redemption.

However, the recent stabilization of Christianity, as noted in the research, could be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the existential insecurity it created. Some researchers suggest that religion tends to decline during periods of prosperity but flourishes in times of crisis.

Michele Margolis, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, has studied why young adults consistently move away from religion. She found that religious involvement often increases when individuals marry and have children, as religion tends to become more important at those stages of life.

However, between 2007 and 2024, Pew Research Center’s religious landscape studies have not shown any significant shift toward religious affiliation among Americans as they grow older.

Other Religious Affiliations

Today, the majority of Americans hold some form of spiritual belief. While still a small proportion, the number of individuals practicing religions other than Christianity has been steadily increasing.

Currently, 1.7 percent of U.S. adults identify as Jewish, 1.2 percent as Muslim, 1.1 percent as Buddhist, and 0.9 percent as Hindu.

The rise of atheism, agnosticism, and those identifying as “nothing in particular” has also significantly slowed, according to the research. These groups now make up approximately 29 percent of the population. 

Additionally, a growing number of Americans identify as “spiritual but not religious.” This group, while not adhering to any particular faith, embraces a sense of spirituality and personal connection to the divine or the universe, and they now account for a notable portion of the population.

Growth of Islam in the U.S. Post-9/11

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Muslims in the U.S. has grown rapidly in recent years. From 2.35 million Muslims in 2007 to 2.75 million in 2011, the Muslim population has seen significant increases. 

Since then, the research indicates that the Muslim population continues to grow at a rate of approximately 100,000 per year. According to Pew, three-quarters of Muslims currently living in the U.S. are either immigrants or the children of immigrants.

The Muslim population is projected to more than double by 2050, surpassing Jews to become the second-largest religious group in the U.S.

This growth can largely be attributed to higher fertility rates among Muslim Americans, as the Muslim population is generally younger than other religious groups. Additionally, the immigration of Muslims to the U.S. has played a key role in this expansion.