Has the Decline of Christianity in America Slowed Down? New Pew Research Shows Signs of Stability

For decades, Christianity in the United States has been on a noticeable decline. But new data from the Pew Research Center’s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study suggests that trend may finally be leveling off.

Between 2007 and 2014, the Christian share of the U.S. adult population dropped from 78% to 71%. By the most recent survey, that number stands at 62%. While this still marks a significant long-term decrease, the past few years have brought signs of short-term stability. Since 2020, the Christian share has hovered between 60% and 64%.

Meanwhile, the growth of the religiously unaffiliated—often called the “nones”—appears to be slowing. After climbing from 16% in 2007 to 23% in 2014, the group has remained between 28% and 31% over the last several surveys.

Christianity’s Changing Face

Even as Christianity remains the majority religion in the U.S., its composition continues to shift. Protestantism has seen the steepest decline, falling from 51% in 2007 to 40% today. Mainline Protestant denominations, such as the United Methodist Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church, have been especially hard-hit, dropping from 18% to 11% of the adult population.

Evangelicals remain the largest Protestant group, though their numbers have dipped slightly—from 26% in 2007 to 23% now. Historically Black Protestant churches, such as the National Baptist Convention and the Church of God in Christ, also saw a decrease, representing about 5% of adults.

Catholicism has experienced a more modest decline, from 24% in 2007 to 19% in 2023-24. Other Christian groups—like Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Orthodox Christians—have held relatively steady but remain small in number.

Who Is Leaving—and Who’s Staying?

Across every demographic category—race, education level, age, region, and marital status—the share of people identifying as Christian has declined since 2007. Younger adults, in particular, continue to move away from organized religion. Women remain more likely than men to identify as Christian, but the gap is narrowing as both groups show declines.

Still, the latest figures suggest that the rapid erosion of Christian affiliation may be slowing. That may reflect generational stabilization, shifts in public dialogue about faith, or simply a plateau in religious switching.

The Rise of the “Nones”

Today, nearly 3 in 10 American adults say they are religiously unaffiliated—up significantly from 2007. Among these “nones,” 5% identify as atheist, 6% as agnostic, and 19% say they belong to “nothing in particular.”

The rise of the nones has touched all corners of American life. In every region and racial group, and across gender and marital divides, the unaffiliated are growing. Yet that growth has noticeably slowed in recent years, a signal that this cultural shift may be approaching a saturation point.

Other Religions on the Margins, but Growing

Religions outside of Christianity make up just over 7% of the U.S. adult population. Jews (1.7%) and Muslims (1.2%) represent the largest non-Christian faiths, followed by Buddhists (1.1%) and Hindus (0.9%). Religious identity among immigrants is notably more diverse—14% of foreign-born adults identify with a religion other than Christianity, compared to just 6% of U.S.-born adults.

Nondenominational Protestants, a fast-growing segment, now make up 7% of all U.S. adults, a notable increase since 2007. In fact, they are the only Protestant family to grow in size since the first Religious Landscape Study.

Looking Ahead

While the long-term decline of Christianity in the U.S. is undeniable, this new research signals something different: a potential pause, or at least a deceleration. Whether this moment of equilibrium holds—or if a new wave of religious change is on the horizon—remains to be seen. For now, America’s religious makeup continues to evolve, but not as rapidly as in years past.