Holy shift: America is undergoing religious change

A growing number of US adults are moving away from organized religion while simultaneously embracing spirituality, according to new Pew Research Center findings.

The data comes from the latest Religious Landscape Study (RLS), a periodic 35,000-person survey that represents Pew’s single largest study.

What it found: ~69% of US adults were affiliated with an organized religion in 2023-24, split between denominations of Christian (62%) and other religions (7%). That’s down from 77% of Americans belonging to a religion in 2014 – when Pew last conducted its RLS – and 83% religious affiliation in 2007.

• On the flip side, nearly three-quarters of US adults (74%) called themselves spiritual in 2023-24, including half of Americans unaffiliated with any religion.
• About 1 in 3 US adults (32%) considered themselves "very" spiritual, a number that's increased since 2014.

Overall, the latest survey found 43% of Americans say their spirituality has grown stronger over the course of their lives, while just 11% say it has weakened.

What exactly is spirituality? While the interpretation of the word was left for respondents to decide, their answers to other related questions shed some light on their definitions. ~86% of US adults believe people have a soul or spirit; 83% believe in God or a universal spirit; 79% believe in something spiritual beyond the natural world; and 70% believe in an afterlife (heaven, hell, or both).

Looking ahead…Pew says its data suggests further declines in Americans participating in organized religion in the coming years, as younger adults remain far less religious than their older counterparts.

• 18-to-24-year-olds are about half as likely as adults aged 74+ to identify as Christian (46% vs. 80%), to pray daily (27% vs. 58%), and to attend religious services at least monthly (25% vs. 49%).

📊 Flash poll: Do you personally identify with an organized religion?

• Yes
• No