U.S. Trends
Understand the growing trends in religious decline across the United States. Over the past decade, millions have walked away from faith, and churches are closing at an alarming rate—up to 150 congregations every week. This crisis impacts spiritual communities and the lives of those seeking hope and guidance.
Increase in Church Closures
Between 3,850 and 7,700 houses of worship closed annually in the United States during the decade ending in 2020, equivalent to 75 to 150 congregations closing per week. It's important to note that these figures are from before the COVID-19 pandemic, which is believed to have accelerated church closures.
Center for Analytics, Research and Data. (2021). Study on Church Closures. United Church of Christ.
Earls, A. (2021, May 25). Protestant Church Closures Outpace Openings in U.S. Lifeway Research. Retrieved from https://research.lifeway.com/2021/05/25/protestant-church-closures-outpace-openings-in-u-s/
Religious Service Attendance
Regular attendance at religious services has also declined. In 2021, 30% of Americans reported seldom or never attending religious services, compared to 27% in 2014 and 25% in 2007.
Gallup News. (2021). U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx
Pew Research Center. (2021). In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
Projections for the Future
Younger generations exhibit higher rates of disaffiliation. Among those raised Christian, retention by age 30 has declined across cohorts: approximately 90% for those born in the 1960s, fewer than 85% for the 1970s cohort, and about 80% for those born in the 1980s.
Christians could make up 35% of the U.S. population by 2070, if trends continue—a significant decline from 90% in 1972.
Pew Research Center. (2022). Modeling the Future of Religion in America. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/
Every donation counts.
Our nonprofit is dedicated to reversing these trends, providing resources, outreach programs, and spiritual support to those in need. But we can't do it without you.
Your donation will help us reach more people, sustain faith-based initiatives, and ensure that the doors of hope remain open.
Together, we can make a difference.
Will you join us in bringing faith back to the forefront?